On Faith and Autonomy

Theologian Ernst Troeltsch writes about the nature of belief in Religion in History: "...[I]n this way does faith bring the subject into truly complete and vital contact with the divine life. Only through such elevation and communication of power does faith become capable of autonomy. Autonomy is not the starting point but the climax of religious training." It is through faith, then, that our autonomy and freedom develops. In this way we can understand the autonomy of Christians past centuries as likely stronger than our own autonomy, although they probably had fewer options from which to choose.