The Role of Faith in Science and in Religion

Abstract

The natural sciences are often said to rely only on observation and experiment, not on authority. But there is a proper appeal to faith and authority in science — the authority of theoretical insight, observational expertise and ability to produce fruitful practical consequences. Religions have an analogous form of faith. There is the authority of theoretical insight, using a different form of explanation — intentional explanation in terms of mental causation and purpose. There are confirming expert observations (revelations and experiences of God), and there are fruitful consequences for personal life. These are much more contentious than in science, but that arises from the nature of personal knowledge as self-involving, rooted in historical tradition and essentially evaluative. We may thus say that there are two sorts of faith. Scientific faith is in the intelligibility of physical nature and the reliability of scientific expertise. Religious faith is in the ultimate goodness of reality and in the reliability of a tradition of prophets, saints and sages. Religious faith involves personal commitment and devotion in a way that scientific faith does not. Nevertheless, it can be said that both forms of faith are rational and are necessary presuppositions of obtaining appropriate knowledge of reality in its fullness.