Argument Quote by John Warwick Montgomery
“The difficulty with pragmatic arguments for a religion is that truths do not always "work", and beliefs that "work" are by no means always true.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Theology and Reason, 1998, discussion of pragmatic religious arguments
Pragmatic arguments for religion may work but aren’t necessarily true, highlighting a gap between usefulness and truth
In simple terms: Practical arguments don’t guarantee truth
Key Takeaway
Critically assess usefulness versus truth in belief systems
Themes
religion
philosophy
epistemology
Mood
critical
thoughtful
Type
academic
theological
When to use this quote
- theological debate
- ethical decision making
- public policy
- personal belief formation
Key Concepts
Pragmatism
truth theory
Questions to Reflect On
- When is a useful belief harmful?
- How can we test the truth of pragmatic claims?
A Different Perspective
Pragmatic success can mask falsehoods, leading to complacency
![“In 56 A.D. [the apostle] Paul wrote that over 500 people had seen the risen Jesus and that most of them were still alive (1 Corinthians 15:6ff.). It passes the bounds of credibility that the early Christians could have manufactured such a tale and then preached it among those who might easily have…” quote by John Warwick Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/1fc/john-warwick-montgomery-70630_alive_in-56-a-d-the-apostle-paul-wrote-that-ov_1972998.jpg)
