Rational theology

Rational theology

Calvin Plan

Document Type : Original Article

Abstract
In the present work, while presenting the Aquinas/Calvin model as a 
framework that demonstrates the epistemic value and rationality of 
religious beliefs, an attempt is made to defend this model by relying 
on the common intellectual framework of postmodernism. For this 
purpose, the epistemic theory and religious epistemology of Alvin 
Plantinga, who proposed the Aquinas/Calvin model, are briefly 
analyzed. Then, the model is defended as a conditional proposition 
that assumes the truth of religious beliefs in defending the rationality 
of faith, drawing on postmodern epistemic characteristics. It seems 
that the success of Plantinga's religious epistemology is more 
plausible when considered within the postmodern epistemic 
context. Regarding this period, it becomes clear that "rationality," 
unlike the common intellectual framework of the modern era where 
it was equated with truth, loses this status. Postmodern thinkers, 
relying on Kantian considerations regarding the distinction between 
noumenon and phenomenon and the impossibility of accessing the 
noumenon, as well as linguistic considerations from thinkers like 
Wittgenstein regarding language uses, offered a different 
understanding of rationality than that of the modern era. In such a 
context, the Aquinas/Calvin model seeks to demonstrate the 
rationality of faith. Understanding the prevalent notion of rationality 
in postmodernism, on one hand, and Plantinga's alignment with postmodern philosophers in criticizing classical foundationalism, on 
the other, are fundamental in affirming the success of this model.
Keywords