Critically evaluate the argument below, drawing on Alston’s writings in the article “Religious Experience and Religious Belief”.
Premise 1: Ordinary beliefs based on sense-perception are epistemically justified, in that they are justified in the normative sense on the weaker requirement (Jnw).
Premise 2: M-beliefs (manifestation-beliefs) based on religious perception are similar in important respects to ordinary beliefs based on sense-perception; both are generated by a reliable epistemic practice.
Conclusion: Therefore, M-beliefs based on religious perception are epistemically justified, in that they are justified in the normative sense on the weaker requirement (Jnw).
Is this a good argument? In other words, do the answers to the following two questions come out to be ‘Yes’: first, would the truth of the premises give proper support to the truth of the conclusion? And second, are the premises all true or worth believing?
In addressing whether this is a good argument, you may wish to explain what it is for a belief to be epistemically justified; what normative justification on the weaker standard is; what an M-belief is; how M-beliefs and ordinary beliefs relate to Christian epistemic practice (CP) and perceptual practice (PP); and how similar or different M-beliefs are to ordinary beliefs based on sense-perception. You should take Alston’s writings as a starting point for developing your own ideas on these topics, and not as settled truth.
The only text you need to use in the paper is the paper “Religious Experience and Religious Belief.” If you wish, you may also refer to other texts we have read in class. If you use ideas, phrases, or wording from any text, be sure to provide references to acknowledge your use of that text. This includes Internet sources. See section O of the syllabus for guidance.
Your paper should contain a thesis statement in its first paragraph. This thesis statement should give the reader your response to the questions raised in the paper topic. It should not simply announce a topic, for instance by raising the question of whether religious beliefs possess epistemic justification. It should make a positive claim, such as the claim that religious experience and ordinary perceptual experience are so different that we cannot count on religious experience to provide justification for religious beliefs.
Correct grammar and spelling are required; excessive errors in spelling and grammar will hurt your grade. When you complete your paper, you will turn it in to the class Canvas page and submit it to Turnitin.com via Canvas.