Faith & Empiricism
Religious Studies: KS3, topic 2.6.3
Faith and Empiricism
The concepts of 'faith' and 'empiricism' help us to understand religious views better. They explain why some people are theists, agnostics, and atheists.
Empiricism
- To understand the viewpoints of theists, atheists, and agnostics better, we need to understand empiricism.
- Empiricism is the theory that all knowledge is based on the experience of the senses. If we cannot experience something, it cannot be true.
- This is also seen as the scientific approach. Scientists look for evidence to prove something and only believe it once the evidence is convincing.
- In Philosophy of Religion, many empiricists say that there is no evidence for the existence of God. So, it cannot be true.
Faith
- Faith is the opposite of empiricism and it describes believing in God without the need for total proof.
- People with ‘faith’ may say that not everything can be known through the senses. Instead, God makes himself known in other ways:
- Some people with faith will point to the knowledge of God found in sacred books, like the Bible.
- Or say God has shown himself to people directly, through religious experiences.
- Or say God put the knowledge of himself into people’s hearts and minds.
Religion, faith & empiricism
- Some religious believers say having faith is more important than philosophical arguments.
- When given reasons to doubt God's existence, believers say that their faith is strong enough to overcome any doubts.
- Other believers think that faith and evidence go together.
- There is a Latin expression ‘fides quarens intellectum’. This means ‘faith seeking understanding’.
- These believers have faith in God’s existence. But also say the human mind can help them understand what God is like.
Test yourself on Faith & Empiricism
What does the Latin expression 'fides quarens intellectum’ mean?
Why do some religious believers say faith and empiricism go together?