IS BELIEF IN GOD A (SCIENTIFIC) HYPOTHESIS?

Abstract

Beliefs are acquired, revised or rejected in both science and religion. In science this primarily occurs when scientists propose hypotheses, test them against available evidence, and then come to a verdict about which one among the rival hypotheses is best justified. The question I want to address in this essay is whether we should proceed in the same way in religion ”“ either because this is actually the way things are done already, or because it is the way things should be done, no matter what the current practice is.