#02 ✓ Consider: Would an actual personal God use a book to introduce himself rather than simply stepping out of the shadows?
Considerations
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November 5, 2024
Consider the Following:
Summary: Why would a personal God who desires a relationship rely on a book for revelation rather than direct encounters, especially given claims of omnipresence and omnibenevolence. This content argues that divine hiddenness and the reliance on indirect methods make God indistinguishable from other deities, casting doubt on the sufficiency of evidence and the authenticity of faith that discourages open inquiry.
Imagine a woman named Julie who discovers a compelling book describing an allegedly real man who loves her deeply. According to the book, this man remains invisible yet is supposedly always within arms reach. Julie learns that unless she believes in his presence, she risks rejecting his love, resulting in his eternal anger. After years of carefully reading the book, Julie never actually encounters the man. She is left with only the romantic promises in the book instead of the actual embrace of the man. Rationally, what can Julie rationally conclude about these claims?
Similarly, what should we conclude about a book that claims an omnipresent, loving God exists but never provides a direct encounter? Many believers in other proposed Gods also report vague feelings of divine presence, so why is there no clear, distinguishing interaction?
The Christian God is said to possess these qualities:
Omnipresence: He is beside us, observing us.
Desire for a Personal Relationship: He seeks connection with each of us.
Why, then, would such a God avoid clear, face-to-face interaction with us? What would prevent a truly omnipotent and relational God from fully revealing himself? This silence mirrors the modus operandi of other deities. Yet the Bible portrays its God as jealous and easily angered when people turn to alternative gods (Numbers 25:9). Why would a unique God rely on the same hidden approach used by countless other deities?
Two arguments are often offered:
Revealing Himself Would Violate Human Free Will. Does this follow logically? If a suitor appears directly to someone, does that undermine their freedom to accept or reject them? Recognition of someone’s presence is separate from accepting their advances. How could one truly accept a relationship with someone whose existence remains uncertain? If God is omnipotent and desires our love, why wouldn’t he promptly remove any barriers to belief and worship?
There is Sufficient Evidence for the Christian God. Is this claim supported by global observations? Do people unexposed to Christianity experience encounters with the Christian God? The Christian God appears to initiate no personal relationship with those unfamiliar with him or even with those steeped in Christian culture. Christians often learn about God not through direct experience but through teachings and scripture. Can this truly be called a ‘personal’ relationship?
Historical Appearances vs. Modern Silence
A genuinely personal God would likely foster an unambiguous, two-way dialogue, eliminating any risk of miscommunication. Yet, the “personal” Christian God seems to use a book—a method of communication similar to countless other deities—without providing clarity. This method has led to numerous sects and interpretations, further obscuring his message. The Bible’s God appears reluctant to step forward.
In biblical accounts, God allegedly appeared directly to individuals, such as Saul on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:3). Historically, Christians have also claimed miraculous encounters with God. Interestingly, such reports have declined with the rise of scientific scrutiny. Has God’s approach “changed” in a way that makes him seemingly averse to evidence-based scrutiny?
The implications of divine hiddenness are profound. Even an indifferent deity might be expected to appear accidentally. Yet the Bible’s God seems to actively avoid human observation. This issue becomes more pressing when we consider the lack of responses to intercessory prayer and the persistence of human suffering. Does the absence of a visible, relational Christian God suggest that he is as unlikely to exist as any other unobservable deity?
The Hidden Suitor: An Analogy for Divine Hiddenness
Jim, Jack, Jake, or no one?
Consider Sally, a lonely woman who answers her door to find three men, each wearing a different colored hat. The green-hat man claims his friend Jim loves her deeply and is with her at that moment, urging her to sense his presence. The blue-hat man insists his friend Jack is always with her, needing only her belief. The orange-hat man asserts his friend Jake is standing behind her bedroom curtains, hoping for her belief. When Sally attempts to verify by pulling back the curtain, the men protest, suggesting she should feel his presence instead. They each offer her a love letter from their respective friends, urging her to believe without direct evidence.
This scenario mirrors the concept of divine hiddenness, where multiple religions present sacred texts as evidence of their deity’s love and presence, yet none provide direct, unambiguous encounters. Believers are often encouraged to rely on faith and personal feelings rather than empirical evidence, leading to a multitude of conflicting beliefs, each supported by similar forms of indirect evidence.
The Power of Labeling Doubt as Wickedness in Religious Contexts
Religious communities often interpret doubt or disbelief in notions such as an omnipresent God authoring a “Holy Book” as a sign of moral failing or rebellion against the God in question. This approach serves several functions:
Psychological Impact: It induces guilt and fear, discouraging individuals from questioning or seeking evidence.
Social Impact: It fosters group cohesion by stigmatizing dissent, thereby maintaining uniformity of belief.
Theological Impact: It reinforces authority and preserves doctrine by discouraging critical examination.
However, this tactic can suppress intellectual honesty, cause emotional harm, and alienate individuals who seek genuine understanding.
In conclusion, will we yield to the notion that any actual powerful God of the Universe desiring a relationship with each of us would have any cause to write a book to reveal himself? Is this not the anemic modus operandi of all religions each religion consider false? Would an actual God not make himself clearly known to honest and earnest seekers?
The Logical Form
Argument 1: Divine Hiddenness and Personal Relationship
Argument 2: Hiddenness and Free Will
Argument 3: Divine Hiddenness and Global Belief
Argument 4: Comparison with Other Deities
Argument 5: Divine Silence and Evidence-Based Belief
Argument 6: Doubt as Moral Failure
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A Dialogue
The Hidden God
Notes:
Helpful Analogies
Addressing Theological Responses
Clarifications
Other Considerations:
#01 ✓ Consider: Do we dare assess the character and actions of a proposed God before accepting the existence of that God?
#02 ✓ Consider: Would an actual personal God use a book to introduce himself rather than simply stepping out of the shadows?
#03 ✓ Consider: Does the Bible exhibit the doctrinal clarity we would expect of a holy book written by an actual God?
#04 ✓ Consider: Would a book authored by an actual God lack the content that could have prevented so much innocent suffering?
#05 ✓ Consider: Would an actual loving God act as unlovingly as does the God depicted in the Bible?
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