The Faith Protected

Abstract

The effort to construe religion within the boundaries of reason generally assumes one of two forms. On the one hand, there is the effort to construct upon rational principles a complete religious system. The system once attained is the judge and critic of any doctrine advanced upon grounds of revelation. On the other hand, there is the more modest endeavor to criticize particular doctrines without any claim of a complete system. The criticism usually centers about supposed inconsistencies in the doctrinal system of a revealed faith. The critical approach is a more pressing threat to a revealed religion than the system builders. The complexity of doctrine combined with the richness of tradition generally present the critic with ample targets for his logical arrows. If Mansel is to protect the Faith from the threat of rationalism in any of its forms, then he must not only point out the deficiencies of rational theology, but also direct his attention to the problem of the rational critics of Christianity. Even if his arguments against metaphysical theology have been completely successful, might not the Faith be attacked on the rational grounds that the doctrines are inconsistent?