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Hypocrisy as a challenge to Christian belief

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 April 2017

J. W. SCHULZ
J. W. SCHULZ*
Affiliation:
Department of Philosophy and Theology, DeSales University, Center Valley, PA 18034, USA
*
e-mail: Joshua.schulz@desales.edu
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Abstract

Hypocrisy challenges religious belief in two ways. Arguments to Absurdity contend hypocrisy is defeasible evidence of the irrationality of a doctrine or practice. Arguments from Betrayal contend that hypocrisy confronts institutionally loyal believers with a tragic dilemma: that because loyalty is justified by the goodness of its object, hypocrisy requires believers to sacrifice either their conscience (to remain loyal) or their character and identity (by abandoning their loyalty). This article presents philosophical and theological reasons that both arguments are unpersuasive.

Type
Original Article
Information
Religious Studies , Volume 54 , Issue 2 , June 2018 , pp. 247 - 264
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Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2017 

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