Faith is not rational. If it were, it would be rationalism. In other words, we could establish its truth based on reason. But we can't. When it comes to God, reason breaks down. God makes no sense. How can an infinite God become a finite man? How can he, who is without bounds, fit into a womb?
Part of the Jewish argument against Christianity is precisely false rationalism: man cannot become God. But, we reply, can God become man? We believe that with God everything is possible even if we don't understand it. So, opinion and faith is not the same thing.
Yes, you'll defer, sort of as if that is how you would answer on a test to give a teacher what he wanted. Meanwhile, you really think something else. This is what I don't understand.
No, I defer because I believe that I do not possess greater knowledge and revelation that the combined corpus of the entire Church. So, I defer to the Church in earnest even if my reason does not agree with Church's interpretation.
I don't look at that way. I see it as a balance. For example, if we can accept the premise of God's omnipotence on faith, then many things in the Bible instantly become rational. I think that faith and reason work together. God gives His children eyes to see and ears to hear, and then the scriptures actually DO make perfect sense.
So, for me it is nothing to believe that Jonah literally DID spend three days in the belly of a whale. God is omnipotent, so He could have done anything required to make that possible. I don't question it because I have no reason to, given the premise of faith He has given me. I mean, Jesus can rise from the dead, but He can't protect a guy from digestive juices for a few days? THAT'S what doesn't make sense.
Part of the Jewish argument against Christianity is precisely false rationalism: man cannot become God. But, we reply, can God become man? We believe that with God everything is possible even if we don't understand it. So, opinion and faith is not the same thing.
But shouldn't all opinion be firmly grounded in faith? IOW, they should be very close together, not separated and apart.