Watch the video above and talk about it with a group or mentor. Learn more.
Many skeptics today treat faith as the enemy of reason. A deeper dive reveals a different story.
Key Points:
- Many people think faith is blind – even Christians! Skeptics respond that faith is for those who want to “turn off their brains” or who need a “crutch” to get through life.
- History proves that Christian faith in compatible with reason. Historically, Christianity was a part the Western knowledge tradition. Christian faith was not viewed as opposed to, but rather as comaptible with, knowledge. The “faith vs. reason” or “faith vs. science” are relatively recent.
- Scripture teaches that faith goes beyond mere belief. Faith is more than intellectual assent but it is not less than intellectual assent. Faith works alongside reason, not in opposition to it (Hebrews 11:1). Unfortunlatey, many believe faith is necessarily opposed to reason.
- Philosophy requires that reasonable belief is unavoidable. This applies not just to religious beliefs but even to everyday beliefs. We believe that the chairs we sit in will not collapse beneath us – we don’t know they won’t – yet we still must exercise faith that our chairs won’t randomly break if we ever want to take a load off! We all have faith and beliefs, even in things as simple as our furniture working properly.
Quote This:
Hebrews 11:1 Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see.
See Also: Apologetics, Investigating Faith, Skeptics
Talk About It
- What is your initial reaction to this topic? What jumped out at you?
- Read Hebrews 11:1. How do you define faith?
- Do you struggle (or have you struggled) with the concept of faith? Explain.
- What are the common criticisms you hear from those who don’t believe in God or in the Bible?
- Why is it important to understand that until very recently, faith and reason were seen as partners rather than as rivals?
- How should the historical partnership of faith and reason influence how we think about them today?
- What is the difference between believing “that” versus believing “in”?
- Have you ever known someone who “believed” something but really didn’t act like it? Explain.
- What are some examples of things we put our faith in – other than God/religion – even though we don’t have 100% certainty in them?
- Why is it important to understand that to some degree everyone exercises faith?
- Write a personal action step based on this conversation.
