1. Is Christianity Rational?Is Christianity Rational?
from a philosophical standpoint
John S. Wilkins

2. What does it mean to beWhat does it mean to be
rational?rational?
Doesn’t mean correct – a rational decision can be
false if one starts from the wrong premises
Doesn’t mean agrees with anyone, such as scientists
Doesn’t mean considers all the evidence, for then nobody
would be rational
It means, roughly, to make the right choice with the
best available evidence in a reasonable amount of
time

3. How could Christianity beHow could Christianity be
rational?rational?
If it was consistent with all the evidence we have
If it had no contradictions in its basic tenets
If it provided a way to continue that consistently
worked out
In a limited, or bounded, sense, if it is the best
epistemic bet one can make given one’s environment
and resources

4. EvidenceEvidence
Lack of evidence for Christianity (failed prophecies,
obvious interpolations in sacred texts, etc.)
Contradicts evidence we do have (e.g., literalism and
science)
Is question begging about evidence (finds awareness
of sinfulness in societies where it really didn’t exist)
Often uses false “evidence” (e.g., McDowell,
archeology)

5. ContradictionsContradictions
Is God one or three?
Is God good or powerful? Epicurus’ objection
Is God visible or not?
Is God moved to anger or not?
Why do we need to believe, if God has done the
sacrificial work?
Soteriology in particular seems self contradictory -
saved by God from God himself?

6. Success
Failure of miracles (why no regrown limbs?)
Failure of self-help (mentally disabled)
Failure, for a substantial proportion, of belief states
Failure of exorcisms
Failure of providence (the flowers in the field fallacy)
Failure of Christian society (Albigensians to Fred
Phelps)

7. Bounded rationalityBounded rationality
One has to make a decision before the leopard leaps
One never has perfect information
So we follow rules (heuristics) like “Imitate the best”
This means we emulate our peers and authorities
(because they are not dead yet, and we don’t want to
be)
Is this a pathway to truth?

8. Bounded rationalityBounded rationality
No, it’s not. At best it’s a pathway to what works well
enough in a given context (like suburban Western
democratic society in peacetime)
When we have to make a choice, it pays to be sure
we are exposed to the right conditions
Science education, for example…
So while Christians can be boundedly rational, that
doesn’t make Christianity a rational religion

9. The hermeneutic circleThe hermeneutic circle
It is often true that a religion appears rational to its
adherents when it looks irrational to those outside
This is because adherents hold ideas that force the
religion to be rational to them (e.g., taking the
scriptures as God’s word) which do not seem so to
nonbelievers
This is the hermeneutic circle – a kind of rational
bubble that when pricked, cannot be reconstituted

10. Hence...Hence...
“When two principles really do meet which cannot be
reconciled, then each man calls the other a fool and
a heretic” – Ludwig Wittgenstein, On Certainty §611
But that doesn’t put every worldview on an equal
footing (consider a schizophrenic worldview)
What we basically must do is have evidence, or else
we are just making up stories

11. Do I want Christians toDo I want Christians to
apostasise?apostasise?
No I don’t.
But don’t think what you find compelling is going to
compel anyone else, and especially do not make it
something everyone must agree to [The Secular
Imperative]
And when religion and science conflict, so much the
worse for religion – belief must give way to
knowledge, not vice versa [Knowledge cannot be undercut by
faith]

12. ThanksThanks
scienceblogs.com/evolvingthoughtsscienceblogs.com/evolvingthoughts
cienceblogs.com/evolvingthoughtscienceblogs.com/evolvingthoughts

14. EPICURUS’s old questions are yet unanswered. Is he
willing to prevent evil, but not able? then is he impotent. Is
he able, but not willing? then is he malevolent. Is he both
able and willing? whence then is evil?
David Hume, Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion, §10
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