Abstract

Argues that rational belief is important in so far as we are interested in the truth, and that deference to authority does not provide an attractive alternative. Also argues that it cannot be made out that it would be good to have an irrational belief in God by appealing to the importance of trust or, as Pascal's wager does, to the good consequences of belief in God, if he exists. I go on to consider the value of belief in God, when conceived in the way proposed. I conclude that, valuable as this may be, what is most valuable is the knowledge of God's will; because that is knowledge of what is good and what is bad.