Faith is unavoidable because it is the gateway to reason. In order to believe in something that is fact, we need to surrender our premonitions and prejudices and take a leap of faith. In some cases, we are believing in something we cannot see because someone with authority is telling us that it’s true. We have faith in what they are teaching us is true. Augustine exemplifies this through a child believing their mother regarding who their father is. Before DNA testing existed, children relied “solely on the word of the mother” (Wilkens 171) which is where faith came into play. They had faith in their mothers as authoritative figures and therefore, their statements were perceived as fact. Having faith in credible sources is what leads humans to believe what is and is not fact, which is why faith is unavoidable.
Faith is beneficial because it gives us hope to discover more about life. Wilkens states that “it has to do with the knowledge that draws one deeper into what is known” (Wilkens 184) causing us to ask more than just superficial questions. Having faith and hope opens the door to know more about life in general. Faith is what stirs certain ideas into fruition in hopes that becoming more knowledgeable will lead us to better understanding of certain things. It is what inspires people to do more in life. In a religious sense, having faith leads us closer to God. Having faith in His teachings and words inspire people to do good deeds everyday and forms some people’s moral characters. Believing that one day we will reunite with Him in Heaven pushes people to retain that “god-like image” mentioned in Genesis 1:1-2:4. Overall, faith is beneficial because it gives people a reason to look deeper into their lives as well as acting for the common good.
Summer Kerksick Theology Blog 