Faith and reason coexist primarily as idealistic concepts that we misunderstand and misuse.

People who uphold reason as their motivator usually fail to see where their own unjustified assumptions lie. We've all got them, deep down (or not so deep).

People who are proud of their faith fail to acknowledge the real reasons they feel so comfortable taking actions without sufficient concrete evidence. (Childhood training, feeling of excitement, joy, or group acceptance...)

I see faith and reason as labels at each end of a scale.

Before any discussion of faith and reason can begin we need to define the parameters as both words have diverse meanings. I would assume that when we discuss the coexistence of Faith and Reason, that we are discussing the mutually exclusive definitions of the terms.

Most of the comments I have seen here on this topic seem to come from folks who embrace mumbo-jumbo and insist upon blending science with mumbo-jumbo. For example commenter roakes argues that 'Faith and Reason are interdependent,' as if the last 500 years of western history was not Reason struggling to break free from religion.

Yet, even as most commenters (as of this posting) seem to be of this persuasion, most of the voting indicates that the silent readers disagree. Faith and Reason are separate approaches to truth.

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--Reason is defined as Logic; the capacity for logical, rational, and analytic thought; intelligence. In Philosophy, reason is the faculty or power of acquiring intellectual knowledge, either by direct understanding of first principles or by argument.

Logic is the science that investigates the principles governing correct or reliable inference. The study of the principles of reasoning, especially of the structure of propositions as distinguished from their content and of method and validity in deductive reasoning.

--Faith is defined as a set of beliefs not based on logical proof nor material evidence; a system of religious belief. Such as a confident belief in the truth, value, or trustworthiness of one's belief in God or in the doctrines or teachings of religion.

Not only is faith the body of dogma of a religion, but also the theological virtue defined as secure belief in God and a trusting acceptance of God's will.

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So reason is careful analysis to uncover truth, while faith is the acquiescence to belief without

evidence of truth. Faith assumes truth, while reason assumes that truth necessitates evidence.

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Now to those who say that Faith can illuminate Reason, I point to our history of struggle with Reason being attacked by Faith. Any such argument must rationalize this reality. Reason can illuminate Faith, and I have posted such an example:

The Sun is our father in heaven.

http://www.bigthink.com/faith-beliefs/9020

But to those who argue that Reason alone is all we need, I refer you to John Ralston Saul, Canada's preeminent philosopher and spouse of Canada's former Governor General who has published much to criticize a purely Rational approach.

So, if Faith and Reason are indeed compatible within Saul's parameter's, I leave that to you to prove.

A rare occasion of faith, reason and compatibility with science:

Our father, who art in heaven;
our mother, the earth:
we are your children...

In this twenty first century scientifically understood world we need a god that MEASURES OUR UNDERSTANDING rather than insulting our knowledge.

And in the 21'st century we don't need mumbo-jumbo; we need a faith that will spur us to escape these 'Progress Traps' (Ronald Wright) that we have created for ourselves: Energy Scarcity and Climate Change.

Neither Middle Age, Bronze Age nor New Age beliefs fit within these parameters.

First, be clear that my spiritual arguments are based upon our understanding of how the universe works. Of course our scientific knowledge is limited, but it is the only calculator we have with which to measure god.

This is our first great understanding: that all life's energy comes from the Sun. We are completely surrounded by the life-energy of the sun. The immense overwhelming mass of this blast furnace gives rise to life and sustains it. As this energy is necessary for life; can energy be life, or the wellspring of life? Cannot the Sun be seen as the father of this creation?

The Sun is our father in heaven and the earth is our mother. Life exists because of this relationship. The giver of life on this planet is the Sun, with the kind of life that exists here governed by this relationship.

The Sun is our father in heaven.

http://www.bigthink.com/faith-beliefs/9020

Faith and reason have always been and are compatible, except for when "they" are trying to disprove each other.

There have been and are great scientific minds who have evolved ideas and concepts to benefit without finding a need to disavow spirituality/religious belief, in more cases it can be seen how such things support faith, though possibly not in the "assumed" or "expected" manner.

In turn, there have been and are faithful individuals who are truly humble and understand that we are simply human and incapable of fully knowing everything there is too know. And that faith, no more than reason can accomplish all of the answers desired.

Faith and reason compliment each other, when allowed too. In all honesty, faith and reason are human concepts of which we strive to know and will continue to change and evolve, just as they have throughout human history.