Rozum wobec wiary – współczesna pokusa gnostycyzmu

The Pope Francis in his Apostolic exhortation Gaudete et exultate points to two serious modern threats: Pelagianism and Gnosticism. Historical analysis of Gnosticism reveals a dangerous tendency towards rationalism. It also results, as Cardinal J. Ratzinger points, from the relativization of truth. The rejection of God in modern civilization must give rise to human concentration on oneself. This means that contemporary Gnosticism wants to lead to self-salvation, which means that it closes man in subjectivism and the intellectual ability to rise above the mystery of Jesus Christ. Analysis of the teaching of St. Thomas Aquinas and St. John Paul II indicates the consistency of faith and reason. At the same time, we note the limitations of human cognition and understanding resulting from its nature. God’s truths are rational but beyond human capabilities, and therefore the faith can’t be reduced to the rationalist category. St. John of the Cross states thatthis crossing of the border takes place in cognition through love.