Many who call themselves rationalists assume it means to be athiesm, but in essence its not so. Accepting god, or denying god with deriving proper inferences would be more appropriate to be called as rationalism. What rationalism wouldnt tolerate is accepting a faith without knowing it... this factor is what misunderstood as athiesm. When we are kids our parents teaches us religion and say without any questions you have to follow it, and to have pure faith in it. As kids its fine to follow, but what does stop us from asserting / disproving these beliefs by studying the facts ourselves, doing that would make us a rationalist. At the end of the process we might have drawn inferences that could have proved that the faith was true or untrue and accordingly we can make a move... i.e. continue in the faith or leave it.
Voltaire writes "What is faith? Is it to believe that which is evident? No. It is perfectly evident to my mind that there exists a necessary, eternal, supreme, and intelligent being. This is no matter of faith, but of reason."
Voltaire's inference here is, when I KNOW there exists a GOD, why I am in need of FAITH, makes lots of sense.
My conclusion is, everyone who follows religion or an athiest, once becoming an adult, has to study / realize and KNOW if the faith that he had so far (probably implanted by parents), is really true. Thus both the theist and athiest could really become a rationalist.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteDo Rationalists agree with "Creation" ?
ReplyDelete@Emma
ReplyDelete"BEING CERTAIN OF WHAT WE DO NOT SEE"
This is exactly what I say you can achieve by rationlising rather than holding your faith strong. When you have an option to find the rationale and assert it, why would you want to refrain?
@Emma
ReplyDeleteAgain, the entire tone of you comments reflect the common belief of, 'a rationlist cannot be religious, and vice versa, and thats exactly what I am denying here, you don't have to be athiest to be a rationalist.
@Emma
ReplyDeleteDo Rationalists agree with "Creation" ?
Read the quote from voltaire again, you have the answer. Voltaire was a rationalist and very religious.
Dear Author?
ReplyDeleteHave you found out the "Rationale" behind your faith ? what have you decided to "follow or leave it"?
I am not against being rational. I cannot be irrational.
However if i question my "Faith" thinking that I am rationale, that is where i run a risk.
The word faith refers two aspects but very subtle difference
1. Faith - a persons religious belief
2. Faith - a virtue by which you trust God
(the above two, are my own defenitions)
If ever i want to find an answer to lifes question, i turn to the scriptures
quoting a few...
Hebrews 11:1
"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see"
NOTE THE PHRASE "BEING CERTAIN OF WHAT WE DO NOT SEE"
Rationalism does not agree with it Always (may be some times)
Read this one...
Romans 4:17
God who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were
It takes a great leap of faith to beleive.
I have seen few argue that God is a liar to call out things that does not exist.
How foolish!!! There are so many scriptures in the Bible that proves that God has made everything ready (by his grace) and its available in the spiritual realm... It's upto the induvidual to beleive it and bring it to pass.
Romams12:1 onwards reads "..then you will prove the perfect will of God" the word prove here refers to bringing to reality the will of God (which always appears to be a hostile thing to understand for most of us)
let me pause my discussion here....