Evaluating and Religious Beleifs

Christopher L. Holland
christopher.holland@slu.edu

Saint Louis University

February 27, 2025

Strong Rationalism/
Evidentialism

Strong Rationalism/Evidentialism

  • In order for a religious belief system to be properly and rationally accepted, it must be possible to prove that the belief system is true or false.
    • Here prove means: to show that a belief is true in a way that should be convincing to any reasonable person.
    • W. K. Clifford: “It is wrong always, everywhere, and for anyone, to believe anything upon insufficient evidence.”

Strong Rationalism/Evidentialism

  • In order for a religious belief system to be properly and rationally accepted, it must be possible to prove that the belief system is true or false.
  • This view can be held by theists, atheists, and agnostics.
  • Arguments and evidence are rationally necessary for belief in God (the presumption of non-theism)
  • The view is often associated with strong foundationalism in epistemology

Strong Rationalism/Evidentialism

Issues:

  • Is rational guarantee even desirable from the standpoint of religious faith?
  • Is it even possible to prove that a particular religious belief system is true?
  • Assumes that reason is neutral with respect to a person’s worldview.

Fideism

Fideism

  • Religious belief systems are not subject to rational evaluation.
  • Proof defeats the whole point of faith.

Without risk there is no faith. Faith is precisely the contradiction between the infinite passion of the individual’s inwardness and the objective uncertainty. If I am capable of grasping God objectively, I do not believe, but precisely because I cannot do this I must believe. If I wish to preserve myself in faith I must constantly be intent upon holding fast the objective uncertainty, so as to remain out upon the deep, over seventy thousand fathoms of water, still preserving my faith.

   – Søren Kierkegaard

Fideism

Issues:

  • How do we decide which faith to leap for?
  • A religious belief system can be subject to rational evaluation without sacrificing faith.
    • Reason can help us better understand our faith (faith seeking understanding)
    • Reason can lead us to revise some of our religious beliefs without discarding the system as a whole.

Critical Rationalism

Critical Rationalism

  • In order for a religious belief system to be properly and rationally accepted, it must be possible to provide reasons and arguments in its favor and/or defend it against rational criticism.
  • Religious belief systems can and must be rationally criticized and evaluated although conclusive proof of such a system is impossible.

Critical Rationalism:
Critical Evidentialism

  • We cannot prove our religious belief system, …
  • but we must be prepared to offer positive reasons and evidence for it …
  • and we must be prepared to defend it against critics.

Critical Rationalism:
Critical Anti-Evidentialism

  • We cannot prove our religious belief system, …
  • nor are we under any obligation to provide reasons or arguments for it; …
  • nevertheless, we must be prepared to defend it against rational criticism.

Evaluating a Particular Religious Belief

  • Understand the belief as accurately as possible.
  • Consider the reasons and arguments for and against the belief.

Evaluating Religious Belief Systems or Worldviews

  • Is the worldview internally consistent?
  • Is the worldview consistent with known facts?
  • Does the worldview have sufficient explanatory power? (I.e., Does it help make sense of the world around us?)
  • To what extent does the worldview enable us to make sense of the actual living of our lives?

Critical Rationalism

Issues:

  • Does critical rationalism lend itself to an open-ended process by which we never reach the point of having faith and being religious?
  • Does critical rationalism promote only a tentative or partial commitment to one’s belief system?

Sources

Moreland, J. P., and William Lane Craig. 2017. Philosophical Foundations for a Christian Worldview. 2nd Edition. Downers Grove, Illinois: IVP Academic.
Peterson, Michael L., William Hasker, Bruce Reichenbach, and David Basinger. 2012. Reason & Religious Belief: An Introduction to the Philosophy of Religion. 5th ed. New York: Oxford University Press.
Swinburne, Richard. 2005. Faith and Reason. 2nd ed. Oxford : New York: Clarendon Press.