Intelligence must follow faith, never precede it, and never

The words of Thomas à Kempis, humble monk and author of The Imitation of Christ, echo through the centuries like the tolling of a sacred bell: “Intelligence must follow faith, never precede it, and never destroy it.” In this simple yet profound teaching, he draws a line between the light of reason and the fire of faith, showing how they must walk hand in hand — but always in the right order. For to Kempis, faith is the foundation, the soil from which all true intelligence grows. Without that soil, the brilliance of the mind becomes a barren desert — clever, perhaps, but lifeless.

In his age, the world trembled between two powers: the rising intellect of the scholars and the enduring faith of the spirit. Thomas à Kempis, writing in the 15th century, watched as men pursued knowledge for pride rather than wisdom for virtue. He saw how reason, when severed from belief, could become a weapon that wounds the soul. Thus, his words are not a rejection of intelligence — far from it — but a call to humility. He teaches that understanding must be guided by reverence, just as the eye must be guided by the heart. For faith is not blindness; it is the compass that ensures the light of the mind shines upon the good, not the vain.

Consider the tale of Galileo Galilei, who gazed upon the stars and uncovered truths that shook the earth itself. Though persecuted by men who misunderstood both faith and reason, Galileo himself believed deeply in the divine order of the cosmos. He once wrote, “I do not feel obliged to believe that the same God who has endowed us with senses, reason, and intellect has intended us to forego their use.” Galileo’s intelligence did not destroy his faith; it flowed from it. He saw in the planets not rebellion against heaven, but the handwriting of God in motion. Thus, his reason followed his faith — not as a servant cowering before its master, but as a faithful disciple honoring its source.

To Kempis, this order is sacred: faith first, intelligence second. For faith gives direction to thought, while thought gives strength to faith. When faith precedes intelligence, the mind seeks understanding with humility, acknowledging that truth exists beyond its reach. But when intelligence precedes faith, the mind begins to worship itself — and what follows is arrogance, confusion, and despair. The proud intellect, believing it needs no higher light, becomes like Icarus, who soared too near the sun on wings of his own making, only to fall into the sea of his own doubt.

This teaching does not belong to monks alone. It speaks to every generation that places knowledge above wisdom, invention above conscience, and success above meaning. Look to our own age, where science has unlocked the atom, yet humanity still struggles to master its own heart. We have measured the stars but forgotten the soul. The world, for all its brilliance, trembles in spiritual hunger. Thomas à Kempis would remind us: intelligence must serve, not rule; faith must guide, not vanish. For what good is knowledge that builds machines but destroys peace, that feeds the mind but starves the heart?

The lesson is clear and eternal: let your faith be the root of your intelligence. Do not think less — think deeper. Seek wisdom not merely in books, but in silence, in prayer, in compassion, in the quiet knowing that all truth comes from one Source. When you study, ask not only “What is true?” but also “What is good?” and “What is loving?” Let every discovery lead you closer to wonder, not pride; to gratitude, not boasting. In this way, your intellect becomes a vessel of light, not a flame that consumes.

So remember, O seeker of truth: Faith and intelligence are not enemies, but companions — the one gives birth to awe, the other gives shape to understanding. But faith must come first, as the dawn comes before the day. Trust first, and then seek to know. Believe that there is meaning, and then explore its depths. For when intelligence follows faith, it becomes wisdom; but when it seeks to precede or destroy faith, it becomes folly clothed in brilliance. As Thomas à Kempis teaches, let the heart lead the mind — and both will find peace in the eternal harmony of truth.