91原创

6. Religious faith. All religions require faith. Is logic the ally or enemy of faith?

Even religion, though it goes beyond聽logic, cannot go against聽it; if it did, it would literally be unbelievable. Some wit defined “faith” as “believing what you know isn’t true.” But we simply cannot聽believe an idea to be true that we know has been proved to be false by a valid logical proof.

It is true that faith goes beyond what can be proved by logical reasoning alone. That is why believing in any religion is a free personal choice, and some make that choice while others do not, while logical reasoning is equally compelling for all. However, logic can aid faith in at least three ways.

1. Logic can often clarify聽what is believed, and define it.
2. Logic can deduce the necessary consequences聽of the belief, and apply it to difficult situations.
3. Even if logical arguments cannot聽prove聽all that faith believes, they can give firmer reasons聽for faith than feeling, desire, mood, fashion, family, or social pressure, conformity, or inertia.

The point is not that logic can prove religious beliefs鈥攖hat would dispense with the need for faith鈥攂ut that it can strengthen them (and thus also the happiness that goes with them). And if it does not鈥攊f clear, honest, logical thinking leads you to disbelieve something you used to believe, like Santa Claus鈥攖hen that is progress too, for truth should trump even happiness. If we are honest and sane, we want not just any happiness, but true happiness. [Adapted from Peter Kreeft, Socratic Logic]