Faith, power, and philosophy: divine-human interaction reclaimed

ABSTRACT

Many philosophers and theologians try to add credibility to Christian faith by means of philosophical arguments and explanations. There are two main ways to pursue this aim, and one way is arguably more defensible than the other, at least from the perspective of the apostle Paul. Philosophers and theologians who hold that Paul has a contribution to make in this area should consider the relative efficacy of these two ways. The key area of contrast lies in the epistemic basis of relevant philosophical arguments and explanations: either a basis in the power of direct divine self-manifestation or a basis just in philosophical claims. The latter basis will neglect or obscure the power distinctive of the Christian God and thus miss out on foundational evidence characteristic of that God. This article clarifies what that power is, in terms of responsive divine self-manifestation as God’s self-witness to divine reality and goodness in receptive human moral experience and character formation. The article explains how such power, being interactive toward divine righteousness, serves as a significant alternative to such prominent philosophical overlays on Christian faith as Platonism, Thomism, and Kantianism. The latter overlays improperly depersonalize key evidence for God’s reality and goodness.

KEYWORDS:

• Faith
• philosophy
• power
• self-manifestation
• responsive evidence
• righteousness

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1. For discussion of Paul on divine righteousness, see Moser, Paul’s Gospel of Divine Self-Sacrifice, chapter 1. See also Hultgren, Paul’s Gospel and Mission, 12–46.

2. For elaboration on the key Pauline theme of divine self-sacrifice, see Moser, Paul’s Gospel of Divine Self-Sacrifice.

3. On the topic of being ‘known by God’, see James Denney (who regards this as the best evidence available for God’s reality and goodness), Letters of Principal James Denney to W. Robertson Nicoll, 80, and Denney, The Way Everlasting, 2–4. For a related discussion, see Thomas Erskine, ‘The Purpose of God’.

4. On the relevance of the de re–de dicto distinction here, in connection with faith in God and religious diversity, see Moser, ‘God De Re et De Dicto’.

5. In ‘Natural Theology: A Deflationary Approach’, I deny that Paul relies on any familiar argument of natural theology, but he does acknowledge that people can suppress truth regarding God’s existence and goodness (Rom 1: 18.). On the bearing of a best available explanation on the conferring of epistemic justification, see Moser, Knowledge and Evidence.

6. Robert M. Adams, Finite and Infinite Goods, 41 (hereafter ‘FIG’).

7. Thomas Aquinas, De Potentia Dei (On the Power of God), q. 7, a. 5, ad 8.

8. Thomas Aquinas, De Potentia Dei, q. 7, a. 5, ad 13–14.

9. Thomas Aquinas, Summa theologiae, Ia., q. 2, a. 2 .

10. Immanuel Kant, Lectures on Philosophical Theology, 143 (hereafter ‘LPT’).

11. John Baillie, Our Knowledge of God, 162.

12. John Baillie, The Interpretation of Religion, 470.

13. For discussion of the relevant of theodicy in this connection, see Moser, Divine Guidance, chapter 3, and Moser, ‘Biblical Theodicy of Righteous Fulfillment’.

14. For more on this theme, see Moser, ‘Divine Self-Disclosure in Filial Values’.

15. For comments I thank Tom Carson, Aeva Munro, and referees for International Journal of Philosophy and Theology.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Paul K. Moser

Paul K. Moser is Professor of Philosophy at Loyola University Chicago. He is a series editor for the two Cambridge University Press Book Series Cambridge Studies in Religion, Philosophy, and Society and CUP Elements: Religion and Monotheism. His most recent books include: Divine Guidance; Paul’s Gospel of Divine Self-Sacrifice; The Divine Goodness of Jesus; Understanding Religious Experience; and The God Relationship (all Cambridge University Press). He is past editor of the American Philosophical Quarterly. Homepage: https://pmoser.sites.luc.edu/.