Intelligence must follow faith, never precede it, and never destroy it

Intelligence must follow faith, never precede it, and never destroy it

Thomas à Kempis, a German-Dutch canon regular of the late medieval period, is best known for his work "The Imitation of Christ," a devotional book that has had a profound impact on Christian spirituality for centuries. In this work, Kempis emphasizes the importance of faith as the foundation of true intelligence and wisdom.

The quote "Intelligence must follow faith, never precede it, and never destroy it" encapsulates Kempis' belief that faith is the starting point for all true knowledge and understanding. He argues that without faith, intelligence is empty and meaningless, lacking a moral compass to guide it. Faith, on the other hand, provides a solid foundation upon which intelligence can build and grow.

Kempis believed that faith is not something to be discarded in favor of intelligence, but rather something that should guide and inform it. He saw faith as the source of true wisdom, the lens through which all knowledge should be filtered. Without faith, intelligence can easily become arrogant and self-serving, leading to pride and a lack of humility.

Kempis also warns against the dangers of allowing intelligence to destroy faith. He believed that intellectual pride and skepticism could lead to a rejection of faith, cutting off the source of true wisdom and understanding. Instead, he advocated for a humble and open-minded approach to knowledge, one that is grounded in faith and guided by a desire to seek truth.