Abstract
We set out the central material of the book: a detailed comparison of the theoretical merits of Minimal Theism and Minimal Naturalism. We start with a comparison of our two theories prior to the introduction of data, and then go on to consider, in turn, global causal structure; cosmic fine-tuning; the history of the earth; the history of humanity; a priori knowledge; morality and human flourishing; consciousness and reason; religious experience; and scripture, authority, organisation and tradition. We argue that, prior to the introduction of data, naturalism trumps theism on grounds of simplicity and that none of the data that we consider favours theism over naturalism. We conclude that, given the data considered, naturalism wins.
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References and further reading
On ontological arguments: Graham Oppy (1996) Ontological Arguments and Belief in God Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
Graham Oppy (2006) Arguing about Gods Cambridge: Cambridge University
Press; Kevin Harrelson (2009) The Ontological Argument from Descartes to Hegel Amherst: Prometheus Books.
On cosmological arguments: William Rowe (1975) The Cosmological Argument Princeton: Princeton University Press
William Lane Craig (1979) The Cosmological Argument from Plato to Leibniz London: Macmillan
Alexander Pruss (2006) The Principle of Sufficient Reason: A Reassessment Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
On teleological arguments: Neil Manson (ed.) (2003) God and Design: The Teleological Argument and Modern Science London: Routledge.
On cosmic fine-tuning arguments: John Leslie (1989) Universes London: Routledge
Roger White (2000) ‘Fine-Tuning and Multiple Universes’ Noûs 34, 260–76.
On biological arguments: William Paley (2006) Natural Theology, Matthew Eddy and David Knight (eds) Oxford: Oxford University Press
William Dembski and Michael Ruse (eds) (2004) Debating Design: From Darwin to DNA Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
On miracles: Richard Swinburne (ed.) (1989) Miracles New York: Macmillan
John Earman (2000) Hume’s Abject Failure: The Argument against Miracles Oxford: Oxford University Press
Alan Hájek (2008) ‘Are Miracles Chimerical?’ Oxford Studies in Philosophy of Religion 1, 82–104.
On morality and human flourishing: Gregory Paul (2005) ‘Cross-National Correlations of Quantifiable Societal Health with Popular Religiosity and Secularism in the Prosperous Democracies’ Journal of Religion and Society 7, 1–17
Phil Zuckermann (2008) Society without God: What the Least Religious Nations Can Tell Us about Contentment New York: New York University Press.
On consciousness and reason: Robert Adams (1987) ‘Flavors, Colors, and God’ in his The Virtue of Faith and other Essays in Philosophical Theology Oxford: Oxford University Press, 243–62
Victor Reppert (2003) C. S. Lewis’ Dangerous Idea: In Defense of the Argument from Reason Downer’s Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
For zombies: David Chalmers (1996) The Conscious Mind Oxford: Oxford University
Press. For System 1 and System 2: Daniel Kahnemann (2011) Thinking, Fast and Slow London: Penguin.
On religious experience: Rudolf Otto (1958) The Idea of the Holy, second edition Oxford: Oxford University Press
William James (1960) The Varieties of Religious Experience London: Collins.
Jeffrey Schloss and Michael Murray (eds) (2009) The Believing Primate: Scientific, Philosophical and Theological Reflections on the Origins of Religion Oxford: Oxford University Press.
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© 2013 Graham Oppy
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Oppy, G. (2013). Minimal Theism and Naturalism. In: The Best Argument against God. Palgrave Pivot, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137354143_4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137354143_4
Publisher Name: Palgrave Pivot, London
Print ISBN: 978-1-349-46988-8
Online ISBN: 978-1-137-35414-3
eBook Packages: Palgrave Religion & Philosophy CollectionPhilosophy and Religion (R0)