Saint Leo University
REL 123
Explain the role of reason within theology as it seeks to deepen its understanding of the
mysteries of faith.
Reason serves as an instrumental and necessary building block in the study of Theology;
without the use of reason there is no clear path to faith, understanding and believing.
Reason in the sense of Religion and Theology is a rat
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Explain the role of reason within theology as it seeks to deepen its understanding of the
mysteries of faith.
Reason serves as an instrumental and necessary building block in the study of Theology;
without the use of reason there is no clear path to faith, understanding and believing.
Reason in the sense of Religion and Theology is a rather broad term, “Traditionally, faith and
reason have each been considered to be sources of justification for religious belief" (Swindal,
“Faith and Reason”). Faith and reason go hand and hand, whether reason is defined as, an
explanation, the justification of an event, thinking, or a way to form judgements by a process of
logic. One of the basic ways people learn is through understanding and being able to think
through what is presented to them and have a clear path of making sense of it all. “Reason, aided
by Christian faith, reveals truths about the universe and humans that reason alone could never
have reached. Conversely, Christian faith needs reason to communicate its beliefs clearly, to
arrange those beliefs systematically, to guard it from straying into fanaticism or error, and to
provide answers to reasonable objections to those beliefs.” (Albl p.11)
Without finding and highlighting what we can call facts and using them in such a way to
make sense of the mysteries of faith, it is quite possible that it (scripture) could be birthed into
yet another fairytale. “’The most beautiful experience we can have is the mysterious. It is the
fundamental emotion which stands at the cradle of true art and science. Whoever does not know
it and can no longer wonder, no longer marvel, is as good as dead, and his eyes are dimmed.’
Einstein further spoke of this ‘mystery’ as forming the basis of ‘true religiosity’, which for him
meant a basic reverence for all life.” (Mueller p.34) The mystery of religion and God in general
are part of what makes theology so special, the way a true quest through scripture, tradition,
experience, and reason help unveil so much to a person not only about Gob but themselves as
well.
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