Reason and Religion

The question has always been, can faith coexist with reason? The very basis of religion is to believe without proof, and it is this basis manifest the transgernerational battle between religion and reason. Dante Alighieri, St. Augustine, and Origen poses their own interpretation of the relationship between the knowledge and faith and investigates the enigma of one existing without the other and if there is a of a divine compromise between the two forces

In Dante’s Inferno, the relationship between wisdom and divinity is depicted in a literal sense. The famous debate that philosophers have argued over is answered for Dante in only five words, “Is that you, Ser Brunetto?” In this moment, Dante’s two worlds, that of philosophy and that of religion, crash together. Dante is on a religious journey yet is confronted by his teacher, the intellectual mirror of himself. Unlike most writers who respond to this question Dante gives a clear answer about what reason means to him. To Dante, Ser Brunetto was placed in the underworld because he leaned too much on his understanding of books and earthy knowledge.

In Augustine’s, Confession, Augustine continuously questions his role as a student throughout the first three books and wonders if his studies are deferring him from his religious path. He calls to mind scripture from Paul, “… take care not to let anyone cheat you with his philosophizing…they were never Christ’s teaching” (Augustine, 59). Augustine recognizes that Paul is teaching against his love for philosophy. Augustine soothes the condemnation with the realization that he teaches himself with the intelligence given to him by God (Augustine, 29). Augustine seems to accept the fact that his learning of philosophy is neither good nor bad because it is gained through God.

To Origen, it’s not what to read, but how to read. His lesson was only intended to teach readers how to read scripture but his meaning resounds on a deeper level. When Origen says in, On the First Principles, “…we should not receive what is presented by the letter alone…” he means that only the literal meaning of the passage is not enough to fully comprehend the importance. Origen’s lessons can be applied to scholarly reading too and through this he seems to have unintentionally fallen upon a glimpse of the unique middle point between faith and reason. Origen contrasts Augustine by looking at learning from a softer point of view. What God wants is for no one to replace his or her morals or divine understanding with what is learned on earth. The mysterious medium between the religion and reason is to have knowledge but not let knowledge get in the way of loving God.

The relationship between religion and reason takes many forms to the individual poet, philosopher, and writer. The three literary and spiritual leaders can not decide what is the appropriate manner to use knowledge in terms of faith. However, even with the constant ambiguity, they all can fully agree that the ultimate goal of God is to deliver his word without interruption.