Aspirational theism and gratuitous suffering. Issue 2 (June 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: LICON, JIMMY ALFONSO
• Is Part Of: Religious studies. Volume 57:Issue 2(2021)
• Page Start: 287
• Page End: 300
• Publication Date: 2021-06
• Subjects: Religion -- Periodicals; Theology -- Periodicals; 200
• DOI: 10.1017/S0034412519000210
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0034-4125

Abstract

Abstract: Philosophers have long wondered whether God exists; and yet, they have ignored the question of whether we should hope that He exists – call this stance aspirational theism . In this article, I argue that we have a weighty pro tanto reason to adopt this stance: theism offers a metaphysical guarantee against gratuitous suffering (i.e. God would not permit gratuitous suffering). On the other hand, few atheist alternatives offer such a guarantee – and even then, there are reasons to worry that they are inferior to the theistic alternative. Given this difference, we have a strong pro tanto, but not all-things-considered, reason to adopt aspirational theism.