Fideism - What is it?

what does the bible say?

Fideism is a name often given to a particular approach to religious epistemology which holds that all religious and philosophical knowledge is impossible to prove and, therefore, must be believed by faith. In fact, the name "fideism" comes from the Latin word fides, which means "faith." Fideism is therefore opposed to other perspectives of religious epistemology, including rationalism, the belief that religious knowledge is all and only what can be conclusively proved on the basis of first principles, and skepticism, the belief that no religious knowledge can be conclusively proved so no religious truth claims are worthy of belief.

The Bible teaches that faith is central to a relationship with God, but it also affirms the value of reason and evidence in justifying belief. Hebrews 11:6 states, "Without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him." Faith is essential, but it is not blind or baseless. Biblical faith is not merely a leap into the dark but a trusting response to the truths God has revealed. While faith is essential for pleasing God, it is grounded in evidence of His existence, character, and work throughout history (Romans 1:20). The Bible presents both trusting in God through faith and using reason to understand and explain the foundations of belief.

from the old testament

Proverbs 3:5-6 tells us to "trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths." Faith is important but does not dismiss reason, as trust is built on knowing and acknowledging God’s character.In Isaiah 1:18, God invites His people to reason with Him, showing that faith exists with thoughtful engagement: "Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD."Evidence of God’s existence is visible in creation, affirming the role of reason in recognizing Him. Psalm 19:1-2 attests to this: "The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork."

from the new testament

After His resurrection, Jesus "presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days" (Acts 1:3). Faith in Jesus’ resurrection was supported by concrete evidence not just blind faith.Romans 1:20 tells us that creation provides evidence of God’s existence and nature, which is accessible through reason: "For his invisible attributes… have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made."Christians are called to use reason and evidence to explain their faith as expressed in 1 Peter 3:15, which says, “but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect.”

implications for today

Is fideism biblical? It depends on how it is used. On the one hand, it is biblical to say that we must have faith to have a relationship with God; after all, Hebrews 11:6 teaches that "without faith it is impossible to please him [God], for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him." On the other hand, fideism is not, in general, a biblical way of defending one's faith or of showing it to be true: even Jesus demonstrated the reality of His own resurrection to His disciples by "many proofs" (Acts 1:3), without expecting them to "just believe" without any evidence whatsoever. In short, faith is the attitude with which we approach God, not how we justify belief in His existence.

This may cause confusion about whether it is faith or reason that ought to ground (i.e., justify) the beliefs of the Christian: many wrongly assume, in a fideistic fashion, that God demands faith, even at the expense of using reason. However, this confuses categories: Using reason to justify belief in God's existence is biblical and so is using faith to respond to that belief appropriately. Biblical faith distinguishes between justification for Christian belief and the proper response to that belief.

Ultimately, biblical faith differs significantly from mere "blind faith." Biblical faith is not irrational or blind; it is a trust grounded in God’s self-revelation through creation, Scripture, and the life of Jesus Christ. Biblical faith has less to do with justifying the truth claims of Scripture than with ensuring that we have the proper response once we recognize these truth claims to be true. Fideism is only appropriate as a biblical response to Christian truth, and not an adequate justification of it.