Horror, ecstasy, God: In memoriam, John Updike

Journal article


Colledge, Richard. (2009). Horror, ecstasy, God: In memoriam, John Updike. Ethics Education. 15(1), pp. 42 - 60.
AuthorsColledge, Richard
Abstract

This paper looks to examine the closely connected themes of God’s existence, suffering and the goodness of the world in the work of American novelist, short-story writer, essayist and poet, John Updike, who died earlier this year. The text that structures the discussion is the syllogism he sets out in his semi-autobiographical work, Self-consciousness, which captures the thematic core of so much of his thought on these themes: viz, “If God does not exist, the world is a horror show; but the world is not a horror-show; therefore, God exists”. The discussion interweaves Updike with a various other conversation partners, in particular the late cultural anthropologist, Ernest Becker, and contemporary philosopher, William Desmond.

Year2009
JournalEthics Education
Journal citation15 (1), pp. 42 - 60
PublisherGraduate School for Research in Philosophy and Theology, Australian Catholic University
ISSN1444-8386
Open accessOpen access
Page range42 - 60
Research GroupSchool of Philosophy
Publisher's version
Place of publicationAustralia
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https://acuresearchbank.acu.edu.au/item/86z51/horror-ecstasy-god-in-memoriam-john-updike

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