The doctrine that religious truth must be accepted on faith alone, independent of or even contrary to reason and evidence. Fideists argue that rational inquiry cannot lead to genuine religious knowledge.
From Latin 'fides' meaning 'faith,' with the suffix '-ism' added in 19th-century philosophical discourse. The position has ancient roots but was systematically developed as a response to Enlightenment rationalism and scientific challenges to religion.
Fideism is faith's ultimate trump card—when reason fails, just believe harder! This 'leap of faith' approach inspired existentialist philosophers like Kierkegaard, who argued that religious truth requires passionate commitment beyond rational proof, making doubt essential to authentic belief.
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