The conflict between "Faith" and "Reason".

Submitted by Seamus MacNemi (United States), Jul 7, 2007 at 09:15

The words "Faith" and "Reason" seem to always stir up a lot of controversy as if they don't belong in the same categories of thought processes processed in the same brain of human beings. Actually they are merely differing sides to the same coin. How you view them all depends upon how you define them.

"Faith" can and should be defined merely as "Courage in the face of adverstiy" When the word becomes attached to some formulaic as a reason for being it's true nature becomes distorted in the perceptions of those who wish to have faith when things get rough in life.

Faith and reason can and should go hand in hand and are not necessarily opposed to one another. A good scientist has to have faith in his perceptions of the phenomenae under his field of perception in order to progress form theory and into established axiom or scientific truth.

The real problem lies in what might be called "Blind Faith". True faith cannot and must not be "Blind". It cannot be based upon the mere muttering of formulaics but must be established over time through impirically demonstrated experience. Herein lies the real meaning of the word "Desciple" as one who is disciplined in a formal thought process which leads that individual to make the best decisions in regards to life in general and with regards to relationships to others in particular.

A saying amongst the folk states: "A wise man seeks to fulfill his responsibilities. A fool fetters himself with endless ritual absurdities". Herein lies the problem with Islam.

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