Beliefs Should be Founded on Evidence

It is important to know what counts as evidence. Evidence is objective and verifiable information that supports the probability of a claim being true or false.

What is the difference between evidence and proof? Proof is that degree of evidence that warrants belief—that is, when the evidence shows that a claim is probably true. Not every degree of evidence qualifies as proof; it becomes proof only when it justifies accepting the claim.

W. K. Clifford asserts a vital principle: “Religious beliefs must be founded on evidence; if they are not so founded, it is wrong to hold them.” If mistaken beliefs can be a source of unhappiness, then how do we correct them? By looking carefully at the evidence for and against them. Living this way grounds us in reality, though truth can carry a bitter edge.