Date of Award

2020

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts

Department

Philosophy

First Advisor

Dr. Miriam Schleifer McCormick

Abstract

In this paper I will argue that holding Christian beliefs is consistent with intellectual virtues. I must first clarify that holding Christian beliefs does not consist only in the affirmation of certain propositions like “God exists”. This is not to say that affirming certain doctrine is not essential to Christian belief, but this is only part of what it encompasses. When I refer to Christianity and Christian beliefs in this paper, I mean affirming basic religious propositions like “Jesus was the son of God”, but I also take certain practices to be part of Christian belief. For example, spiritual disciplines (practices like prayer, study of scripture, meditation, etc.) are a major facet of Christianity, as well as practices like involvement in a local community of other believers. While some accept that belief in a vague, higher power might be epistemically innocuous, they argue that to believe in the God described in the Christian faith is asking one to accept too many propositions not supported by reason1. This view is misguided. I will argue that, on the contrary, one can believe in God and maintain the practices of Christianity while leading a rigorous life of the mind.

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