Does Belief Constitute Truth?

When belief is called logic, dogma — not the truth—reigns

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Recently, I heard a Christian minister refer to a priori knowledge as coming from God. But wait! Is divine insight the same as a priori knowledge? Nope.

A priori knowledge comes from deductive reasoning, the process of logically progressing from the general to the particular. Consider the following example: All female cows have udders. Black Angus is a type of cow. Thus, Black Angus females must have udders. In order for the conclusion to be true, the first two statements must also be true, which, here, they are. So, that’s an example of a priori knowledge.

Conversely, here’s an example of faulty deductive reasoning: All doctors wear white coats. John wears a white coat. Therefore, John is a doctor. Since the first statement is not necessarily true, and, even though John may wear a white coat, it might not be the same as a physician’s, the conclusion is also faulty.

Problem? One may believe that the deduction about John is true, but belief doesn’t constitute truth. And, when belief is equated with a logical, rational process like deduction, it gains credibility. Yet, belief is not rational. It’s dogma and it can’t be questioned. So, when it gains traction in a society, people who think differently often face dire…