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The Relationship Between Faith And Reason In Pope John Paul II

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Pope John Paul II found it important enough to talk about the relationship between faith and reason in his encyclical Fides et Ratio. An encyclical is a letter that is sent to all of the bishops of the Roman Catholic Church and addresses a problem, or important topic that the pope believes needs to be discussed. In Fides et Ratio, Pope John Paul II really emphasizes the importance of the relationship between faith and reason and how it has to do with the trust and faith put in God. This encyclical written in 1998 was meant for all of the members of the Catholic Church to understand and begin thinking about the big questions that define their faith, as well as to once again be able to reason with their faith. If there was never a questioning of faith, there would be no reason for the followers of the Catholic Church to continue to follow a man that we accept as our Lord. Faith and reason go hand in hand just like identity and relevance. Without one, you cannot have the other and still achieve full meaning. It is possible to have only faith and just live a life based on faith alone. It is also possible to only reason through everything. However, when dealing with religion, Pope John Paul II makes it a point to show the followers if Christ that they need to have an equal balance of both faith and reason in order to attempt to comprehend who Jesus Christ the Son of God was, who in fact God is, and have the knowledge to grow and understand the Roman Catholic beliefs. According to

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