Is Faith Rational?: A Hermeneutical-phenomenological Accounting for FaithIs faith rational? Some respond by providing proofs for God's existence. Others hold that no reasons for the Christian faith can be given. This book discusses different ways of accounting for faith, i.e. classical apologetics, the transcendental view that faith is part of human nature, and the view that argues for the rationality of faith on the basis of direct perceptions of God that appear to be objective. The author subsequently proposes a rational accounting for the Christian faith in our secularized and religiously pluralistic society. His starting point is the lasting religious experience of believers in everyday life. He also discusses the question of how this accounting for faith can function in a world of both secular worldviews and other religions. Religious experience is not subjective or arbitrary but rational. In these experiences human beings are involved with God. Religious experience can be described phenomenologically as an experience that transcends our capacities. God reveals himself to people primarily in narratives. Narratives have a rational structure and the Gospel narratives provide, in narrative form, arguments for faith. The assent to faith involves the whole person and stamps his life story and conduct. Assent to faith is thus affective, but that does not exclude its being rational. The positive reason for faith lies in experience itself. There are no reasons for faith outside the faith itself, but this does not mean that there are no points of contact in human existence for the Christian faith. |
Contents
INTRODUCTION | 1 |
THE OBJECTIVITY OF PERCEIVING GOD WILLIAM P ALSTON | 8 |
Conceptual or Not? | 58 |
No PracticeRelative Rationality and Truth | 70 |
Concluding Remarks | 77 |
1 | 85 |
11 | 92 |
42 | 105 |
63 | 121 |
NARRATIVE AND IDENTITY | 124 |
70 | 143 |
THE TESTIMONY TO TRANSCENDENCE | 159 |
AFFECTIVITY AND ASSENT TO A TESTIMONY | 163 |
WHY SHOULD WE BELIEVE? | 201 |
249 | |
261 | |
Common terms and phrases
absolute dependence according accounting for faith Alston argues argument basis belief biblical story chapter Christian faith Christology claim classical foundationalism cognitive coherence concept concerns connection consciousness contextualism critique dialogue direct perception disciples discussion ence epistemological everyday example faith content feeling of absolute fideism Freud gious give God's salvation gospel of Mark grounds heart Heidegger hermeneutical historical human Husserl ian faith indicates insight intentionality judgement justified language game layered Levinas lived Mark's narrative Marx means mood mystical narrative explanation narrative identity narrative theology narrator object one's person Phenomenology philosophical possible rebuttal practice practice-oriented rationality priori question reader reality reason refers refiguration relationship religious emotion religious experience religious Transcendence respect revelation Ricoeur rience saturated phenomenon Schleiermacher Schragg Scripture sense situation social alienation someone speak term Testament testimony to Transcendence theology theory Thiemann Tillich tion Totem and Taboo transcendental transversal rationality truth understanding view of rationality worldview