faith and reason

There is a perceived conflict between science and religion. Alvin Plantinga said many of the so-called New Atheists think naturalism and atheism are a legitimate part of the ‘scientific worldview,’ including Sam Harris and Richard Dawkins (1). However, the nature of the conflict is between science and naturalism. Jason Lisle writes, “Some Christians have the idea that faith and reason are in conflict, divided by some unbridgeable chasm. They think that one takes over where the other leaves off” (2). Yet, faith and reason dovetail nicely to help us know and serve God.

Scientism

In J. P. Moreland’s book Scientism and Secularism, Doug Groothuis calls scientism a “silent killer” that attempts to discredit our knowledge of God by asserting science is sufficient for anything we need to know. Moreland explains scientism as “…roughly the view that the hard sciences alone have the intellectual authority to give us knowledge of reality” (3). But scientism and secularism appeal to the intellect, leaving us wanting from an existential position.

A false dichotomy has been created between faith (religion) and reason (science). David Berlinkski believes this separation is built upon what he calls the scientific pretensions of atheism.  In his Preface to The Devil’s Delusion, he says atheists hold the tenet that because scientific theories are true religious beliefs must be false” (4). Keller quotes Dawkins as saying that one cannot be an intelligent scientific thinker and still hold religious beliefs” (5).

Logically Consistent

Logical consistency determines whether something is rational. There is an ethical duty to believe only those things for which there is sufficient evidence. Of course, everyone argues over the type, extent, and preponderance of this evidence. Paul warned about following the wrong belief systems. He wrote, “See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ” (Col. 2:8). Ethics of belief is concerned with epistemology, ethics, philosophy of mind, and psychology. Rational arguments should be governed by the Intellectual Code of Conduct (6).

Paul wrote, “For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So, they are without excuse” (Rom. 1:19-20). Biblical faith is the “substance” (Gr. hupostatis) of things hoped for; the foundation upon which something is believed to be true. It is the “evidence” (Gr. elegchos) of things not seen.

This has been called the most anti-intellectual era in the history of the church. Pope John Paul II said, “Faith and Reason are like two wings of the human spirit by which it soars to the truth.” There is reasonable and unreasonable faith. It is unreasonable to believe in something in the face of evidence to the contrary. Aware of man’s tendency to need “proof,” Jesus performed signs and miracles as a defense or apologetic of who He was.

Steven Barto, BS Psy, ThM

Unless otherwise specified, all Scripture references herein are from the English Standard Version (ESV).

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References
(1) Alvin Plantinga, Where The Conflict Really Lies: Science, Religion & Naturalism (New York: Oxford University Press, 2011), x.
(2) Dr. Jason Lisle, “Faith vs. Reason,” Answersingenesis.org, retrieved May 4, 2024, https://answersingenesis.org/apologetics/faith-vs-reason/
(3) J. P. Moreland, Scientism and Secularism: Learning to Respond to a Dangerous Ideology (Wheaton: Crossway, 2018), 23.
(4) David Berlinski, The Devil’s Delusion: Atheism and Its Scientific Pretensions (New York: Random House, 2009), xiv.
(5) Timothy Keller, The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism (New York: Dutton Penguin Group, 2008), 84.
(6) Intellectual Code of Conduct, retrieved May 3, 2024, https://independentvotersofbrowncountyin.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/damer-intellectual-code.pdf