Rationality / Rationalization: Navigating Religious Space and Reason

Muslim, Christian, atheist… Join Thomas Arnold and Haider Al-Mosawi as they explore the relationships between rationality, rationalization, and religion in this salon, which is part of a new Comparative Religion salon track.

Rationality begins with looking at evidence to draw a conclusion, whereas rationalization begins with a conclusion and looks for evidence to support it. When it comes to religious beliefs can they be rational or are they always rationalizations? And is rationalization always a bad thing? What if rationalization attempts to resolve doubts and inconsistencies in our thinking while remaining honest with the evidence it handles?

Rationalization isn’t exclusive to religious reasoning. We all work backwards from experiences and beliefs to better make sense of them. Can that be a good thing? You’re invited to share your own experiences and observations as to how we can be rational while trying to figure out how to live with purpose and treat others with kindness, care, and empathy.

Recommended Reading:

• Is Rationality the Enemy of Religion?
• A Superstition of Modernity
• Rationalization
• The Cross and The Machine