Evaluating beliefs based on consistency, logical conclusions, and alignment with human experience is more important than trying to definitively prove them.
Secularism, like religious beliefs, requires faith in unprovable moral values such as equal human rights and universal benevolence, while Christianity provides a logical basis for these values through a belief in a loving God who created all human beings.
Deep dives
The Complexity of Faith and Belief
The process of losing or gaining faith is complex and involves more than just looking at arguments and evidence. Background beliefs and personal biases play a significant role. Smart people can come to different conclusions due to their own set of commitments and beliefs. Secularism itself is a set of unprovable beliefs and requires faith, just like religious beliefs. Thus, comparing and evaluating beliefs is crucial rather than trying to prove them definitively.
Rationality and Morality
Secularism has its own set of beliefs about rationality and morality, which it cannot scientifically prove. Belief in equal human rights and universal benevolence are examples of unprovable moral values embraced by secular people. However, these moral values find logical basis in a belief in a loving God who created all human beings. On the other hand, holding these moral values without a belief in God requires a significant leap of faith.
Comparing Beliefs
Although it is not possible to prove one's beliefs to others with different beliefs, it is possible to compare beliefs. Evaluating whether beliefs are consistent, align with human experience, rely on borrowed ideas, and embrace logical conclusions can provide insights into the strength and coherence of one's beliefs. Christianity provides unique resources and answers to fundamental questions about meaning, suffering, identity, happiness, and satisfaction, which can be compared to other belief systems.
The Object of Faith
The Christian faith does not require perfect certainty or purity of faith. It is the object of faith, Jesus Christ, that saves, not the quality of faith itself. Faith is a messy and complicated process that involves thinking, intuition, and commitment. Doubt is not condemned but met with mercy and understanding. It is the commitment to Jesus that ultimately matters in the Christian understanding of faith.
In this episode, Tim Keller explores questions around faith and proof: How do we decide what to believe? How do faith and reason relate? Can you believe something that you can’t prove?
This talk was recorded before a live audience on March 7, 2019 in New York City.
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