The Role of Faith in Epistemology
The Role of Faith in Epistemology
Author(s): Lyons Brent C.Subject(s): Christian Theology and Religion, Epistemology, Theology and Religion
Published by: Ideas Forum International Academic and Scientific Association
Keywords: Epistemology; Religious Epistemology; the Nature of Faith; Faith and Epistemology; Spiritual Experience; Philosophy of Religion; Philosophical Theology; Peter Boghossian;
Summary/Abstract: There is a startling lack of consensus among Christian philosophers as to whether faith relates to epistemology, and if so, how they relate. The problem is even less settled among Christians in general. Epistemologist Peter Boghossian seems attuned to this vulnerability, and uses it to undermine epistemic justification for religious faith. The disunity of response among Christian philosophers, unfortunately, only lends credibility to Boghossian's thesis. I offer here a biblical model of faith that seeks unity among both my predecessors and my contemporaries. And I offer this model to two camps: non-Christians that argue for faith as a failed epistemology, and Christians that argue for faith as non-epistemological. I show that a properly-conceived, biblically-accurate model of faith is incredibly robust, and illumines misconceptions among non-Christians and Christians alike. I argue that 1) Faith is epistemic in nature, 2) Faith is active, 3) Faith is trust, 4) Faith can be virtuous, and finally, 5) Faith, as experienced in Divine encounter, is an adjunct avenue in acquiring knowledge.
Journal: ICOANA CREDINTEI. International Journal of Interdisciplinary Scientific Research
- Issue Year: 2/2016
- Issue No: 03
- Page Range: 39-49
- Page Count: 11
- Language: English