Divine Hiddenness and Human ReasonIn this clearly written and tightly argued book, J. L. Schellenberg addresses a fundamental yet neglected religious problem. If there is a God, he asks, why is his existence not more obvious? Traditionally, theists have claimed that God is hidden in order to account for the fact that the evidence of his existence is as weak as it is. Schellenberg maintains that, given the understanding of God's moral character to which theists are committed, this claim runs into serious difficulty. There are grounds, the author writes, for thinking that the perfectly loving God of theism would not be hidden, that such a God would put the fact of his existence beyond reasonable nonbelief. Since reasonable nonbelief occurs, Schellenberg argues, it follows that there is here an argument of considerable force for atheism. In developing his claim, Schellenberg carefully examines the relevant views of such theists as Pascal, Butler, Kierkegaard, Hick, and others. He clarifies their suggestions concerning Divine hiddenness and shows how they fall short of providing a rebuttal for the argument he presents. That argument, he concludes, poses a serious challenge to theism, to which contemporary theists must seek to respond. The first full-length treatment of its topic, Divine Hiddenness and Human Reason will be of interest to anyone who has sought to reach a conclusion as to God's existence, and especially to theologians and philosophers of religion. |
Contents
Introduction I | 4 |
Some Epistemic Implications of Divine Love | 17 |
Is a Strong Epistemic Situation in Relation to Theism | 44 |
The Reasonableness of Nonbelief | 58 |
A Summation of the Case | 83 |
S Moral Freedom and Its Requirements | 95 |
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Common terms and phrases
accept affairs Alvin Plantinga apparently argue argument bad actions believe that G believer's Butler Chapter choice of destiny Christian claim clearly cognitive freedom conclusion consider culpable desire discussion Divine hiddenness entails evidence sufficient existence of God Faith and Rationality follows genuine choice given God's existence Hence human inclined individuals intellectual probation interpretation investigation John Hick John Macquarrie Kierkegaard ment moral freedom nature Nicholas Wolterstorff notion occurrence of reasonable parity belief Pascal Penelhum perfectly loving perhaps personal relationship Philosophy of Religion Plantinga plausible plausibly viewed possible present Presumption problem of evil proposition question reason to suppose reasonable nonbelief reasonableness of nonbelief rebuttal reject relation to theism relevant religion religious experience response Richard Swinburne Robert Adams seek seems self-deception sense situation in relation sort strong epistemic situation sufficient for belief suggest Swinburne's Talbot temptation Terence Penelhum theistic evidence tion true William Alston wish writes