Abstract
In Weidner’s view, Schellenberg’s hiddenness argument is not a proof, i.e., a sound deductive argument, for the non-existence of God. For at least one premise has plausibly been shown to be left unsupported, namely that belief that God exists is necessary for personal relationship with God. However, the book’s research question of why, if there is a God, God’s existence is not evident to everyone, does not here find an answer. The purpose of Weidner’s detailed exposition of the hiddenness argument and particular discussion of one of its premises is to invite as broad a range of scholars as possible to seriously reflect on Schellenberg’s anti-theistic hiddenness reasoning and join the hiddenness debate.
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Notes
- 1.
McKaughan, “Authentic faith and acknowledged risk,” 104.
- 2.
Smith, Belief and History, v.
- 3.
Schellenberg, The Hiddenness Argument, 54.
- 4.
Schellenberg, Divine Hiddenness and Human Reason, 212–213.
- 5.
See Benedict XVI., Apostolic Letter ‘Motu Proprio Data’ Porta Fidei for the Indiction of the Year of Faith , ed. Secretariat of the German Bishop’s Conference, Bonn 2012 (Città del Vaticano: Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 2011), 3.
- 6.
Howard-Snyder, “Propositional Faith ,” 370.
- 7.
Schellenberg, Evolutionary Religion, 81.
- 8.
See Heinrich Döring, Abwesenheit Gottes: Fragen und Antworten heutiger Theologie (Paderborn: Verlag Bonifacius-Druckerei, 1977), 10.
- 9.
Even though this is a road which Schellenberg, based on his writings so far, is highly unlikely to take, other proponents of his hiddenness argument might nevertheless take it.
- 10.
Yandell, The Wisdom to Doubt, and The Elusive God, 214. Here, I borrow from Yandell who makes this point regarding Schellenberg’s argument for religious skepticism developed in the latter’s The Wisdom to Doubt.
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Weidner, V. (2018). Conclusion. In: Examining Schellenberg's Hiddenness Argument. Palgrave Frontiers in Philosophy of Religion. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-97517-7_5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-97517-7_5
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