Abraham on soft rationalism - slide 1

William Abraham on soft rationalism

Religions are “grand systems” As such they should be judged by the

standards of grand systems Other grand systems?

Assessment of grand systems Not a matter of simple demonstration &

probabilistic reasoning

Abraham on soft rationalism - slide 2

William Abraham on soft rationalism

Coherence Accumulation over time No one starting point Personal judgment plays an important

roleHard rationalists are not happy with this

They demand hard evidence and strict proof

Abraham on soft rationalism - slide 3

William Abraham on soft rationalism

But, according to Abraham, this asks for too much.

“Hard rationalists set the standards for rationality too high for the subject matter” (Peterson et al 86)

Illustration of soft rationalism Rachel’s imaginary pilgrimage

Abraham on soft rationalism - slide 4

William Abraham on soft rationalism

Abraham: this is the “rationality of religious faith . . . Soft rationalism . . .” (90)