Evaluating and Religious Beleifs
1 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.”
- 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
- 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.
2 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
- 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.
3 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 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 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?
- 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?
References
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.