Belief Quote by Alvin Plantinga
“In religious belief as elsewhere, we must take our chances, recognizing that we could be wrong, dreadfully wrong. There are no guarantees; the religious life is a venture; foolish and debilitating error is a permanent possibility. (If we can be wrong, however, we can also be right.)”
About This Quote
Source Book: God and Other Minds, 1967
Argues religious belief is a risky venture with no guarantees, yet possible truth remains.
In simple terms: Belief is uncertain but can be correct.
Key Takeaway
Accept uncertainty while seeking truth.
Themes
faith
uncertainty
philosophy
Mood
reflective
inquisitive
Type
philosophical
theological
When to use this quote
- personal prayer
- academic debate
- ethical decision making
Key Concepts
epistemic risk
theology
Questions to Reflect On
- Can we live with perpetual uncertainty?
- What evidence would shift belief?
A Different Perspective
May underestimate the emotional cost of doubt.
![“[We] are usually much more willing to entertain the possibility that we are wrong about insignificant matters than about weighty ones. This has a certain emotional logic, but it is deeply lacking in garden-variety logic. In high-stakes situations, we should want to do everything possible to ensure…” quote by Kathryn Schulz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ffa/kathryn-schulz-7782_possibility-wrong_we-are-usually-much-more-willing-to-ente_2870462.jpg)
![“Suppose we concede that if I had been born of Muslim parents in Morocco rather than Christian parents in Michigan, my beliefs would be quite different. [But] the same goes for the pluralist...If the pluralist had been born in [Morocco] he probably wouldn't be a pluralist. Does it follow that...his…” quote by Alvin Plantinga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/3af/alvin-plantinga-34486_belief_suppose-we-concede-that-if-i-had-been-bo_873439.jpg)
