"The Age of Reason" Topic

The Age Of Reason And Christianity

'As stated earlier, the Age of Reason came with humankind questioning almost every belief and way of life including the dominant Christianity. From a Christian perspective, this was a period where many people attacked the religion in the guise of logical questioning. In addition, Christians deemed it a period where people came out and openly rejected God and all of his teachings. Instead of worshipping and fearing the one true God, humanity began the worship of new gods such as clear thinking, intellect, logical thinking, and reason. This abandonment was quite interesting in that it was a shift from one extreme to another. In medieval times, people leaned on the extreme that religion was absolute and that questioning it was wrong. In the Age of Reason, the other extreme humanity embraced was the ridiculousness of religion and the perfection of humankind. Any gray area in between the two extremes was completely ignored. Humankind believed that nature and everything around him were enough to know God if he existed at all.'

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So is Newton best understood as a figure in the Age of Reason? or as a Christian?

Yes

Our modern and foolish distinction between reason and faith did not carry much weight with Newton. He understood the power of science and also its limits.

Why is the distinction 'foolish'?

Reason is based on theory and proof, belief in God or a Supreme Being is based on belief (faith) and doesn't require physical proof.

There is a definite difference in science and religion, although it should be noted that both can coexist. In short, belief in one does not negate belief in the other, and vice versa.

Your last sentence explains why the distinction is foolish. Reason is routinely applied to theology and the analysis of scripture. Same as science, but with a different set of givens.

Plus, you cannot prove that your observations and measurements are real. You cannot prove there is such a thing as proof. You (and I) have a FAITH in reason.

So the line between faith and reason is very blurred.

Reason: the power of the mind to think, understand, and form judgments by a process of logic.

Faith:

(1): strong belief in God or in the doctrines of a religion, based on spiritual apprehension rather than proof:

(2): complete trust or confidence in someone or something:

(3): a system of religious belief:

(4): a strongly held belief or theory:

The definitions of 'faith' and 'reason' are not the same.

Are you confident that your observations actually comport to reality? Where does that confidence come from? or have you even thought about it?

We KNOW phenomena can change according to whether they are observed or not.

You may have an unreasoned or unreasonable faith in human reason.

Is your trust in science a FAITH? I suspect it matches your last definition.

Newton also explored the mystical potential of alchemy

So is Newton best understood as a figure in the Age of Reason? or as a Christian?

I never judge any historical figure by their religious beliefs, nor anyone else for that matter.

I never judge any historical figure by their religious beliefs, nor anyone else for that matter.

On what basis do you make this claim? How can you simply discount a person's religious belief as a historical fact?

And to the above your distinction between religious belief and reason is absurd. Religious belief can most certainly be a reasonable act or assertion. It can be based or at least supported by historical and scientific data. I have faith that my wife is faithful to me in our marriage. This belief rests on good reasons, like her character, her sense of responsibility, how she treats her promises. It is not a fanciful idea even if I cannot prove it in the ultimate sense (ie. what she will do in the future.)