Climbing Over the Fence of Logic into Faith
Climbing Over the Fence of Logic into Faith
By Chloe JonPaul, M. Ed.
Have you really attempted to climb over ” the fence of logic” to find God?
We are living in an age where the forces of reason tend to dominate our lives.
There are “self-assured” rationalists who belittle the role of faith and scientists are demonstrating even more details of creation and evolution of human life.
Can faith and logic be compatible? The answer is a resounding YES!
- According to Saint Thomas Aquinas, “faith consolidates, integrates, and illuminates the heritage of truth acquired by human reason.”
- In his letter to the Hebrews (11:I), Saint Paul states that “faith is the realization of what is hoped for and evidence of things unseen. “
Particularly impressive is the story of Alphonse Ratisbonne, a Jewish atheist, who took a dare from his friend, Baron de Boissieres, in order to prove the “fruitlessness of religious superstition.” To find out more about what happened as a result of that dare, follow this link.
To help people bridge the gap between faith and logic in everyday life, the web site “Reasons to Believe: Where Science and Faith Converge,” allows you to select your current state of belief ranging from “I Believe,” “I Doubt,” to “I Disbelieve.”
Once you\’ll selected your status, you can learn how to meet the challenges that are putting your faith to the test by exploring the findings for topics such as Earth\’s age, evolution, Reason\’s to Believe\’s (RTB\’s) Creation Model, evil and suffering, controversies and much more. (And if you want to be really cutting edge, there\’s even an RTB mobile app!)
In the final analysis, there is a hymn that says it all for me personally because in seeking the truth, we are bound to find the One Who ls Truth.
Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, That saved a wretch like me. I once was lost but now am found, Was blind, but now I see.
T\’\’was Grace that taught my heart to fear. And Grace, my fears relieved. How precious did that Grace appear The hour I first believed.
Through many dangers, toils and snares I have already come; \’Tis Grace that brought me safe thus far and Grace will lead me home.
[Lyrics: from Amazing Grace (first 3 stanzas). By the way, this inspiring Christian hymn with words written by the English poet and clergyman John Newton (1725–1807), was published in 1779. For a truly memorable rendition of Amazing Grace, listen to this version by the group Celtic Woman.]
Taking this “leap of faith” means trusting in God \’s wisdom instead of your own. So go ahead and climb over that fence of logic and see what happens!
In addition to being a longtime member of the NABBW, a hospice and homeless shelter volunteer, world traveler and an advisory board member for the Maryland Dept. of Aging\’s Healthcare Commission and their Interagency Commission for Aging Services, Chloe Jon Paul, M.Ed., is a retired educator -turned-writer with four published books to her credit. Her first book, What Happens Next? A Family Guide to Nursing Home Visits… and More, was originally published in paperback, and is now available on Kindle. Subsequent books include Entering the Age of Elegance, a travel guide for Baby Boomer women, complete with curiosity-evoking subtitles as Change Your Oil Filter, The FGA Quotient, The F-Word You Need to Use, The 10 Commandments of Aging Motherhood, and Just Heard It through the Grapevine. Recently she\’s turned out a novel, This Business of Children, and a children\’s book, The Girl Who did Not Like Her Name. Chloe is also a co-author with David Mezzapelle in his latest book, Contagious Optimism, and featured in Don McAuley’s book, 50 Great Writers You Should Be Reading.
