Fideists

Fideists are individuals who prioritize faith over reason in matters of belief, especially religious belief. They assert that the truth of certain propositions, especially those concerning the divine, is knowable only through faith and not through rational deduction or empirical evidence. Fideism emphasizes the limitations of human reason and the potential for it to mislead in spiritual matters, arguing that faith provides a direct path to understanding and acceptance of divine truths that are often considered paradoxical or beyond the grasp of reason. They often accept revelation as a valid source of knowledge.

Fideists meaning with examples

• The early Church Fathers sometimes grappled with fideistic tendencies, emphasizing the mysteries of faith that were not always easily explained. Fideists believe the divine cannot be fully grasped through intellect. Fideists may interpret scripture literally, trusting it fully because it is divinely inspired. Many Fideists value the experience of religious devotion and personal transformation above intellectual analysis of theology.
• During the Enlightenment, the rise of scientific rationalism caused many to embrace fideism to safeguard religious beliefs from the challenges posed by scientific inquiry. Fideists insisted on faith's superior position as a source of knowledge. Fideists sought a refuge from the perceived encroachment of reason on spiritual matters. For a fideist, religious truths are perceived as intrinsically separate and independent from rational or empirical verification.
• Some theologians, such as Søren Kierkegaard, are often considered to have fideistic leanings. Kierkegaard argued that genuine religious faith involved a 'leap of faith' that went beyond logical reasoning. Fideists emphasize that our faith is based on divine guidance, so faith is not something we need to argue for using our reason. Thus, for Fideists, faith can't be proven but can be revealed. Fideists prioritize the role of personal subjectivity in religious belief.
• In contemporary discussions about science and religion, some individuals advocate for fideism to protect religious doctrines from scientific critique. Fideists argue that science and religion occupy distinct realms of knowledge and do not require to be reconciled. For a Fideist, believing that the universe has a purpose, doesn't need scientific inquiry or proof, because faith is enough. Many modern Fideists highlight that science and reason are not suitable to understanding spiritual matters.