Dynamics of Theology Faith and the Community of Beliefs

Faith as a Public Act Faith as a Public Act -- Aside from individual dimension, faith also has a public sphere –Inevitable since truth cannot remain “truth for me” alone –The belief in truth necessarily denies an “absolute relativism”

Faith and the Community of Beliefs Faith as a Public Act Faith as a Public Act –Two things happen in the formulation of faith into beliefs: –First, the object of faith is thematized and clarified for individuals –Second, object of faith is rendered public by the use of common language

Faith and the Community of Beliefs Faith as a Public Act Faith as a Public Act –Faith, then, is a public act. In fact, people are born and socialized into a community of beliefs –However, authentic religious faith goes beyond a passive acceptance or social association with beliefs –Involves entering into, sharing and participating through active commitment

Faith and the Community of Beliefs Faith as a Public Act Faith as a Public Act –On a more active level, the person ratifies his/her faith by identifying with the community –This identity involves a commitment to shared symbols, values, ideas and beliefs –One’s most personal faith is social: It is a public, social act implying co-responsibility with people in the community

Faith and the Community of Beliefs The Social Function of Belief The Social Function of Belief –Theological statements serve as one of the social bonds that holds a community together –Beliefs appear to be secondary or derivative; what is primary is the “clinging onto,” the cause that transcends the finite –Commitment of faith [the infinite] can remain constant despite changing beliefs [the finite]

Faith and the Community of Beliefs The Social Function of Belief The Social Function of Belief –From the social perspective, things are in some way reversed: Beliefs are in place before an individual commits to objects that faith represents –Beliefs attempt to define the object of ultimate concern, and thus share in the ultimacy of the concern itself

Faith and the Community of Beliefs The Social Function of Belief The Social Function of Belief –Tampering with or changing of beliefs that express faith of a person or community can be met by deep resistance –While beliefs are derivative of faith, their value in the community is not diminished –Beliefs, are not, however, the primary expressions of faith; much more basic is action

Faith and the Community of Beliefs The Social Function of Belief The Social Function of Belief –Beliefs are important; however, they should never take the place of or be given the status of faith itself –Why? Beliefs are finite, limited expressions of faith, not faith itself

Faith and the Community of Beliefs A Problem: Beliefs Masquerading as Faith A Problem: Beliefs Masquerading as Faith –Quite often, theological propositions become themselves the object of ultimate concern –Faith itself tends to be mistaken for holding on to beliefs –Faith then becomes objectified, or simply a set of beliefs about reality

Faith and the Community of Beliefs A Problem: Beliefs Masquerading as Faith A Problem: Beliefs Masquerading as Faith –The result is fundamentalism and/or creedalism –Also, faith, when collapsed into beliefs, begins to function simply as knowledge –Beliefs become objective knowledge about reality; and since they are held to be true, with faith assenting to them, faith becomes ordinary knowledge

Faith and the Community of Beliefs A Problem: Beliefs Masquerading as Faith A Problem: Beliefs Masquerading as Faith –Christian faith becomes objective knowledge that Christians possess, and others don’t –Formulas of this purported knowledge must be kept at all costs; change one and “faith” is altered –Loss of faith in one belief is considered total infidelity

Faith and the Community of Beliefs A Problem: Beliefs Masquerading as Faith A Problem: Beliefs Masquerading as Faith –Beliefs masquerading as faith = theologically wrong –When faith is equated to a set of beliefs, it comes in conflict with the plurality of knowledge and social worldviews –The result is people leaving the church, and an impoverished faith isolated from the world

Faith and the Community of Beliefs Beliefs as Historically Conditioned Beliefs as Historically Conditioned –The premise: All theological affirmations are historically-conditioned, and therefore relative and limited –Region, place, culture, race and language may influence the identity of the church as manifested in the form of beliefs

Faith and the Community of Beliefs Beliefs as Historically Conditioned Beliefs as Historically Conditioned –Historical consciousness means realizing that everything exists in time and history, and is determined by the unique circumstances of those times and histories –Through historical consciousness, one can appreciate the richness of Christian faith itself

Faith and the Community of Beliefs Beliefs as Historically Conditioned Beliefs as Historically Conditioned –All beliefs and doctrines may be said to have double relativity –Relative in relation to the ultimate object of faith, the transcendent –Relative also to the culture in which they are generated

Faith and the Community of Beliefs Beliefs and Reason Beliefs and Reason –Reason here is objective critical reason [i.e. reflective power of the mind to ask questions, look for evidence and infer in light of data] –Objective critical reason operates in the service of truth –Faith and reason should be integrated; they are not in opposition

Faith and the Community of Beliefs Beliefs and Reason Beliefs and Reason –The dynamism of human freedom that commits itself to an ultimate object of faith is an exercise of reason –But the dynamism that leads to faith is more than “pure” reason –Movement toward faith also includes preference, bias, hopes, desires, appreciation of values, etc.

Faith and the Community of Beliefs Beliefs and Reason Beliefs and Reason –Called implicit reasoning, this process contributes reasons for the object of faith –But these reasons transcend power of “pure” reason –Ecstatic reason stands out beyond itself and all finite beings to encounter the ground of being itself

Faith and the Community of Beliefs Beliefs and Reason Beliefs and Reason –Reason is intrinsic to faith; faith is not faith apart from reason –However, beliefs fashioned out of reason are not immune from questioning of critical, objective reason –Expressions of belief depend upon both the imagination and critical objective reasoning

Faith and the Community of Beliefs Beliefs and Reason Beliefs and Reason –Critical reason is often critical of some beliefs and doctrines a community or person has –We must always be careful, however, to dstinguish between faith and belief –Beliefs and faith are different; beliefs can, and perhaps should, change as time passes

Faith and the Community of Beliefs Beliefs and Reason Beliefs and Reason –Reason is used to discard beliefs that may not be appropriate to a given time and place –The same critical reason applies to theology itself; its task is to construct new expressions of faith –Interaction between beliefs and reason calls into question what is historically-relevant

Faith and the Community of Beliefs Interpreting Beliefs as Expressions of Faith Interpreting Beliefs as Expressions of Faith –Theology continually reinterprets the beliefs of the Christian community –Beliefs change, but Christians still do identify their faith with a community that stretches well back into the past –Despite differences in beliefs, Christians recognize a unity of faith that transcends differences

Faith and the Community of Beliefs Interpreting Beliefs as Expressions of Faith Interpreting Beliefs as Expressions of Faith –Beliefs about the object of faith arise from interpenetration of faith and knowledge of this world –Knowledge of the world changes, though –What’s key in holding the Christian community together is dialogue

Faith and the Community of Beliefs Interpreting Beliefs as Expressions of Faith Interpreting Beliefs as Expressions of Faith –Doctrinal positions from the past must still be explained, however, as part of Christian tradition –In the process, one can appreciate the motivation of the church to historically develop such doctrines

Faith and the Community of Beliefs Interpreting Beliefs as Expressions of Faith Interpreting Beliefs as Expressions of Faith –Beliefs as Principles of Action –Mediation of Critical Social Reason –Beliefs and the Community’s Relation to Society