Rationality of Religious Faith, a Comparison between Ghazali and Kierkegaard's Approach

Ghazali and Kierkegaard can be compared in their critical attitude toward common interpretation of religion and specially toward problem of rationality of religion. Kierkegaard’s disagreement with philosophical system and particularly with Hegelion system is well-known. His concern was directed to negative effect of those system to understanding of religion. Confronting the problem of reason and faith، he held on faith and this with basing on his existential foundation particularly on identity of truth and subjectivity. He can be considered as a radical fideist because he take a negative stand against objective study of religion. according to him this kind of religious survey is useless and even dangerous for religion. But Ghazali’s approach to problem of reason and faith roughly has correspondence with theories of justification. sometimes and even in mystical realm، he adheres rationalism and sometimes he is so fideist that the mere assertoric belief. In faith can be accepted. This variety in expression and argument refers to his doctrine about the differences between men. Accordingly they have differen capacities in gaining faith and religious belief and thus rationality of faith differs according to each one.