Tim O'Connor
Theism and the Scope of Contingency
Book: Oxford Studies in the Philosophy of Religion Vol. 1
Pages: 134-149
Year: 2008
Download
Pages: 134-149
Year: 2008
Download
According to classical theism, contingent beings find the ultimate explanation for their existence in a maximally perfect, necessary being who transcends the natural world and wills its acts in accordance with reasons. I contend that if this thesis is true, it is likely that contingent reality is vastly greater than what current scientific theory or even speculation fancies. After considering the implications of this contention for the extent of divine freedom, I go on to discuss its relevance to the problem of evil as an obstacle to rational theistic belief.