Reason is the enemy of faith.

Host: The room is calm, the fading light of the evening casting soft shadows across the space. Outside, the world continues its rhythm, but inside, the atmosphere feels reflective, almost as if the conversation is about to touch on a deeper, more personal topic. Jeeny sits at the table, her fingers lightly tracing the rim of her cup, her expression thoughtful. Jack stands near the window, arms crossed, looking out at the street below.

Jeeny: (her voice gentle, yet filled with curiosity) “You ever think about the relationship between reason and faith? How we often see them as opposites, like they can’t coexist in the same space?”

Jack: (glancing over at her, his voice dry, but intrigued) “Reason and faith, huh? Yeah, it’s easy to see them as opposites, right? One’s about logic and evidence, the other about belief without seeing. What’s got you thinking about it?”

Jeeny: (nodding slowly, a small smile forming as she shares her thought) “I was thinking about something Martin Luther said: ‘Reason is the enemy of faith.’ It made me reflect on how often we try to use reason to explain or justify things that require faith—things that can’t be understood through logic alone.”

Jack: (pauses, considering her words carefully) “So, he’s saying that reason, with all its logic and evidence, can get in the way of faith—that faith requires us to believe beyond what we can explain or prove with reason?”

Jeeny: (smiling more deeply now, her eyes steady as she explains further) “Exactly. Luther’s point is that reason is helpful in many ways, but when it comes to faith, it can be a barrier. Faith, by nature, requires a leap—a belief in something that can’t always be explained or justified. When we rely too much on reason, we risk missing out on the very essence of faith, which is trusting in something greater than ourselves, without needing to understand all the details.”

Host: Jeeny’s words seem to settle in the room, creating a quiet space for reflection on the tension between reason and faith. Jack stands still, his expression softening as he processes the deeper implications of Luther’s statement. The world outside continues its rhythm, but inside, the conversation feels rooted in a more philosophical understanding of belief and knowledge.

Jack: (his voice quieter now, almost reflective) “I see what he means. Reason can only take us so far—there are some things that can’t be fully explained or understood by logic alone. Faith requires something beyond what we can see or prove. It’s about believing, even when we don’t have all the answers.”

Jeeny: (nodding, her voice calm, yet filled with quiet strength) “Exactly. Faith asks us to trust, even in the unknown, even in the things that don’t fit neatly into our understanding. When we try to apply reason to everything, we miss the beauty of trusting in something greater. Faith requires us to let go of the need for full understanding and embrace the mystery.”

Jack: (pauses, a small smile forming as the idea sinks in) “It’s a powerful way to think about it. Reason and logic are important, but they’re not the be-all and end-all. Faith is about trusting without needing to control the answers or the process.”

Jeeny: (smiling warmly, her voice gentle, yet filled with wisdom) “Exactly. Faith is an act of surrender in a way—surrendering the need to fully understand and accepting that some things can only be experienced through belief, not logic. That’s where its power lies— in embracing the unknown and trusting the process.”

Host: The room feels lighter now, as if the conversation has shifted into a deeper understanding of faith, reason, and their roles in our lives. Jack turns from the window, his posture more relaxed, his thoughts clearly reflecting on the balance between knowledge and belief. Jeeny watches him, content in the realization that faith isn’t about having all the answers, but about trusting beyond what we can explain. The world outside continues its rhythm, but inside, there’s a shared recognition that faith and reason, while different, both serve important roles in how we navigate life.