Knowing With the Heart: Religious Experience & Belief in God

by Roy A. Clouser

The famous scientist and philosopher Blaise Pascal memorably said that "the heart has its reasons the mind will never know." But too often it's forgotten that Pascal, in referring to the heart's "reasons," was not talking about hunches or cozy feelings. Instead, he had in mind our intuitive knowledge of "the first principles of number, time, space, and motion." And he believed God can be known in the same way, so that belief in God has the same justification as scientific and mathematical principles.
Was he right? In Knowing with the Heart, Roy Clouser develops a broad, compelling case for Pascal's position.
Written in clear and nontechnical language, Knowing with the Heart is intended for believers concerned with the credentials of their faith - and those who don't believe in God but are willing to investigate and reconsider.

Genres: Theology, Religion, Spirituality, Philosophy

209 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

Reviews

[Thomas Grosh IV · Rating 5 out of 5]

To some degree a distillation of ideas Roy A. Clouser explores in Myth of Religious Neutrality, REV. Ed.: An Essay on the Hidden Role of Religious Belief in Theories, /Revised Edition (University of Notre Dame Press, 1991). C.S. Lewis'The Abolition of Man and Jim Sire's Habits of the Mind: Intellectual Life as a Christian Calling (IVP, 2000) are similar recommended pieces.

[Ronald Q]

I would like to know if you were the minister at the E.U.B . Church in Cambridge Mass back in the 1960’s.
Ronald Q Butt

[Jacob · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a thought-provoking book. He makes a compelling case that religious belief is based upon religious experience, and that the resulting self-evident belief in God is justified knowledge. There is much to like in this book, although he took the argument several places that I wouldn't have and that detracted from a strong presentation. The format was creative, presented as a discussion between the author and a questioning skeptic. He did a great job of anticipating and answering to likely objections/questions.

[Wouter · Rating 4 out of 5]

a good case is made for the self-evidency of religious experience and its placein epistemology.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well-written, easier than "Myth of Religious Neutrality" but covers much of the key thoughts.