Why Your Grandma's Belief in God is Justified: Uncovering the Pragmatic Root of Rationality - Softcover

Bessis, John D

Softcover

ISBN 13: 9798991539708

Publisher: Ivory Tower Books, 2025

Synopsis

Modern critics often dismiss belief in God as irrational—a comforting illusion lacking hard evidence. But what if the standard for “rational belief” is itself flawed?

Challenged by figures like Christopher Hitchens and Richard Dawkins, John Bessis set out to scrutinize the foundations of his faith. His journey led to a striking conclusion: belief in God is rational—it works, even for everyday believers like his grandmother.

Drawing on William James’ pragmatism, Bessis argues that rationality is not a static standard but a satisfying fit between concept and context. By linking satisfaction to adaptation, pragmatism shifts the center of truth from its representational form to its mediating function—its power to marry inner life and outer reality. Truth happens to an idea when it gathers our scattered thoughts, feelings, and actions into a livable harmony with the surrounding world. Using this functionalist framework, Bessis shows how faith is justified by its pragmatic fruits. Your grandma’s belief in God is true not only because it holds together in her experience, but because it helps hold her experiences together.

Edition details

• Publisher: Ivory Tower Books
• Publication date: 2025
• Language: English
• ISBN 13: 9798991539708
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 147