In my reading of William Dembski’s latest, The End of Christianity: Find a Good God in an Evil World, I was introduced to the god of Richards, famed neo-atheist and professor of the Public Understanding of Science at Oxford University:
The God of the Old Testament is arguably the most unpleasant character in all fiction: jealous and proud of it; a petty, unjust, unforgiving control-freak; a vindictive, bloodthirsty ethnic cleanser; a misogynistic, megalomaniacal, sadomasochistic, capriciously malevolent bully. (The God Delusion, p. 31, as quoted by Dembski, p. 3)
Dembski remarks, “Dawkins’s obsession with the Christian God borders on the pathological. Yet, he underscores what has always been the main reason people reject God: they cannot believe that God is good.” (p. 3)
William Dembski’s latest work is yet another stab at theodicy, an attempt to resolve how a good God and an evil world can coexist.
“William Dembski’s latest work is yet another stab at theodicy, an attempt to resolve how a good God and an evil world can coexist.”
This one went over my head, friend. Please unpack it for me. Thanks! (Love the new look of the site!)
R,
Well, it’s that old human problem: if God is good, why does evil exist in the world. 1. Probably he’s all-good but lack the power to remove evil; 2. Or he’s all-powerful but lack the goodness to remove evil; so we’re going to conclude that God doesn’t exist because evil exists.
Theodicy, from two Greek terms, one for “justice” and the other for “God,” so maintaining that God is just and good though evil exist.
Yeah, I like the new theme as well.
Dawkins’ God: The Man in the Mirror, like so many, even those who should know better.
Dawkins’ God: The wife, She Who Must Be Obeyed. If he knows what’s good for him.
As a theologian, Dawkins makes a good biologist. It’s not an original observation.
Dembski’s effects of the Fall moving backwards in time requires a better read and more thought than I could give it in a glance in the bookstore. And likely more brains than I’ve got.
Chuck, Dawkins is raving mad. In fact, he considers belief in God to be chief evil there has ever been.
But he’s got quite a persuasive pen.
Dembski remains rather interesting. I still working through it. ha!
TCR,
In the words of one Cameron Phillips, “Thank you for explaining.”
R,
I hope I may have inspired you to dig deeper.