The Cult of Rationalism

Definition:
1 : reliance on reason as the basis for establishment of religious truth

2 a : a theory that reason is in itself a source of knowledge superior to and independent of sense perceptions

2b : a view that reason and experience rather than the nonrational are the fundamental criteria in the solution of problems

Someone once said that Satan's greatest deception is getting people to believe that he does not exist. One of the most powerful tools that Satan has used to create this deception is the philosophy of Rationalism.

I have found that to even suggest the possibility that Satan exists is to immediately be branded a "crazy fundamentalist." Yet, often the same people, will happily discuss their angelic "encounters" or will share their Deja Vu or UFO sighting experiences without a moment's hesitation!

Many people, like me, turned away from Christianity to Buddhism because we thought that in it we'd find more experience and less dogma. Ironically, I found that as I studied Buddhism, particularly Mahayana and Vajrayana Buddhism, I found even more graphic descriptions of hell and satanic demons than those found in the Bible - The Lam-Rim Teachings are full of descriptions of the gruesome fates of those who fail to follow the Dharma. The Lam-Rim teachings therefore become a dogmatic set of practices that must be performed in order to achieve salvation. Yet, Buddhism is considered "cool" and rational, and Christianity is not.

When Martin Luther protested the abhorent practices of the Roman Catholic church he launched his reformation, which became ensnared in the growth of rationalism in the western world. So, in trying to restore Orthodox teachings to the church many of the liturgical practices with its emphasis on spiritual experience were discarded because they lacked rational explanation. So the church became mankind's interpretation of God, instead of God's revelation to mankind.

In matters of science, when investigating earthly principles, rationalism is a safe guide. But when considering the ways of the Creator, who is far beyond our consciousness of experience, we cannot rely on the rational mind.

In the writings of the ancient Church Fathers, many of them speak of the union of heart and mind as the seat of experience of the presence and power of God. They teach that the mind and heart are often opposed to one another, but when joined they become the very source of life.

I've always thought that the word "religion" - from the latin "religre" (bind-back, re-link or re-connect) refers to the very practice of re-connecting the mind and the heart.

In Orthodox Christianity there is much more emphasis on the experience of God - the Divine Liturgy, which is the focal point of the church service every Sunday, is the spiritual experience of coming into the Kingdom of God on earth. All the prayers, hymns, and other activities of the service are physical manifestations of the spiritual realities that are beyond our rational, logical minds. We worship with the Angels and Saints, and reverently experience the deeper meaning of the words of the Apostles and of the gospel accounts - we don't just hear them as moral platitudes, but experience them, in our hearts, as if we are "eye witnesses."

The fact that faith can sometimes be found to be rational does not limit it. When God said His ways and thoughts were higher than man's - He meant it.

Christianity is different from other religions because in Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam etc. Mankind strives to reconnect with the source of knowledge, life and wisdom. In Christianity - the Source, God, has made the reconnection for us - all we have to do is choose to accept it and experience it on His terms. The other religions aren't all wrong - just incomplete.