Apologist and author Jimmy Akin explores the concept of practical and evidential reasons in decision-making. He discusses the example of fleeing danger and the balance between confidence and ability. Belief without evidence is irrational, but not all reasons are evidential.
Practical reasons, not just evidential reasons, can shape our beliefs, such as when taking a literal leap of faith to survive a life-threatening situation.
The approach of death highlights the need for resolution in religious matters, as the practical realities of a dying person's situation give them reason to make a decision regardless of the evidence examined.
Deep dives
Practical Reasons and Belief Without Evidence
Belief without evidence is often considered irrational, but not all reasons for belief need to be evidential. Practical reasons can play a significant role in shaping our beliefs. For example, when faced with a life-threatening situation, such as leaping across a chasm, we may not have solid evidence that we can make the leap, but practical reason dictates that we have to take a literal leap of faith to survive.
Practical Decision-Making in Life and Death
Practical reasons can also influence decision-making in daily situations and matters of life and death. The fear of death and the instinct for survival can give rise to intense anxiety. In such cases, individuals may find relief by putting faith in God and seeking forgiveness. However, some may conclude that there is no afterlife and thus nothing to fear. Regardless of the evidence examined, the practical realities of a dying person's situation give them reason to make a decision on religious matters, as the approach of death highlights the need for resolution.
DAY 336
CHALLENGE
“Belief without evidence is irrational. A rational man will proportion his beliefs strictly according to the evidence.”
DEFENSE
Actions are irrational if they’re done contrary to reason, but not all reasons are evidential. We sometimes have practical rather than evidential reasons.
Suppose you are fleeing danger and the only way to escape certain death is to leap across a chasm. Suppose further that the chasm is wide enough you can’t tell whether leaping it is within your ability, but if you lose confidence you will certainly fail. In this situation, you have a practi…
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