When You Pray and Hear Nothing: Does God Exist?

Key takeaways

The argument from divine hiddenness raises significant questions about the nature of God in relation to human experience.
Personal experiences of divine silence can lead individuals to either doubt God’s existence or deepen their faith.
Philosophical dialogues on divine hiddenness reveal various perspectives on suffering, love, and the nature of God.
Religious demographics and the spread of belief systems raise important questions regarding the universality of God’s revelation.
Christian theological resources offer insights on divine hiddenness that differ from secular understandings.

Summary

Divine Hiddenness and Its Implications

In this segment, the hosts discuss the concept of divine hiddenness, which questions why an all-loving, all-powerful God would not make His existence more evident to seekers. John Nelson introduces guests Dan Patterson and Joe Schmidt, who explore the argument from divine hiddenness that states if God cared for all, there would be no sincere seekers left in disbelief. They analyze philosopher J.L. Schellenberg’s argument, emphasizing the emotional struggles of non-believers. Dan provides a perspective rooted in Christianity suggesting that divine hiddenness can lead to spiritual growth and maturity.

Personal Experiences of Divine Silence

Dan and Joe delve into the personal experience of divine silence during suffering. Joe articulates how, as an agnostic philosopher, he finds it difficult to reconcile the idea of a loving God with the tragic experiences people undergo without any comfort or clear communication from Him. They present the view that God’s silence might suggest a lack of divine presence, providing evidence for naturalism, as this aligns with a more indifferent universe. Dan responds by illustrating how the Biblical narrative, especially the life of Jesus, offers a profound explanation of divine silence amidst suffering.

Philosophical Perspectives on God’s Existence

In this section, the conversation shifts to a broader philosophical examination of the implications of divine hiddenness. Dan argues that the concept of divine hiddenness may not necessarily conflict with the nature of a loving God, while Joe counters by noting the moral implications of God’s silence in context with human suffering. Joe emphasizes the evidence that can be drawn from societal demographics and religious diversity which he perceives as being at odds with theism, while Dan counters this with insights on reliability and faith.

The Theological and Moral Dimensions of Suffering

Joe underlines the psychological impact of human suffering and the expectation for a loving deity to provide comfort. The hosts engage in a discussion surrounding the actions of a 'good parent' in response to a child's distress in comparison to God’s seemingly absence in times of need. Dan shares scriptural experiences of those questioning God's presence, equating Jesus' own moments of divine silence on the cross to showcase how suffering can bring about profound experiences and insights.

Show notes

Why isn’t God more obvious? In this episode of Premier Unbelievable, host John Nelson is joined by Dan Paterson (Questioning Christianity) and Joe Schmid (agnostic philosopher; Princeton doctoral researcher and youtuber at Majesty of Reason) to tackle the argument from divine hiddenness. If a perfectly loving God exists, why are there sincere seekers who still can’t believe, and why does God sometimes feel silent in suffering? They unpack J.L. Schellenberg’s formulation, debate deductive vs evidential versions, and explore whether cultural demographics, religious diversity, and tragedy point towards naturalism or theism. Dan argues Christianity has ancient resources for hiddenness; Joe presses the evidential weight of silence. Listen for Pascal, conscience, and the cross, and share where you land in the comments.

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