Paul Draper on Divine Hiddenness
February 9, 2007
On the recommendation of Exapologist I checked out Paul Draper’s essay in “Divine Hiddenness: New Essays.” It wasa very good read in a very promising book. I look forward to reading the other essays and writing a brief review. I chose to read Draper’s essay first and found his agnostic stance to be intriguing. His survey of the ambiguity of the evidences for and against theism was too brief to really interact with. I appreciated his comments, but they seemed to be personal reflection more than detailed analysis. This is completely understandable considering the brevity and general tenor of the essay. I found two things very interesting on a personal note:
(1) Divine hiddenness itself is not necessarily evidence against theism (consider especially Kierkegaard Paradox) and is possibly a designed reality in the theistic view.
(2) The religious practice of agnosticism permits, if not slightly necessitates, a strong belief in the possibility of an existing God. Prayer, which has lost virtually all meaning for me, was given a justification of “…because there might be a God who is listening.” Ironically I have more respect for this contingent view than for a bald fideism in prayer.
Divine hiddenness is a real problem for me. I look forward to more readings, and will continue to listen for God in the silence of my mind.
