Fides et Ratio (Latin)
Digital Verbum Edition
Overview
Written in 1998, Fides et Ratio (Faith and Reason) is Pope John Paul II’s treatment of the relationship between faith and reason. The pope re-iterates the Church’s teaching that faith and reason are not only not in conflict, but are in their essences bound up together. Faith without reason tends toward superstition and reason without faith tends toward nihilism. The pope calls for their re-integration and defends the Church’s responsibility to intervene in philosophy when its errors threaten revelation. The letter is divided into seven sections: “The Revelation of God’s Wisdom,” “Credo ut Intellegam,” “The Relationship between Faith and Reason,” “The Magisterium’s Interventions in Philosophical Matters,” “The Interaction between Philosophy and Theology,” and “Current Requirements and Tasks”.
Top Highlights
“Theologia quidem, prospectu metaphysico destituta, ultra experientiae religiosae investigationem progredi non poterit neque permittere ut intellectus fidei congruenter universalem veritatis revelatae transcendentemque vim significet.” (source)
“Quapropter theologia dogmatica speculativa praesumit et complectitur philosophiam hominis, mundi atque, altius, ipsius « esse », quae quidem in obiectiva veritate innititur.” (source)
“Ita profecto evenit ut multi suam vitam ad ipsum praecipitii marginem producant, nescientes interea quid ultra maneat.” (source)
“altius conscii altitudinem sinceritatemque fidei iuvari dum nectitur cum cogitatione dumque eam non recusat” (source)
“verum stat etiam in vivificanti consuetudine deditionis et fidelitatis erga alterum” (source)