Uncertain Belief : Is It Rational to Be a Christian?

Bartholomew, David J.

ISBN 10: 0198263783 / ISBN 13: 9780198263784

Published by Claredon Press, Oxford, 1996

About this Item

1996. vii, 289pp including index. "The certainties which underpinned Christian belief have crumbled in a world where science sets the standard of what is true. A rational case for belief must therefore be constructed out of uncertainties. Probability theory provides the tools for measuring and combining uncertainties and is thus the key to progress. This book examines four much debated topics where the logic of uncertain reference can be brought to bear." Unclipped dust jacket. As new.

Seller Inventory # PhilofRel04

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Uncertain Belief : Is It Rational to Be a Christian?
• Publisher: Claredon Press, Oxford
• Publication Date: 1996
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0198263783
• ISBN 13: 9780198263784
• Binding: Black Hardback
• Edition: First Edition
• Condition: Near Fine
• Dust Jacket Condition: Near Fine
• Seller catalogs:
  • Philosophy & Related
  • Religion/Theology

About this title

Synopsis

The certainties which once underpinned Christian belief have crumbled in a world where science sets the standard for what is true. A rational case for belief must therefore be constructed out of uncertainties. Probability theory provides the tools for measuring and combining uncertainties and is thus the key to progress. This book examines four much debated topics where the logic of uncertain inference can be brought to bear. These are: miracles, the paranormal, God's existence, and the Bible. Given the great diversity of evidence, it is not surprising that opposite conclusions have been drawn by supposedly rational people. An assessment of the state of argument from a probabilistic perspective is overdue. In this book Professor Bartholomew examines and refutes some of the more extravagent claims, evaluates the weight of some of the quantitive evidence, and provides an answer to the fundamental question: is it rational to be a Christian?

About the Author

David J. Bartholomew is Professor of Statistics at London School of Economics.