Faith and Rationality: Reason and Belief in God

Arguments about the "evidences of Christianity" have consumed the talents of believers and agnostics. These arguments have tried to give―or to deny―Christian belief a "foundation." Belief is rational, the argument goes, only if it is logically derived from axiomatic truths or is otherwise supported by "enough evidence."

Arguments for belief generally fail to sway the unconvinced. But is this because the evidence is flimsy and the arguments weak―or because they attempt to give the right answer to the wrong question? What, after all, would satisfy Russell's all for evidence?

Faith and Rationality investigates the rich implications of what the authors call "Calvinistic" or "Reformed epistemology." This is the view of knowledge-enunciated by Calvin, further developed by Barth-that sees belief in God as its own foundation; in the authors’ terms, is it properly "basic" in itself.

Alvin Plantinga is Professor Emeritus of Philosophy and former director of the Center for Philosophy of Religion at the University of Notre Dame. He is the author of several books, including Where the Conflict Really Lies: Science, Religion, and Naturalism.

Nicholas Wolterstorff is Noah Porter Emeritus Professor of Philosophical Theology in the Divinity School at Yale University. He is the author of several books, including Justice: Rights and Wrongs and Justice in Love.