belief is an act of the will

[cheyinka]

The Catholic doctrine concerning faith and reason is this, that reason proves that Catholicism ought to be believed, and that in that form it comes before the Will, which accepts it or rejects it, as moved by grace or not. Reason does not prove that Catholicism is true, as it proves that mathematical conclusions are true, e.g. ...but it proves that

Comments

[chaosgoose]

Well, I'm glad you've made me think..
I've scrapped a couple responses already.

Then I noticed something. Eh..

WTFMate -- Evidence doesn't SUBDUE reason.

I'm quite sure my disagreement here is not with Newman. I think his words hold more nuance than that. My question is your strange emphasis of that word, subdue, with respect to reason.

...it's too common a theme

[cheyinka]

Emphasis was original to the place where I saw the quote; it is likely original to Newman's letter. I do not know why he chose to emphasize that word. Though, if you think of it in terms of "I want to believe, but my reason won't let me", then it makes sense that evidence would "subdue" that refusal. I guess? It's late. I should be in bed. If I have a better explanation after I wake up, I'll let you know ;)

[chaosgoose]

Ah sorry, guess I was tired also -- I misread the bit where you stated rather clearly that the emphasis was original, or at least came from elsewhere.

-
Yeah, that's the kind of nuance I was thinking he mighta meant. .. or maybe some other kind of meaning.. but even so it doesn't seem right-- he mighta been more clear.

seems to me that it'd work better with a word like.. uh .. "satisfy" or "reassure" or ..

subdue gives a bad impression. . but also seems like a word he chose deliberately

[cheyinka]

It was 1848, maybe that had something to do with it?
Though I agree that 'satisfy' would work better.