Why Evidence-Based Faith Matters

Title

Why Evidence-Based Faith Matters

Publication Type

Podcast

Publication Date

December 19, 2023

Authors

Griffiths, Casey Paul (Primary), and Woodward, Scott (Primary)

Abstract

“Faith is the substance of things hoped for,” Hebrews 11:1 reads, “the evidence of things not seen.” Hmm. Faith is the evidence of things not seen. Does this mean faith is the evidence we have of things not seen? Could we say it this way? Faith is the level of confidence we feel toward a truth claim or proposed reality which we have not seen, based on the degree of evidence we have accumulated of its truthfulness and existence. Hmm. Maybe. If so, is this why the Lord’s prescription in D&C 88:118 for those who “have not faith,” is for them to seek learning? Is he suggesting that by diligently studying wisdom from the best books, we will find evidences of the unseen that will enlarge our faith? In this episode of Church History Matters, Scott and Casey explore this very idea of evidence-based faith seeking as a way to understand each of the thinking skills and mental frameworks we’ve explored throughout this series. Could it be that, for some of us, at least, the best way to strengthen our faith is to gather evidences of the unseen by combining good thinking skills with a study of great source material? Quite possibly. But, as today’s discussion will make plain, there is also a deep need to add to this approach a few crucial attributes as well.

Bibliographic Citation

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