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AugustinesConfessionsandthe
HarmonyofFaithandReason
By:CarlOlson
Like 2.9Kpeoplelikethis.Bethefirstofyourfriends.

PopeBenedictXVIdramaticallyunderscoredthe
importanceofSt.AugustineofHippo(354430)
recently.Inaseriesofgeneralaudiences
dedicatedtotheChurchfathers,Benedictdevoted
oneortwoaudiencestoluminariessuchasSt.
JustinMartyr,St.Basil,andSt.Jerome,while
dedicatingfivetoAugustine.Oneofthegreatest
theologiansandDoctorsoftheChurch,
AugustinesinfluenceonPopeBenedictis
manifest."WhenIreadSaintAugustines
writings,"theHolyFatherstatedinthesecondof
thosefiveaudiences(January16,2008),"Idonot
gettheimpressionthatheisamanwhodied
moreorless1,600yearsagoIfeelheislikea
manoftoday:afriend,acontemporarywho
speakstome,whospeakstouswithhisfreshand
timelyfaith."
Therelationshipbetweenfaithandreasonhasa
significantplaceinAugustinesvastcorpus.Ithas
beendiscussedoftenbyBenedict,whoidentifiesit
asacentralconcernforourtimeandpresents
Augustineasaguidetoapprehendingand
appreciatingmoredeeplythenatureofthe
relationship.Augustines"entireintellectualand
spiritualdevelopment,"Benedictstatedinhis
thirdaudienceontheAfricanDoctor(January30,
2008),"isalsoavalidmodeltodayinthe
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relationshipbetweenfaithandreason,asubject
notonlyforbelieversbutforeverypersonwho
seeksthetruth,acentralthemeforthebalance
anddestinyofallmen."
ThisisakeyissueandthemeinAugustines
Confessions,hisprofoundandinfluentialaccount
ofhissearchformeaningandconversionto
Christianity.Augustinetestifiestohowreason
putsmanontheroadtowardGodandhowitis
faiththatinformsandelevatesreason,takingit
beyonditsnaturallimitationswhileneverbeing
tyrannicalorconfininginanyway.Hesummarized
thisseeminglyparadoxicalfactinthefamous
dictum,"Ibelieve,inordertounderstandandI
understand,thebettertobelieve"(Sermo43:9).

FalsehoodsaboutFaith
Thereare,asweallknow,manydistortedand
shallowconceptsoffaith,reason,andthe
differencesbetweenthetwo.Forselfdescribed
"brights"andotherskeptics,reasonisobjective,
scientific,andverifiable,whilefaithissubjective,
personal,andirrational,evenborderingonmania
ormadness.Butifwebelievethatreasonis
indeedreasonable,itshouldbeadmittedthisisa
beliefinitself,andthusrequiressomesortof
faith.Thereisacertainstepoffaithrequiredin
puttingallofonesintellectualweightonthe
pedestalofreason."Secularism,"posits
philosopherEdwardFeserinTheLast
Superstition:ARefutationoftheNewAtheism,

cannevertrulyrestonreason,butonly"faith,"assecularists
themselvesunderstandthatterm(orrathermisunderstandit,
asweshallsee):anunshakeablecommitmentgroundednotin
reasonbutratherinsheerwillfulness,adeeplyingraineddesire
towantthingstobeacertainwayregardlessofwhetherthe
evidenceshowstheyarethatway.(6)

Formanypeopletodaythesourceofreasonand
objectoffaithistheirownintellectualpower.To

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objectoffaithistheirownintellectualpower.To
lookoutside,orbeyond,themselvesforagreater
sourceandobjectoffaithisoftendismissedas
"irrational"or"superstitious."AstheConfessions
readilydocument,Augustinehadwalkedwith
sheerwillfulness(toborrowFesersexcellent
descriptive)downthisdarkintellectualalleywayin
hisownlifeandfoundittobeadeadend.He
discoveredthatbeliefisonlyasworthwhileasits
objectandasstrongasitssource.ForAugustine
amanwhohadpursuedphilosophical
argumentswithintensefervorboththeobject
andsourceoffaithisGod.
"Belief,infact"theThomisticphilosopherEtienne
GilsonremarkedinTheChristianPhilosophyof
SaintAugustine,"issimplythoughtaccompanied
byassent"(27).Thereisnotandcannotbe
tensionorconflictbetweenreasonandfaiththey
bothflowfromthesamedivinesource.Reason
shouldandmust,therefore,playacentralrolein
amansbeliefsaboutultimatethings.Infact,itis
byreasonthatwecometoknowandunderstand
whatfaithandbeliefare.Reasonisthevehicle,
which,ifdrivencorrectly,takesustothedoorof
faith.AsAugustineobserved:

Mygreatestcertaintywasthat"theinvisiblethingsofthine
fromthecreationoftheworldareclearlyseen,being
understoodbythethingsthataremade,eventhyeternal
powerandGodhead."ForwhenIinquiredhowitwasthatI
couldappreciatethebeautyofbodies,bothcelestialand
terrestrialandwhatitwasthatsupportedmeinmaking
correctjudgmentsaboutthingsmutableandwhenI
concluded,"Thisoughttobethusthisoughtnot"thenwhen
IinquiredhowitwasthatIcouldmakesuchjudgments(since
Idid,infact,makethem),IrealizedthatIhadfoundthe
unchangeableandtrueeternityoftruthabovemychangeable
mind.(Confessions7:17)

GetthroughtheDoor
However,whilereasonbringsustothethreshold

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However,whilereasonbringsustothethreshold
offaithandeveninformsusthatfaithisa
coherentandlogicaloptionitcannottakeus
throughthedoor.Partoftheproblemisthat
reasonhasbeenwoundedbytheFallanddimmed
bytheeffectsofsin.Reasonis,tosomedegreeor
another,distorted,limited,andhindereditis
oftenpulledofftheroadbyourwhims,emotions,
andpassions.
Butthisisnotwhynaturalreason,ultimately,
cannotopenthedoortofaith.Itisbecausefaith
isagiftfromtheCreator,whoishimself
inscrutable.InAugustinesintensequestforGod
heasked:CanGodbeunderstoodandknownby
reasonalone?Theanswerisaclear,"No.""Ifyou
understoodhim,"Augustinedeclares,"itwould
notbeGod"(Sermo52:6,Sermo117:3).The
insufficiencyofreasoninthefaceofGodandtrue
doctrineisalsoaddressedintheConfessions.
WritingofanimmatureChristianwhowasill
informedaboutdoctrine,thebishopofHippo
noted:

WhenIhearofaChristianbrother,ignorantofthesethings,or
inerrorconcerningthem,Icantoleratehisuninformed
opinionandIdonotseethatanylackofknowledgeastothe
formornatureofthismaterialcreationcandohimmuch
harm,aslongashedoesnotholdabeliefinanythingwhichis
unworthyofthee,OLord,theCreatorofall.Butifhethinks
thathissecularknowledgepertainstotheessenceofthe
doctrineofpiety,orventurestoassertdogmaticopinionsin
mattersinwhichheisignorantthereliestheinjury.
(Confessions5:5)

Augustineshighviewofreasonrestedonhis
beliefthatGodistheauthorofalltruthand
reason.TheIncarnateGodman,thesecond
PersonoftheTrinity,appealstomansreasonand
inviteshimtoseekmoredeeply,toreflectmore
thoroughly,andtothirstmoreintenselyforthe
"eternalTruth":
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Whyisthis,Iaskofthee,OLordmyGod?Iseeitaftera
fashion,butIdonotknowhowtoexpressit,unlessIsaythat
everythingthatbeginstobeandthenceasestobebeginsand
ceaseswhenitisknowninthyeternalreasonthatitoughtto
beginorceaseinthyeternalreasonwherenothingbeginsor
ceases.AndthisisthyWord,whichisalso"theBeginning,"
becauseitalsospeakstous.Thus,inthegospel,hespoke
throughthefleshandthissoundedintheoutwardearsof
mensothatitmightbebelievedandsoughtforwithin,andso
thatitmightbefoundintheeternalTruth,inwhichthegood
andonlyMasterteachethallhisdisciples.There,OLord,Ihear
thyvoice,thevoiceofonespeakingtome,sincehewho
teachethusspeakethtous.(Confessions11:8)

AnotherexampleofAugustineshighregardfor
reasonandforitscentralplaceinhistheological
convictionsisfoundinhisexperiencewiththe
teachingsofMani.AsAugustinelearnedaboutthe
Manichaeanviewofthephysicalworld,hebecame
increasinglyexasperatedwithitslackoflogicand
irrationalnature.Thebreakingpointcamewhen
hewasorderedtobelieveteachingsaboutthe
heavenlybodiesthatwereinclearcontradictionto
logicandmathematics:"ButstillIwasorderedto
believe,evenwheretheideasdidnotcorrespond
withevenwhentheycontradictedtherational
theoriesestablishedbymathematicsandmyown
eyes,butwereverydifferent"(Confessions5:3).
AndsoAugustineleftManichaeanisminsearchof
areasonable,intellectuallycogentfaith.

KnowtheLimits
Reason,basedinmansfinitude,cannot
comprehendtheinfinitemysteriesoffaith,even
whilepointingtowardsthem,howeverindistinctly.
ForAugustinethiswasespeciallytruewhenit
cametounderstandingScripture.Earlyinhislife,
readingtheBiblehadfrustratedandirritatedhim
later,gracedwiththeeyesoffaith,hewasableto
comprehendandembraceitsriches:
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Thus,sincewearetooweakbyunaidedreasontofindout
truth,andsince,becauseofthis,weneedtheauthorityofthe
holywritings,Ihadnowbeguntobelievethatthouwouldst
not,underanycircumstances,havegivensucheminent
authoritytothoseScripturesthroughoutalllandsifithadnot
beenthatthroughthemthywillmaybebelievedinandthat
thoumightbesought.For,astothosepassagesinthe
Scripturewhichhadheretoforeappearedincongruousand
offensivetome,nowthatIhadheardseveralofthem
expoundedreasonably,Icouldseethattheyweretobe
resolvedbythemysteriesofspiritualinterpretation.The
authorityofScriptureseemedtomeallthemorereveredand
worthyofdevoutbeliefbecause,althoughitwasvisibleforall
toread,itreservedthefullmajestyofitssecretwisdomwithin
itsspiritualprofundity.(Confessions6:5)

ThecontrastbetweenreadingScripturebefore
andafterfaithisoneAugustinereturnedtooften,
foritdemonstratedhowreason,forallofits
goodnessandworth,canonlycomprehenda
certaincircumscribedamount.Whilereasonisa
wonderfulandevenpowerfultool,itisanatural
toolprovidinglimitedresults.
Man,therationalanimal,ismeantfordivine
communion,andthereforerequiresaninfusionof
divinelifeandaptitude.Grace,thedivinelifeof
God,fillsmanandgiftshimwithfaith,hope,and
love.Faith,then,isfirstandforemostagiftfrom
God.Itisnotanaturalvirtue,butatheological
virtue.Itsgoalistheosisthatis,participationin
thedivinenature(seeCCC4602Pt1:4).The
Christian,rebornasadivinizedbeing,livesby
faithandnotbysight,aphrasefromSt.Paulthat
Augustinerepeated:"Butevenso,westillliveby
faithandnotbysight,forwearesavedbyhope
buthopethatisseenisnothope"(Confessions
13:13).

RecognizeRightfulAuthority
Humblereceptivitytofaithrequiresrecognizing
trueandrightfulauthority."For,justasamongthe

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trueandrightfulauthority."For,justasamongthe
authoritiesinhumansociety,thegreaterauthority
isobeyedbeforethelesser,soalsomustGodbe
aboveall"(Confessions3:8).WhatAugustine
couldnotfindinMani,hediscoveredintheperson
ofJesusChrist,hisChurch,andtheChurchs
teachings.Allthreeareinevidenceintheopening
chordsoftheConfessions:

But"howshalltheycallonhiminwhomtheyhavenot
believed?Orhowshalltheybelievewithoutapreacher?"Now,
"theyshallpraisetheLordwhoseekhim,"for"thosewhoseek
shallfindhim,"and,findinghim,shallpraisehim.Iwillseek
thee,OLord,andcalluponthee.Icalluponthee,OLord,in
myfaithwhichthouhastgivenme,whichthouhastinspired
inmethroughthehumanityofthySon,andthroughthe
ministryofthypreacher.(1:1)

ForAugustine,thereisnoconflictbetweenChrist,
hisBody,andhisWord.Christ,throughhisBody,
demonstratesthetruthfulnessofhisWord,as
Augustinereadilyadmitted:"ButIwouldnot
believeintheGospel,hadnottheauthorityofthe
CatholicChurchalreadymovedme"(Contra
epistolamManichaei5:6seealsoConfessions
7:7).HolyScripture,theWordofGodputto
paperbymeninspiredbytheHolySpirit,
possessesacertitudeandauthoritycoming
directlyfromitsdivineAuthorandprotectedby
theChurch:

Nowwhobutthee,ourGod,didstmakeforusthatfirmament
oftheauthorityofthydivineScripturetobeoverus?For"the
heavenshallbefoldeduplikeascroll"butnowitisstretched
overuslikeaskin.ThydivineScriptureisofmoresublime
authoritynowthatthosemortalmenthroughwhomthou
didstdispenseittoushavedepartedthislife.(Confessions
13:15)

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HumilityandHarmony
"Theharmonybetweenfaithandreason,"wrote
BenedictXVIinhisthirdaudienceonAugustine,
"meansaboveallthatGodisnotremoteheis
notfarfromourreasonandlifeheiscloseto
everyhumanbeing,closetoourheartsandtoour
reason,ifwetrulysetoutonthejourney."
Augustineslifeisadramaticandinspiringwitness
tothistremendoustruth,anditiswhyhis
Confessionscontinuetochallengeandmove
readerstoday,16centuriesafterbeingwritten.
TheyoungAugustinepursuedreason,prestige,
andpleasurewithtremendousenergyandrefined
focus,butcouldnotfindpeaceorsatisfaction.It
waswhenhefollowedreasontothedooroffaith,
humbledhimselfbeforeGod,andgavehimself
overtoChristthathefoundWhomhewasmade
byandfor."Initsessence,"Gilsonwrote,
"Augustinianfaithisbothanadherenceofthe
mindtosupernaturaltruthandahumble
surrenderofthewholemantothegraceofChrist"
(TheChristianPhilosophy31).

SIDEBAR
TheChurchTeaches
Believingispossibleonlybygraceandtheinterior
helpsoftheHolySpirit.Butitisnolesstruethat
believingisanauthenticallyhumanact.Trusting
inGodandcleavingtothetruthshehasrevealed
iscontraryneithertohumanfreedomnorto
humanreason.
CatechismoftheCatholicChurch154
CarlE.OlsonistheeditorofCatholic
WorldReport
(www.CatholicWorldReport.com)and
IgnatiusInsight
(http://www.ignatiusinsight.com...
more...

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ThisarticleappearedinVolume
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