Similarity and Differences in Faith and Religion

The relation of faith and reason raises the question related to one of the most unvarying issues in religion. This sensitive topic has attracted more theological attention and has generated more various scholarly opinions over the years as compared to other topics. Although it is unavoidable, it is a matter of great individual concern as the issue is more than merely scholastic. Every Christian at some point of time doubts his beliefs.

According to the Bible, in religion the most important element is faith. God cannot be pleased without faith. On the one hand, faith is anything but easy; on the other, it is really important. Sometimes it has been hard to believe, the challenges that we face over a time doesn’t make it easier than ever.

According to the Christian tradition, the two different ways of appreciating the truth of God is faith and reason that are often juxtaposed. However, the weak ascertain description of the association between faith and reason has been the problem in that tradition. There are different views of the matter by different theologies which depends on the aftereffect of the question of to what extent humans are saved and/or fallen. Therefore, some theologies with more optimistic view of human nature have believed in reason while those that regard humans as still largely fallen have laid their trust of faith over reason, asserting a tension between the two and leaving the issue of the relationship between faith and reason unresolved.

Faith differs from reason, in the Christian tradition, in the following four senses. First, faith is recognized as way of comprehending the God’s grace in the course of liberation, while an intellectual ability-reason already built-in in our human nature. Second, depending on our confidence in God the truth of God is freely accepted by faith, while until intellectually proved reason does not accept the truth of God. Third, all the dimensions (such as love, care, obedience, etc.) of the human person are...