Some critical reflections on the hiddenness argument

Authors: Aijaz, Imran¹; Weidler, Markus²

Source: International Journal for Philosophy of Religion, Volume 61, Number 1, February 2007 , pp. 1-23(23)

Publisher: Springer

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Abstract:

J.L. Schellenberg's Argument from Divine Hiddenness maintains that if a perfectly loving God exists, then there is no non-resistant non-belief. Given that such nonbelief exists, however, it follows that there is no perfectly loving God. To support the conditional claim, Schellenberg presents conceptual and analogical considerations, which we subject to critical scrutiny. We also evaluate Schellenberg's claim that the belief that God exists is logically necessary for entering into a relationship with the Divine. Finally, we turn to possible variants of Schellenberg's case, and argue that the modifications necessary to accommodate our criticismas leave those variants with much less of a sting than originally suggested by his provocative formulation.

Keywords: Schellenberg; Vanstone; Divine hiddenness; Loving God; Belief; Nonbelief; Accommodationist strategy

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11153-006-9103-8

Affiliations: 1: Email: imran.aijaz@xtra.co.nz 2: Email: m.weidler@auckland.ac.nz

Publication date: 2007-02-01