RATIONALITY OF FAITH

RATIONALITY OF FAITH An Academic Approach to Religion I T IS THROUGH reason that man justifies his faith. Rational justification strengthens his convictions. Rational argument is thus an intellectual need of every believer. Without this, he would not be able to stand firmly by his faith. It is reason which transforms blind faith into a matter of intellectual choice. History shows that man has employed four kinds of argument to find rational grounds for his faith. Each of these reflects different stages in his intellectual development. Natural Argument The first kind of argument is one based on nature, i.e. simple facts or common experiences. This has been the most commonly used since ancient times. Some examples of this kind are found in the Quran, one of which relates to the Prophet Abraham. It is stated as follows in the Quran: Have you not heard of him (Nimrod) who argued with Abraham about his Lord, because God had bestowed the kingdom upon him? Abraham said: ‘My Lord is the one who gives life and brings death.’ He answered, ‘I [too] give life and bring death!’ Abraham said, ‘God brings up the sun from the east, so bring it up yourself from the west.’ Then the disbeliever was confounded. God does not guide the wrongdoers. (2: 258) We find another example of the argument based on natural reasoning in the Quran: In this way We showed Abraham Our kingdom of the heavens and the earth, so that he might have certainty of faith. When night descended on him, he saw a star. He said: ‘This is my Lord!’ Then when it set, he said: ‘I do not love things that set.’ When he saw the moon rise and spread its light, he said: ‘This is my Lord.’ But when it set, he said: ‘If my Lord does not guide me, I will be one of the misguided people.’ Then when he saw the sun shining, he said: ‘This is my Lord. This is the greatest of all!’ Then when it set, he said: ‘My people, I disown all that you worship besides with God.’ (6: 75-78)