What I Believe

What I Believe presents philosopher Anthony Kenny's personal reflections on faith, reason, and belief after his journey from Catholic priest to agnostic thinker. Kenny examines core questions about God, religion, morality and meaning through the lens of both his scholarly expertise and lived experience. The book traces Kenny's intellectual evolution as he grapples with fundamental philosophical and theological concepts that shaped his worldview. He analyzes arguments for and against God's existence, explores the relationship between faith and rationality, and considers the foundations of ethical behavior in a secular framework. Kenny engages with major philosophical traditions while maintaining accessibility for general readers interested in questions of belief and unbelief. His analytical approach combines rigorous philosophical reasoning with candid personal narrative about his own spiritual journey. The work stands as a model for how careful philosophical thinking can be applied to matters of faith and doubt, demonstrating that questioning one's beliefs can lead to deeper understanding rather than mere skepticism.

Readers note Kenny's clear writing style and systematic breakdown of his philosophical views, though some find the presentation dry. The personal narrative elements about his transition from Catholic priest to agnostic philosopher resonated with many reviewers. Readers appreciated: - Direct engagement with difficult theological questions - Balanced treatment of religious and secular perspectives - Clear explanations of complex philosophical concepts Common criticisms: - Too academic for general readers - Insufficient depth on certain key arguments - Some repetition from Kenny's previous works Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (42 ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (12 ratings) Sample reader comments: "Kenny explains difficult concepts without talking down to readers" - Amazon reviewer "The personal elements make the philosophical arguments more engaging" - Goodreads "Expected more original arguments rather than summaries of his existing work" - Goodreads

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🔹 Anthony Kenny served as Master of Balliol College, Oxford and wrote this book in his 80s as a philosophical summation of his life's intellectual journey, particularly his transition from Catholic priest to agnostic. 🔹 The book's structure deliberately mirrors Bertrand Russell's famous 1925 work of the same title, though Kenny reaches significantly different conclusions about religion and ethics. 🔹 Kenny challenges both religious and atheist certainties in the book, arguing that agnosticism is the most rational position on the existence of God. 🔹 Though Kenny left the priesthood and Catholicism, he maintained that Thomas Aquinas was one of history's greatest philosophers and continued to defend aspects of Aquinas's thinking throughout his career. 🔹 The book addresses major life questions using analytical philosophy methods while remaining accessible to general readers - a balance that earned Kenny praise for making complex philosophical ideas understandable without oversimplifying them.