Criticisms of Natural Theology and the Knowledge of God

1. Lecture 19: God and Reason

2. Criticisms of natural theology

3. Criticisms of Natural Theology • Key questions: • Is natural theology a valid means of arriving at knowledge of God? • Can logical, rational arguments for God ever suffice for passionate and personal belief in god? • Can we agree with the validity or strength of an argument without having to accept or endorse it? • For example; can I accept the validity of the cosmological argument without agreeing that God exists? • Would it ever be acceptable if someone believed in God purely because of the rational and logical validity of an argument? • What is it about faith that makes logical arguments inappropriate?

4. Is the distinction between natural and revealed theology valid? Bacon and Hamann Knowledge of God through special revelation Revealed Theology Natural Theology Knowledge of God through the natural intellect The knowledge of man is as the waters, some descending from above, and some springing from beneath; the one informed by the light of nature, the other inspired by divine revelation. Francis Bacon, The Advancement of Learning, p.105

5. Consider Bacon’s claim in light of Hamann’s observation Bacon and Hamann The knowledge of man is as the waters, some descending from above, and some springing from beneath; the one informed by the light of nature, the other inspired by divine revelation. Francis Bacon, The Advancement of Learning, p.105 Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters! J.G. Hamann, Aesthetica in Nuce, p.95

6. Is the distinction between natural and revealed theology valid? Bacon and Hamann Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters! J.G. Hamann, Aesthetica in Nuce, p.95 Knowledge of God through special revelation Revealed Theology Hamann claims that even natural theology is only possible because of God. For Hamann, revealed and natural theology cannot be distinguished so clearly. Natural theology depends first on revelation Natural Theology Knowledge of God through the natural intellect

7. Can we know God rationally? Criticisms of natural theology Natural theology does not exist as an entity capable of becoming a separate subject within what I consider to be real theology – not even for the sake of being rejected. If one occupies oneself with real theology one can pass by so-called natural theology only as one would pass by an abyss into which it is inadvisable to step if one does not want to fall. All one can do is turn one’s back upon it as upon the great temptation and source of error, by having nothing to do with it -Karl Barth- “No!” in Emil Brunner and Karl Barth, Natural Theology (Eugene, OR:Wipf and Stock, 2002) p. 75. “No!” in Emil Brunner and Karl Barth, Natural Theology (Eugene, OR:Wipf and Stock, 2002) p. 75.

8. Can we know God rationally? Based on his radical empiricism, Hume makes the following claim: Criticisms of natural theology I am better pleased with the method of reasoning here delivered, as I think it may serve to confound those dangerous friends or disguised enemies to the Christian Religion, who have undertaken to defend it by the principles of human reason. Our most holy religion is founded on faith not on reason; and it is a sure method of exposing it to put it to such a trial as it is, by no means, fitted to endure. -David Hume- Principles Concerning Human Understanding, pp.666-667

9. Non-Rational approaches

10. A non-rational argument for God’s existence • We can choose whether to believe or not believe in God’s existence • If we choose not to believe in God then either: • Our belief is correct; God does not exist and there will be no consequences • Our belief is incorrect; God does exist we will be punished infinitely for not believing in God • If we choose to believe in God then either: • Our belief is correct; God does exist and we will be rewarded infinitely for our belief • Our belief is incorrect; God does not exist and there will be no consequences • Therefore we ought to wager on God’s existence (we have less to lose) Pascal’s Wager

11. Is Religious experience evidence for the existence of God? • Some thinkers maintain that religious experience is sufficient for belief in God’s existence • Examples: • Saul became Paul after a religious experience and conversion • Near-death experiences • People claim to be ‘touched’ by God • St. Theresa’s mystical visions • In such cases these immediate, private, personal experiences are ‘proof’ that God exists • Such proof is entirely individual Religious Experience

12. Freud’s Attack on Religion • Freud’s attack on religion • Religion is a ‘mass-delusion’ which depresses the value of life and distorts our picture of the real world • According to Freud the need for religion arises from our unresolved childhood need for a father to protect us • This need is accompanied by feelings of resentment, need, love and fear which continue to influence us as adults • Religion arises out of the human attempt to create certainty in an uncertain world • We use religion to ensure our own happiness and protection from suffering

13. Freud’s Attack on Religion • Freud’s solution • Religion is nothing more than an ‘infantile’ escape from reality for weak and deluded individuals • How do we escape from this? • Freud maintains that dispelling the illusion of religion is fundamental • Religion can only be escaped on an individual level (no prescription for social transformation) • We must courageously face the truth and harshness of life without deluding ourselves (through science, or art?)

14. William James on Religious Experience • James objects to theories of Medical Materialism • Medical materialism maintains that we can explain religious experiences by appealing to underlying physical problems • Examples: • Saul became Paul after an epileptic fit • St. Theresa’s mystical visions were the result of hysteria • In such cases these immediate, private, personal experiences are ‘proof’ that there are underlying physical problems • James argues that medical materialism is not philosophically reasonable and it is incoherent with the rest of our moral and intellectual life • Instead, what matters is whether religious experience makes a practical difference in the life of the individual William James

15. Kierkegaard

16. The Story of Abraham • Abraham and Sarah are very old and Sarah has still not had a child • | • God promises Abraham that through his offspring the word of god will be spread throughout the world • | • 3. Miraculously Sarah gives birth to Isaac • | • 4. God tells Abraham to bring Isaac to mount Moriah to be sacrificed • | • Abraham journeys to mount Moriah and prepares to sacrifice Isaac • | • At the very last moment an angel stops Abraham • | • Isaac is spared. Abraham sacrifices the ram instead. They return home • Genesis 22:1-19

17. Caravaggio's TheBinding of Isaac

18. The Story of Abraham • In Fear and Trembling Kierkegaard tries to understand the trial of Abraham • Kierkegaard finds Abraham’s trial to be terrifying because it makes murder into a holy act (must I go and murder my son?) • He claims that is incomprehensible (how can Abraham be willing to murder Isaac and still believe that Isaac will live?) • Kierkegaard asks, why did Abraham follow God’s command? • Abraham could have: • Ignored God’s command • Pretended it was not addressed to him • Turned around and gone home • Murdered Isaac earlier (get the job done sooner!) • Refused to murder Isaac • But Abraham chose to follow God’s command

19. Kierkegaard asks, what separates abraham from madmen and murderers? Abraham enjoys honor and glory as the father of faith, whereas he ought to be prosecuted and convicted of murder Either abraham is the father of faith OR he is a murderer A: Abraham has faith. Q: what is faith if it can transform murder into a holy act? The story of Abraham Abraham Madman God Made Us Do It!

20. Kierkegaard on Faith • According to Kierkegaard, the story of Abraham shows: • Faith is distinct from and irreducible to reason • Faith is paradoxical (involves believing in both P and ¬P) • Because faith is paradoxical it defies reason; it is absurd • Faith is incomprehensible; it is impossible to ‘understand’ • Faith is capable of defying human moral standards • For Kierkegaard belief in God requires faith, passion, subjectivity and belief, not objective knowledge or reason. • Mistakes occur when we try to relate objectively to that which is entirely subjective The Story of Abraham