by M.J. Webb

Created on: March 25, 2010   Last Updated: March 27, 2010

In a society that champions reason, it is unusual to argue in the favour of faith. Though the very act of doing so surely evokes reason itself. Why have the intellectual minds of our day driven a wedge between the two as if they fight from opposite ends of the boxing canvas?

Humanists, secularists and atheists alike have re-invented 'reason' as intellectually higher ground, perhaps even evolutionary higher ground. Such ideals are summed up by the definition generated by popular writers such as Richard Dawkins who have defined faith as believing without evidence, or even, against evidence.

Firstly it would be interesting to question whether that definition is correct. Secondly, and more cuttingly, it would be interesting to question why so many subscribe to atheist's definition of faith, given that the self same atheists have described faith as the enemy. It would be tantamount to a Nazi depiction of allied forces. Indeed, several recent writings have done a very good job of establishing a definition of faith, building it up, then demolishing their own idea. I think it would be safe to say that works such as Dawkin's God Delusion do an excellent job of destroying the author's idea of faith. Unfortunately, I know of no Christian, or other person of faith, who actually subscribed to the atheist's definition.

What is more important is understanding the faith-person's faith, not the faith of the faithless. As a Christian I am familiar with the Bible's definition of faith. Hebrews chapter 11 is known as the chapter of faith in which the author uses Biblical case studies to define faith for us. Each case study begins 'by faith...' to hammer home the point. Interestingly, when speaking of Abraham (who is chiefly marked out in the Bible as the character of faith) verse 19 says by faith... 'Abraham reasoned!' Faith primarily involved reason. The Greek word translated reasoned means to calculate, to weigh up a decision using reason. It is therefore sensible to conclude that the Bible's definition of faith is essentially marked by its association, not its opposition, to reason.

Let us examine these two definitions. Firstly, the atheistic definition of faith as being belief without evidence. Then the Bible's definition of faith which is to trust God for the future based on reasoned evidence. These are all very well as hypotheses, yet if we remove them from the theoretical vacuum and place them in reality, which stands up? Frank Morrison was an author and lawyer who

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