Many Christians have a negative connotation of the words reason, logic, and philosophy. Their negativity is not altogether unfounded. After all, there’s been more than a few individuals who have rejected Christianity on the grounds that it is irrational and illogical. And we’ve all known or heard of someone who studied philosophy only to lose their Christian faith. The problem in all of these cases, however, is not reason, logic, or philosophy, but rather the improper use of reason, logic, and philosophy. Indeed, all of us use reason and logic, and all of us subscribe to a particular philosophy even if we are unaware of it. It is inescapable. Reason and logic are God-given tools that allow us to think and obtain knowledge. Logic and reason help us to order our thoughts, and enhance our ability to discern truth from error. We can’t think without them, although we can misuse or abuse them in the process of thinking. And that, I think, is where the real problem lies: the abuse of reason and logic.
While God intended for man to use logic and reason to discover truth and discern error, our ability to do so has been colored by sin. Man does not utilize reason and logic in a spiritual vacuum. The heart/will is connected to the mind. In our fallen state, what we believe if often influenced by what we want to believe. We often use reason—albeit improperly—to justify beliefs and behaviors that we know to be false/evil. But just like a knife is not evil in itself although it can be used in an evil manner by a man with a murderous heart, so too logic and reason are not evil in themselves even though they can be used in an improper manner by those whose hearts are opposed to God.
This is not a reason to avoid reason and logic, but to embrace it. Only if we are using our God-given mental faculties properly will we be able to see how the unbeliever is misusing logic and reason, and be able to point out his error. As C.S. Lewis noted, “Good philosophy must exist, if for no other reason, because bad philosophy needs to be answered.” And once the unbeliever’s error has been pointed out and recognized, he has the opportunity to align his will with what he knows to be true, or persist in denial and self-deception. The choice is his, but the Christian’s proper use of reason can help bring him to that valley of decision.
As Christians, we should embrace logic and reason—alongside revelation—as handmaidens of the truth. Reason and logic, when used properly, will always buttress the truth, not destroy it.
Thinking to Believe 
September 14, 2010 at 2:58 am
It’s a relief to find someone hailing reason as a gift rather than an enemy of God. Your conclusions on theism are at a different point of the spectrum from my own, but your method is pleasantly (and unusually) like mine. {{cyber-handshake}} 🙂
LikeLike
September 14, 2010 at 12:07 pm
mand
I’m glad we could find some common ground on that issue. I am curious to know, however, what your conclusions on theism are, or more specifically how they differ from mine.
Jason
LikeLike
September 14, 2010 at 4:48 pm
Some questions:
How do logic, reason, and philosophy operate in a pre-Fall context?
Did they exist? If so, did they exist then as they do know?
What influence, if any, did eating the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil have on the above?
At what stage of a human’s development does logic, reason, and philosophy begin to come into being and eventually take root? Infancy? Toddler years? Older?
Finally, what comparison, if any, can be made between Adam and Eve’s pre-Fall state and that of a new born baby in terms of one’s ability to be logical, to reason, and to development a personal philosphy?
LikeLike
September 14, 2010 at 5:01 pm
Aaron,
I don’t think Adam was necessarily developing a philosophy before the fall, but surely he had a philosophical viewpoint (e.g. what was real, how he could know X was real, etc.), and surely he used reason and logic because they are inescapable principles of thought.
Logic cannot change, but what can change is our ability to use logic consistently. In a fallen world, our fallen will can influence how we use logic (twisting or ignoring it at times). I don’t think Adam would have ever misused logic, either intentionally or unintentionally.
When does logic begin in development? I can’t say, but I would think it happens in some degree quite early on. Little children understand modus ponens: if P, then Q. P, therefore Q. For example, I can tell my little daughter, “If you give me the remote, I’ll give you some juice.” When she hands me the remote, she stands there waiting for me to give her juice.
I don’t think any real comparison can be made. Baby’s are fallen just like adults. They are simply less developed mentally.
Jason
LikeLike
September 14, 2010 at 11:24 pm
Interesting piece, once again, and I would like to add my own thoughts around the statement “we’ve all known or heard of someone who studied philosophy only to lose their Christian faith”.
I sit in the same situation at the moment. I think it’s not always a case of “loosing” the Christian faith, but rather realizing what hypocrites most Christians are.
It must be easier to state you are an atheist
rather than to be associated with fellow Christians living in an unreal world of their own, completely out of touch with reality and the Holy Bible.
A further problem is that science can disprove a lot of statements made by Christians (and Christian institutions). Take evolution for example. You have a diverse range of opinions in the Christian community alone. Science disproves probably more than half of these “assumptions” yet many Christians still cling to there outdated beliefs. Even better is that most of the time their linking of their beliefs to scripture are often flawed.
All of this leads to a pathetic view of Christians to all other people, especially when most other people realize what the truth is based on our ability of reasoning (interpreting scientific evidence for example).
Christians are supposed to be the living example of Jesus. I think we have lost the plot…
LikeLike
September 15, 2010 at 5:34 am
In answer to your question, erm… I suppose, on the Christian/non-Christian scale, I’d have to use the term agnostic, whereas you seem to be sure. It’s been a long path so far for me, and I’m only about halfway through if I live an average lifespan, but at the moment I’m proud to be agnostical – it’s not a catch-all term, the leftovers after failing to tick any of the other boxes.
Faced with most believers, I find (what I perceive as) a general rejection of reason; faced with most anti-believers, I’m irritated by the false argument that absence of proof = proof of absence.
Funny, this ties in with a recent e-conversation I’ve been having about how anti-spiritual modern society is, how so much experience is disdained or disapproved because it can’t be expressed in words. And I would have said i don’t get into that kind of discussion very often these days!
LikeLike
September 15, 2010 at 7:37 am
Nico@#5:
Actually, all Christians are hypocrites who routinely fail to “be the living example of Jesus,” and should readily admit it; in fact, that is one of our fundamental beliefs. “All have turned aside, they have together become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one.” (Psalm 14:4) “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23)
Science does not (and cannot) “disprove” anything definitively. It offers natural explanations for natural phenomena, and those explanations are always provisional – subject to revision on the basis of additional data. Which Christian beliefs do you consider to be “outdated”? “Let God be true, and every man a liar.” (Romans 3:4) “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8)
LikeLike
September 15, 2010 at 7:42 am
mand@#6:
As a believer, I do not reject reason; I simply recognize its limitations and proper place. Reason is a God-given gift that helps me to understand Him and the world that He has made. However, ever since the Fall, human reason is fallible; and when it comes into conflict with God’s revelation, I yield to the latter. “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” (1 Corinthians 1:18)
LikeLike
September 15, 2010 at 8:56 am
aletheist, I wasn’t saying *you* (or any individual) rejects reason, only that many/most Christians do. Tbh I would also say most human beings do, and none can use it perfectly.
One way I get myself into trouble with atheists is by pointing out that (as I see it) logic does not conflict with / disprove the tenets of Christianity. Though I also get myself in trouble with believers if I point out that none of your beliefs follows logically from a biblical quotation…!
LikeLike
September 15, 2010 at 8:58 am
Just as I’m getting deeper into this give-and-take, I should warn you I’m planning to take a computer-free week (should have begun today) so if I ‘drop out’, it’s only that and not a sudden apathy. 😉
LikeLike
September 15, 2010 at 10:12 am
Nico,
What matters most is what we think of Jesus, not the consistency of those who claim to be His followers. If Jesus is who He said to be, it matters little how imperfect His followers are. What does matter is that you take heed to Jesus’ teachings.
As for science, I think you overestimate what science has done, as well as the conflict between theism and science. Science has not, and cannot even in principle, explain the origin of physical reality, and hence can never rule out the creator. Either the universe just popped into existence out of nowhere and caused by nothing, or it required a transcendent, immaterial, eternal, personal cause (God).
Indeed, I would argue that scientific discoveries are confirming theism rather than disconfirming it.
Jason
LikeLike
September 15, 2010 at 10:50 am
mand@#9:
“I also get myself in trouble with believers if I point out that none of your beliefs follows logically from a biblical quotation…!”
That seems like a rather odd and clearly false statement; perhaps I am misunderstanding what you mean by it. For example, one of my beliefs is that I am saved by grace, through faith, not by works. This follows quite logically from Ephesians 2:8-9, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.”
LikeLike