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The Riddling God
Gleeson, Andrew
Gleeson, Andrew
Author
Abstract
This chapter examines the ontological argument (OA) and contend that if crucial words like ‘God’ and ‘great’ are not given a religious, Godly, understanding from the outset they are, by default, given a ‘worldly’ understanding hostile to real faith, and that while the OA fails as a proof. It presents a penetrating insight into the relationship between religious understanding and religious belief. Much philosophy of religion tries to prove or disprove the existence of God. The bare sequence of words “God exists” has as much truth in it as the culture or individual who uses it, or hears or reads it, can bring to it. The “more is better” criterion is an unnoticed default assumption in most discussions of OA and of God as a “perfect being.” Saying God is disembodied is not to say he is an invisible mind, but indicates that notions of visibility and invisibility have no application to God.
Keywords
theology, ontology, God, faith, proof, belief
Date
2020
Type
Book chapter
Journal
Book
Morality in a Realistic Spirit: Essays for Cora Diamond
Volume
Issue
Page Range
132
Article Number
ACU Department
Collections
Relation URI
Event URL
Open Access Status
License
All rights reserved
File Access
Controlled
Notes
© 2020 Taylor & Francis
The right of the editors to be identified as the authors of the editorial material, and of the authors for their individual chapters, has been asserted in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers.
The right of the editors to be identified as the authors of the editorial material, and of the authors for their individual chapters, has been asserted in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers.