Analysis and Criticism of Schellenberg's Divine Hiddenness Argument based on the Thoughts of Bānū Amīn

Document Type : علمی پژوهشی

Authors

• shabnam faraji ¹
• abdin darvishpor ²

¹ Department of Islamic Philosophy and Theology, Shahid Motahari University, Tehran, Iran

² Faculty member of Lorestan University

10.22067/epk.2023.80840.1210

Abstract

The argument from divine hiddenness has been proposed by Western theologians and philosophers as a proof against the existence of God. According to this argument, God's attributes of perfection require Him to reveal Himself to man in a mutual relationship. But since at least some people are not in such a relationship and are not able to know God in any other way, then it concludes that there is no God. Bānū Amīn refers to the concept of divine hiddenness in her works. By examining her works, it is possible to criticize the divine hiddenness argument from two aspects. Firstly, one of the clear and undeniable signs of God's existence is sending forth the messengers and their communication with God and their consensual call unto the One God, which clearly proves that the traces and signs belong to Him. Secondly, if it becomes clear what it means to know God, it will be plausible to reach to the highest extent of such knowledge, that is, where God is understood in a completely clear way. This, however, cannot be achieved only by reflection and thinking, rather, it requires faithful action.

Keywords

• Bānū Amīn
• John L. Schellenberg
• argument of lack of signs
• argument from divine hiddenness

Main Subjects

• Islamic Philosophy and Kalam

---

References

Azadegan, Ebrahim. “Divine Hiddenness and Human sin: The Noetic Effects of sin’’, journal of reformed theology, 7:22, (2013).

Burns, Elizabeth. what is this thing called philosophy of religion. Routledge, (2018).

Green, A and Stump, E. Hidden Divinity and Religious Belief. Ithaca: Cambridge University Press, (2015).

Keller, J. A. “The problem of evil and the attributes of God’’. International journal for philosophy of religion, 26(3) (1989): 155-171.

Raclawickie, Al. “Divine hiddenness from the perspective of Christian philosophy’’, Annals of philosophy, 69(3) (2021): 105-122.

Schellenberg, John L. Divine Hiddenness and Human Reason. Ithaca: Cornell University Pressm, (1993).

Schellenberg, John L. Prolegomena to a Philosophy of Religion. Ithaca: Cornell University Press, (2005).