Prospects For Natural Theology

Natural theology, which suffered significantly in the eighteenth century as a result of the criticisms of David Hume and Immanuel Kant, appeared to be a terminal patient in the mid-twentieth century in the 1960s, however philosophers and theologians began

Natural theology, the claim that we come to know God through the natural world, has persisted in the common understanding in spite of the fact that modern philosophy - and even theology - rejected it. The author argues that the reason for this is that natural theology was taken to rest on abstract proof or subtle religious feelings, when actually it stems from more ordinary experiences and practices common in our natural life. He shows that even Kant and Barth, the leading philosophical and theological opponents to natural theology, opened the door for a more pragmatic appraisal of natural theology in their late work. The author then shows how the common conviction that our natural life testifies to the reality of God arises inevitably and for good reason from natural practices, propensities, and the dispositions stemming from them. The pragmatic natural theology which results is one neither Kant nor Barth need object to, for it neither illegitimately extends our scientific knowledge of nature nor presumptuously legitimates christian theology.

This book offers a rationale for a new ‘ramified natural theology’ that is in dialogue with both science and historical-critical study of the Bible. Traditionally, knowledge of God has been seen to come from two sources, nature and revelation. However, a rigid separation between these sources cannot be maintained, since what purports to be revelation cannot be accepted without qualification: rational argument is needed to infer both the existence of God from nature and the particular truth claims of the Christian faith from the Bible. Hence the distinction between ‘bare natural theology’ and ‘ramified natural theology.’ The book begins with bare natural theology as background to its main focus on ramified natural theology. Bayesian confirmation theory is utilised to evaluate competing hypotheses in both cases, in a similar manner to that by which competing hypotheses in science can be evaluated on the basis of empirical data. In this way a case is built up for the rationality of a Christian theist worldview. Addressing issues of science, theology and revelation in a new framework, this book will be of keen interest to scholars working in Religion and Science, Natural Theology, Philosophy of Religion, Biblical Studies, Systematic Theology, and Science and Culture.

Natural theology, in the view of many, is in crisis. In this long-awaited book, Alister McGrath sets out a new vision for natural theology, re-establishing its legitimacy and utility. A timely and innovative resource on natural theology: the exploration of knowledge of God as it is observed through nature Written by internationally regarded theologian and author of numerous bestselling books, Alister McGrath Develops an intellectually rigorous vision of natural theology as a point of convergence between the Christian faith, the arts and literature, and the natural sciences, opening up important possibilities for dialogue and cross-fertilization Treats natural theology as a cultural phenomenon, broader than Christianity itself yet always possessing a distinctively Christian embodiment Explores topics including beauty, goodness, truth, and the theological imagination; how investigating nature gives rise to both theological and scientific theories; the idea of a distinctively Christian approach to nature; and how natural theology can function as a bridge between Christianity and other faiths

Theological clearances / Kenneth L. Schmitz -- Reason and reliance / James Ross -- On the very strongest arguments / George I. Mavrodes -- Hermeneutic philosophy and natural theology / Joseph J. Kockelmans -- Natural theology and positive predication / Frederick Ferré -- How to avoid speaking of God / John D. Caputo -- Is a natural theology still viable today? / W. Norris Clarke -- In defence of a kind of natural theology / Bowman Clarke -- Soft natural theology / Ninian Smart -- Experience and natural theology / Eugene Thomas Long -- Theodicy / Louis Dupré

Reprint of the original, first published in 1845.

The Oxford Handbook of Natural Theology" explores the diversity and vitality o natural theology, both historically and as an issue of contemporary concern