On My Religion

Abstract

This article intertwines fragments of John Rawls’s autobiography with elements of his philosophical project, focusing on formative experiences such as his service on the Japanese front during World War II and his confrontation with the reality of the Holocaust. These events, together with his philosophical training at Princeton, profoundly shaped his intellectual trajectory, leading to the abandonment of his traditional faith as he grappled with questions of evil, justice, and tolerance. The discussion then shifts to his political liberalism, where Rawls defended the legitimacy of diverse comprehensive doctrines within constitutional democracies and their right to participate in public reason. The article concludes by raising further epistemological and theological questions, situating Rawls’s personal reflections alongside his broader philosophical commitment to pluralism and the moral foundations of liberal democracy.