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2 Definitions

Fideism

For Fideism we have terms and definitions in 2 topics. The topics are Atheism and Theology.



Fideism (Atheism)


Fideism is the epistemological and theological position that belief in God1 should only be based on a "leap of faith." Sometimes this position is adopted in a simple confession that one cannot justify theism with logic, but that it is justified anyway by pragmatist concerns (the belief makes me happy/makes me a better person/etc. so I am justified in believing it). Some fideists (especially Christian existentialists such as Kierkegaard) go so far as to say that attempts at rationalist justification dull and defeat the emotional faith experience, which they see as the essence of Christianity.
One of the most interesting aspects of fideism is that, since it denies the need for positive knowledge of God's existence, it is actually compatible with agnosticism in the general sense (although Huxley himself considered it immoral to believe in things for which there is no proof). Indeed, most fideists (including Kierkegaard once again) adopt what is essentially an agnostic theistic stance.
1 Although, strictly speaking, fideism could be applied to the justification of any god (or for that matter, any entity), it has most commonly been associated with Christianity and its God within academia.


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Fideism (Theology)

An understanding of Christian theology which refuses to accept the need for (or sometimes the possibility of) criticism or evaluation from sources outside the Christian faith itself.


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