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Philosophy, Phin Upham, Religion, Faith, Knowledge

This article by author Phin Upham originally appeared on the blog Super Philosophy

            The relationship between faith and knowledge in Christianity is troublesome.  Some Christian authors deny that knowledge leads to faith, St. Augustine for example felt that his worldly knowledge was a hindrance to his conversion.  Other Christian authors, such as John Donne, believe knowledge and reason is a necessary prerequisite for faith.  Kierkegaard sees the realm of human knowledge and the realm of the divine to be of a different sphere and under different criteria.  Revealed by an exploration of this relationship is the paradoxical and many-faceted nature of Christianity.  Yet all the authors remain under the same umbrella, albeit a large one.  In the plesitude of voices on this issue, with none rising very far above the rest, the flexibility, the ambiguity, the diversity, and the strength of Christianity are illuminated.  Disturbing questions remain:  Are the wise closer to God?  What is the difference between worldly knowledge, scriptural knowledge, and divine knowledge? What does a Christian need to know in order to believe?  Why does the word knowledge have a silent k?  

About the Author

While an undergraduate student at Harvard University, Phin Upham was the Editor-in-Chief of the Harvard Review of Philosophy. He graduated from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania with a PhD in Applied Economics and currently works as an investor in New York City and San Francisco. Read more from SuperPhilosophy contributor Phin Upham.

About Super Philosophy

SuperPhilosophy.com is a site dedicated to bringing together the best writing in contemporary philosophy. Its editors work to curate writing from around the web, from philosophical journals, and from books. Super Philosophy is also a platform for emerging writers, allowing them to share their thoughts with an interested base of readers.