Welch on Evidence and Faith

For some time now, I've been coveting the online essay of the week feature at Dave's Mormon Inquiry. I'm going to adopt a similar feature here that I will call "Essay Notes" (in keeping with my Book Notes and Quote Notes categories).

First up is The Power of Evidence in the Nurturing of Faith, by John Welch, from the FARMS book, Echoes and Evidences of the Book of Mormon. Welch gives some of his thoughts on the relationship of evidence and faith. The basic thesis is summed up in the title, that the role of evidence--in particular, in support of the Book of Mormon--is to maintain enough of a sense of plausibility to allow faith to become established and grow. Along the way he draws on the role of evidence in the law to argue that evidence is not a black-or-white thing, but something that has greater or weaker strength depending on a number of contexts, and that ultimately a subjective judgment must be made. For example, after listing various degrees of certitude required in different legal circumstances, he writes:

In a religious setting, no arbiter prescribes or defines the level of evidence that will sustain a healthy faith. All individuals must set for themselves the levels of proof that they will require. Yet how does one privately determine what burden of proof the Book of Mormon should bear?... Few people realize how much rides on their personal choice in these matters and that their answer necessarily originates in the domain of faith.

The essay does takes a faith-first approach; much of the essay seems to treat evidence as useful only insofar as it builds faith. But is it only a one-way street? Shouldn't evidence also inform faith? Welch seems to imply that it should, at least to some degree. For example:

Caution is also advised on the side of faith. Revealed knowledge must be understood and interpreted correctly. What has actually been revealed?... Moreover, the implications of revelation are not always clear.

And one that I have highlighted before (quoting Sydney Sperry):

Too many persons in every generation, including our own, hope for things—fantastic things—in the name of faith and religion, but give little thought as to whether or not they are based on truth.

As President Packer said, mixing these two things is like mixing oil and water. Although it is certainly not the last word, in my opinion Welch's essay is one of the better attempts in LDS literature.

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