Uploaded April 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 hours ago
Why do smart people disagree about God?
And what does that mean for what you should believe?
In this talk, I explore a surprising possibility: maybe the evidence about God’s existence is complex and open-ended enough that more than one belief can be rational. That means theists, atheists, and agnostics might all be thinking reasonably—even when they disagree.
But I take things one step further. If that’s right, then for many of us, our beliefs about God may not be completely forced by the evidence. In some cases, belief might involve a kind of choice or commitment, not just a conclusion.
This raises an important question:
👉 What should we do when the evidence doesn’t settle things?
In this video:
Why disagreement about God runs deep—even among experts
Three common (but flawed) responses to disagreement
Why multiple beliefs about God might be rational
How belief can sometimes be shaped by how we interpret the same evidence
What this means for your own beliefs
Download a more academic version of this in paper form: philpapers.org/rec/JACPAR-11
For more...
Video on truth: youtube.com/watch?v=goXSgSZNmvs
Video on rational belief: youtube.com/watch?v=yGECoBlGHs8
Video on evidentialism: youtube.com/watch?v=ZgJ3hDk0-V0
0:00 Introduction
2:16 Background
7:56 Three Common (Flawed) Responses
14:44 My View
24:15 From Others to You
32:03 Takeaways / Conclusion
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Check out my website: liz-jackson.com
For more on my research: liz-jackson.com/research
For popular-level interviews, podcasts, and blog posts I’ve done: liz-jackson.com/public-philosophy
Follow me on social media:
Twitter: twitter.com/lizjackson111
Instagram: instagram.com/lizjackson111
Facebook: facebook.com/lizjackson111
Why do smart people disagree about God?
And what does that mean for what you should believe?
In this talk, I explore a surprising possibility: maybe the evidence about God’s existence is complex and open-ended enough that more than one belief can be rational. That means theists, atheists, and agnostics might all be thinking reasonably—even when they disagree.
But I take things one step further. If that’s right, then for many of us, our beliefs about God may not be completely forced by the evidence. In some cases, belief might involve a kind of choice or commitment, not just a conclusion.
This raises an important question:
👉 What should we do when the evidence doesn’t settle things?
In this video:
Why disagreement about God runs deep—even among experts
Three common (but flawed) responses to disagreement
Why multiple beliefs about God might be rational
How belief can sometimes be shaped by how we interpret the same evidence
What this means for your own beliefs
Download a more academic version of this in paper form: philpapers.org/rec/JACPAR-11
For more...
Video on truth: youtube.com/watch?v=goXSgSZNmvs
Video on rational belief: youtube.com/watch?v=yGECoBlGHs8
Video on evidentialism: youtube.com/watch?v=ZgJ3hDk0-V0
0:00 Introduction
2:16 Background
7:56 Three Common (Flawed) Responses
14:44 My View
24:15 From Others to You
32:03 Takeaways / Conclusion
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Check out my website: liz-jackson.com
For more on my research: liz-jackson.com/research
For popular-level interviews, podcasts, and blog posts I’ve done: liz-jackson.com/public-philosophy
Follow me on social media:
Twitter: twitter.com/lizjackson111
Instagram: instagram.com/lizjackson111
Facebook: facebook.com/lizjackson111
