Required reading
Systematic Theology Volume 1 by Charles Hodge (Available from Amazon or free here) - Read Chapter 3 (Rationalism) by reading points 1, 2 and 3.
My summary
Today we begin a chapter on rationalism.
Hodge firstly defines rationalism as the system which assigns undue authority to reason in matters of religion.
Then he refutes two forms of rationalism.
Firstly Hodge argues against deism which denies the possibility of any supernatural revelation and maintains that reason is both the source and ground of all religious knowledge and conviction.
Secondly Hodge denies another form of rationalism that claims revelation is contained in the Christian Scriptures, but also maintains that the truths revealed are the truths of reason; that is, truths which reason can comprehend and demonstrate.
What grabbed me
I enjoyed this comment from Hodge about those who assume that everything we believe must be comprehensible: 'Rationalism assumes that the human intelligence is the measure of all truth. This is an insane presumption on the part of such a creature as man. If a child believes with implicit confidence what it cannot understand, on the testimony of a parent, surely man may believe what he cannot understand, on the testimony of God. '
If humans are the measure of all truth, we are in a dire state!
Next week's reading
Conclude Chapter 3 (Rationalism).
Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
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