Introduction
“Faith and reason are like two wings on which the human spirit rises to the contemplation of truth” (Pope John Paul II)
Christians disagree about the appropriate means by which God is known. The two main options are faith, and reason. This debate is almost never cast as faith or reason. Almost all theologians agree that faith is the pillar of Christian faith. The controversy is over whether reason can and should play a supporting role alongside faith.
This debate is captured well by Pascal’s insight, gained from a religious experience, that he believed in the “God of Abraham, God of Isaac, God of Jacob, not of the philosophers”. This distinguishes the God grasped by faith and the God grasped by reason. Pascal echoes early Church father Tertullian’s question “What has Athens to do with Jerusalem?”. Athens points to the tradition of reason and philosophical argument found in ancient Greek philosophy. Jerusalem points to Christian religious faith.
Reason and philosophy has been greatly influential in Christian theology, but many oppose this influence. This was one of the key inciting theological factors in the protestant reformation. Luther and Calvin argued Christian belief ought to be grounded on faith without any support from reason, and certainly not from the pagan philosophy of Plato and Aristotle.
Revealed theology is the view that knowledge of God can be gained by faith is called revealed theology. It claims faith accesses special revelation (God’s acts in history, like the incarnation, to reveal himself to humanity). This then produces revealed knowledge: distinctively Christian truths such as the Trinity, incarnation and redemption
Natural theology is the view that knowledge of God can be gained by reason. It claims reason accesses general revelation (partial knowledge of God which God has ordained to be accessible to reason, like is attempted in the cosmological, design and ontological arguments). This then produces natural knowledge: limited knowledge of God as Creator, first cause, necessary being, designer, etc.
Fideism is the view that revealed theology is the only appropriate means of knowing God.
| Theological approach | God’s mode of disclosure | Human epistemic method of access | The type of knowledge gained |
| Natural theology | General revelation | Reason | Natural knowledge |
| Revealed theology | Special revelation | Faith | Revealed knowledge |