About Reasons to Believe
- 5 Research Scholars
- 50+ Visiting Scholars
- 250+ Apologetics Community Members
- 140+ Scholar Community Members
- 40+ Chapters Worldwide
Our Mission
We make every effort to help people discover that sound reason and scientific research consistently affirm the truth of the Bible and of the Good News it reveals.
Our History
Reasons to Believe (RTB) was established in 1986 with the awareness that people have a fundamental desire to understand our world, the universe beyond it, and the implications of that knowledge for their beliefs. As an international, interdenominational ministry, our purpose is to show that science and the Christian faith are allies, not enemies. Our commitment to sound reason and scientific research puts RTB in a unique position to engage in gentle, respectful dialogue with people from various worldviews. Our mission is to bring hope to people by illuminating and clarifying God’s role as Creator and highlighting his purposes for creation, especially for human beings.
This mission started with RTB president and founder Dr. Hugh Ross. Often you will find Dr. Ross engaging in his favorite activity, responding to questions about science and faith. His fervor began at age seven when he went to the library to find out why stars are hot. Physics and astronomy captured his curiosity and never let go. After completing his doctorate at the University of Toronto and postdoctoral research at the California Institute of Technology, Dr. Ross served on the ministry team at Christ Church Sierra Madre. Response to his breadth and depth of experience in both science and faith prompted him in March of 1986 to start Reasons to Believe. For over thirty years, RTB has produced thousands of resources for Christians and nontheists alike and participated in lively conversations about the relationship between science and faith.
Our Impact
People tell us via letters, emails, social media posts, and in-person comments that RTB uplifts them in a variety of ways, thanks to the work of God’s Spirit. Some find fresh hope, others discover answers to doubts, some resolve their cognitive dissonance, others gain confidence to speak openly about their faith, and many learn they are not alone in their need to question and challenge rather than “just believe.”
Our Convictions
At a time when controversies abound and threaten to disrupt unity among Christ’s followers, we at Reasons to Believe want to affirm and clarify our spiritual, moral, and scientific convictions.
Conviction #1: God’s revelation in the words of Scripture and in the world of nature is wholly trustworthy and will always prove consistent when thoroughly understood because God is the Source of both.
Conviction #2: Scripture and nature deserve humble, careful, and prayerful investigation/interpretation. We must look at all available research data, making every effort to mitigate personal, political, and cultural biases.
Conviction #3: We are called by God to present our findings and engage with others—those who agree with our views and those who disagree—in earnest, respectful dialogue that supersedes our desire to argue or persuade.
Our Beliefs
We believe questions and dialogue are good because truth invites and withstands testing.
Our Core Values
RTB embraces a matrix of core values, based on what we see in the life of Jesus:
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High View of Scripture and Science The words of the Bible and the facts of nature come from the same Source, from God himself, who chose to make himself known.
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Ongoing Development Of a testable creation model because the world needs a positive growing case for faith in a caring Creator.
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Readiness to Give Reasons People have questions and doubts that deserve reasonable, well-researched responses (1 Peter 3:15a)
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Communication of Those Reasons With gentleness, respect, and a clean conscience because people observe attitude and demeanor as much as they listen to words (1 Peter 3:15b).
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Commitment to Application Because intellectual engagement should lead to effective evangelism, not merely to winning arguments.
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Apologetics for Evangelism Because history awaits completion of the commission Christ charged his followers to fulfill.
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Constructive Integration Of God’s revelation because truth will always be consistent whenever it’s found.