信仰寻求理解和理解开导信仰——反思宗教、神学与哲学的关系

"Belief Seeks Understanding "and"Understanding Explains Belief"——Reflection on the Relation of Religion,Theology and Philosophy

在西方文化中有关宗教、神学与哲学的关系,存在两种相互对立的观点:一种主张宗教信仰高于思辨理性,因此理性的哲学应为神学服务;另一种主张理性是审判一切的最终法官,以理性为准则的哲学启蒙宗教信仰。我觉得这两种观点都有偏颇。在人生的实践中,信念是实践的出发点和动力,人总是相信了什么才去行动,而当遇到了问题时又质疑原先的信念,并根据经验确立新的信念。拿这种人生实践的观点去看待信仰与理解的关系,我们就不能简单地说"信仰导致理解"或"理解启蒙信仰"。正确的说法应该是我们总是处于"信仰寻求理解"和"理解开导信仰"的过程之中。

There are two opposing views concerning the relation of religion, theology and philosophy： one is, religious belief is above speculative reason, and therefore the rational philosophy should serve for rational theology; one is, reason is the final criteria for judging everything, and therefore the rational philosophy have a task of enlightening the religious beliefs. In my opinion the both views are biased. In our life-practice, belief is the starting point and the motivation power of practice, because people always believe something and then bring what they believe into action, and only when they encounter problems, the original faith will be questioned, and will be modified or form a new belief according to the new experience. Taking this life-practice viewpoint to look at the relationship between belief and understanding, we can＇t simply say that “belief leads to understanding” or “understanding enlightens belief”. The correct expression should be that we are always in the process of “belief seeks understanding” and “understanding explains belief”.