BELIEF AND FAITH

A knowledgeable and respected philosopher here supplies the interested with a precise analysis of the meaning of faith in belief, in theory and in practice -- making distinctions which sharpen his argument. He cites varied authorities. For example, in the case of a proposition- ""No one believes except of his own free will""-- Dr. Pieper manages to rally such diversified names as Augustine, Thomas, Newman, Kierkegaard and Andre Gide to his side. The crucial factor in belief, Professor Pieper insists, does not consist in the matter which is believed but rests in the authority of the witness. In developing his case for rational validity of religious faith he makes it clear that since the Witness is God the assent should be clear. All who wish to wrestle with such philosophical distinctions will find this short course in epistemology, with a variant in demonstrating the rightfulness of religious faith, lucid and challenging. But their number is limited.