faith and belief

Faith is neither the submission of the reason nor is it the acceptance, simply and absolutely upon testimony of what reason cannot reach. Faith is: being able to submit to a power of goodness appealing to our higher and real self, not to our lower and apparent self. [Matthew Arnold, "Literature & Dogma," 1873]

In matters of faith, therefore, it is necessary that we challenge ourselves, not what we believe our faith to be. This is not an exercise in justifying the veracity of our beliefs, but to ascertain our fidelity.

Are we truly surrendered to divine and infinite goodness? Have we started to ascend to our highest good?