Why is God so hidden? - The Divine Hiddenness Argument

Summary

This video explores the argument from divine hiddenness, notably presented by philosopher John Schellenberg. The argument suggests that if a perfectly loving God exists, He would ensure everyone could know and have a relationship with Him. Since not everyone believes in God, including non-resistant non-believers, this raises doubts about God's existence. Schellenberg argues that if God were truly loving, He would make His presence known in some way. The video invites viewers to reflect on the nature of love and whether the argument's premises hold up.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Argument from Divine Hiddenness questions why God isn't more obvious if He exists, particularly if He's loving, knowing, and powerful.
• 🤔 John Schellenberg's argument claims that a loving God would make His existence known to everyone, especially to foster a relationship with His creatures.
• 🧠 Schellenberg argues that in order to have a relationship with God, people need to know that God exists. It’s impossible to have a relationship with something you’re unaware of.
• 👀 If God is perfectly loving and powerful, He would make sure that everyone could believe in Him, unless they deliberately resist the relationship.
• 🤷 There are people who don't believe in God, not because they are resisting, but because they lack evidence or exposure. This raises questions about why a loving God wouldn’t reveal Himself to them.
• 👨‍👩‍👧 Schellenberg uses the analogy of a mother playing hide-and-seek with her child, stating a loving mother wouldn’t hide so well that the child begins to doubt her presence, paralleling God’s hiddenness.
• 💔 Non-resistant non-believers include those who lost their faith but want it back, those never exposed to the concept of God, or those who carefully weigh the evidence but still don’t believe.
• ⚖ Schellenberg argues that the existence of non-resistant non-believers suggests a conflict with the existence of a perfectly loving God.
• 🤨 Schellenberg's argument concludes that a loving God likely doesn't exist, as His hiddenness contradicts the notion of a loving and all-powerful deity.
• 🧩 Theists challenge Schellenberg’s argument by questioning his premises, particularly the nature of love and what constitutes non-resistance.

Q & A

What is the argument from divine hiddenness?

The argument from divine hiddenness suggests that if an all-loving, all-powerful, and all-knowing God exists, He would make His existence more obvious. Since many people do not believe in God without willfully rejecting Him, this is taken as evidence against God's existence.

Why do proponents of the argument think God would make His existence more obvious?

Proponents argue that if God desires a personal relationship with His creatures, He would make His existence known to them. This is because it seems difficult to have a relationship with someone if you are unaware they exist.

What is John Schellenberg's view on a perfectly loving God?

Schellenberg argues that a perfectly loving God would ensure everyone has the opportunity to have a relationship with Him unless they willfully choose not to. Since some people don't believe in God without willful resistance, this challenges the idea of a perfectly loving God.

What kind of evidence does Schellenberg suggest God could provide?

Schellenberg suggests that God wouldn't need to perform spectacular miracles to prove His existence. Subtle ways, such as providing people with an experiential awareness of His loving presence or shaping their minds to detect His presence, would be sufficient.

What is the key analogy Schellenberg uses to explain divine hiddenness?

Schellenberg uses the analogy of a mother playing hide-and-seek with her child. If the mother hides so well that her child starts doubting whether she is still there, it wouldn't be considered loving. Similarly, Schellenberg argues that a loving God wouldn’t allow His creatures to doubt His existence.

What does Schellenberg mean by 'non-resistant non-believers'?

Non-resistant non-believers are people who don't believe in God, not because they are resisting belief, but because they haven't been convinced of His existence. Examples include those who lost their faith but want it back, or those who grew up in cultures without exposure to the concept of God.

How does the argument from divine hiddenness relate to the problem of evil?

The argument from divine hiddenness, like the problem of evil, is a logical or deductive argument against the existence of God. Both arguments suggest that certain observed realities (evil or hiddenness) are incompatible with the existence of an all-loving, all-knowing, and all-powerful God.

What is the main premise of the argument that Schellenberg presents?

The main premise is that a perfectly loving God would ensure everyone has the opportunity to believe in His existence unless they willfully choose not to. Since some people do not believe in God without willfully resisting, Schellenberg concludes that a perfectly loving God does not exist.

What are some possible responses to the argument from divine hiddenness?

One response is to challenge Schellenberg's view of the nature of love, arguing that a loving God might have reasons for remaining hidden. Another is to reconsider what constitutes resistance to God, suggesting that some non-believers may be resisting in subtle ways.

Why is the second premise about the necessity of knowing God’s existence for a relationship important in the argument?

The second premise is crucial because it states that belief in God's existence is a prerequisite for a relationship with Him. If this premise is false, then it might be possible to have a relationship with God without being certain of His existence, weakening the argument from divine hiddenness.