Is religious faith irrational?

Theme

Philosophy

Content

The Danish philosopher, Sören Kierkegaard, called faith 'a crucifixion of the understanding'. If he is right, are faith and reason necessarily opposed to each other? And, if so, should we believe our hearts or our heads?

Why is this important?

With the rise of religious fundamentalism in many parts of the world, the question about whether or not religious faith has a rational basis becomes ever more pressing.

Descriptors

Faith; rationality; arguments for the existence of God; Kierkegaard

Year groups

Sixth form

Speaker