معرفت ادیان

There are different parameters in religions to help their followers reach perfection. Christianity emphasizes on faith; but Pope John Paul II considers reason equivalent to faith in discovering the truth, in order to honor reason as an effective parameter of perfection. This article tries to investigate the role of reason in the perfection of human being from the Pope's point of view by examining the Catholic scriptures, the Pope's statements and church documents using a descriptive-analytical method. Reason strengthens faith and creates perfection in human through knowledge of the origin of universe and its attributes. In addition to knowing the principles derived from reason or faith, achieving perfection requires a kind of loyalty as well- in the form of moral life. This ethical life requires the knowledge of good, which is realized through reason. Reason conceptually understands absolute goodness. Reason regulates the judgments of one’s inner commitment, by means of conscience, to do good. The intellect also understands the need to regulate actions based on heavenly goodness. The Catholic Church’s perfection is achieved by returning to the original holiness, and reason contributes to achieving this holiness by influencing its external dimensions - the external harmony between human and the other creatures. Reason has anthropological limitations regarding the inner dimension, and despite the Pope's effort to honor the position of reason in perfection, it is still a place of doubt.