When swinburne makes his a priori arguments for belief in the trinity, he begins on firm ground, though one wonders if such arguments could be made if one does not previously know through revelation that there is a trinity. Richard swinburne is a fellow of the british academy. A major new edition of a classic in the philosophy of religion. And he examines the idea of the possible existence of many other universes, and its relevance to his arguments from the finetuning of our universe to the existence. Richard swinburnes argument to the simplicity of god via the. Swinburne gives a rigorous and penetrating analysis of the most important arguments for theism. Apr 14, 2015 197 videos play all big questions about god closer to truth core topic closer to truth richard swinburne how does personal identity persist through time. In the coherence of theism richard swinburne writes that a person cannot be omniscient and perfectly free. Swinburne views himself as part of the long tradition of christian evidentialism that seeks to give rational reasons for belief in god. In order to address the validity of the evidential approach championed by the new apologists, i will scrutinize the arguments presented in his book. Reading the work, one may feel as though they are in a conversation with swinburne himself, which means it feels like one is in the presence of one of the most important christian theologianphilosophers of our era.
The project gutenberg ebook of poems and ballads, by algernon. Swinburne acknowledges that god cannot do what is logically impossible and the future which doesnt exist isnt there to know, people who insist that god must know what isnt there to know, are like those who insist that god must be able to make a rock heavy then he can lift and make himself both exist and not exist at the same time. E may be a large phenomenon, such as the existence of the universe, or something a lot smaller, such as our own individual religious experiences. If you are prompted to check out the ebook, do so before.
Revised edition of the best short philosophical book about god. Compared to swinburne s earlier book is there a god. The existence of god richard swinburne why believe that there is a god at all. Cosmologists have rolled back their theories to the moment of the big bang, the discovery of dna reveals the key. Given this he now argues that h s is very simple and thus intrinsically probable. This new, updated edition of richard swinburnes popular introductory book is there a god. The orderliness of the universe and the existence of human beings already provides some reason for believing that there is a god as argued in richard swinburnes earlier book is there a god. Swinburne, the justification of theism truth journal, leadership university website, 2002, and the brief biography of richard swinburne prepared for the origin of the laws of nature and the existence of god panel discussion sponsored by the john templeton foundation, respectively. Only when that task is done does he turn to an analysis of divine properties, the divine nature, and the christian doctrines of the trinity and incarnation. This book is a short and nontechnical presentation of the cumulative argument for the existence of god.
My answer is that to suppose that there is a god explains why there is a world at all. Reflects swinburne s latest thinking, and responds to current research. Swinburne has not written an apology on behalf of the christian god, but an apology for a god of his own rational making. Jan 07, 2010 professor swinburne uses the methods of scientific reasoning to argue that the best answers to these questions are given by the existence of god. In this compelling new edition, richard swinburne, one of the most distinguished philosophers of religion today, argues that contrary to the claims of richard. It may seem today that the answers to all fundamental questions lie in the province of science, and that the scientific advances of the twentieth century leave little room for god. At the print to pdf popup, select the required number of pages and click continue. Publications, richard swinburne university of oxford. He invented the roundel form, wrote several novels, and contributed to the. You may copy it, give it away or reuse it under the terms of the project gutenberg license included with this ebook or online at. But if one brute fact is preferable to many, then theism still wins the explanatory sweepstakes. The orderliness of the universe and the existence of human beings already provides some reason for believing that there is a god as argued in richard swinburne s earlier book is there a god.
It forms part of a trilogy which began with the coherence of theism clarendon press, 1977, reissued in paperback, 1986 and was completed by faith and reason clarendon press, 1981, reissued inpaperback, 1983, but it does not in any way presuppose knowledge of the earlier. He is an emeritus professor of philosophy at the university of oxford. Accessible to readers with no previous training in philosophy or religious studies. And swinburne also now examines the idea of the possible existence of many other universes, and its relevance to his arguments from the finetuning of our universe to the existence of god. Revised edition 2010 paperback, 144 pages i have not used this edition. In order to address the validity of the evidential approach championed by the new apologists, i will scrutinize the arguments presented in. He wrote several novels and collections of poetry such as poems and ballads, and contributed to the famous eleventh edition of the encyclop. David hall is a painter and freelance writer on philosophical and religious subjects. Reading the work, one may feel as though they are in a conversation with swinburne himself, which means it feels like one is in the presence of one of the most important christian theologian. Cosmologists have rolled back their theories to the moment of the big bang, the discovery of dna reveals the key to life, the. Or, as noted philosopher of science and religion richard swinburne puts forth, can the very same criteria which scientists use to reach theories about everything from dna to the big bang be used to argue for the existence of god.
That is, it could be argued that the probability that there is a god is greater than 12. The existence of god by richard swinburne, 1991 online. Algernon charles swinburne 5 april 1837 10 april 1909 was an english poet, playwright, novelist, and critic. This book is based on the authors wilde lectures delivered in the university of oxford in 19767. He was nolloth professor of the philosophy of the christian religion at the university of oxford from 1985 to 2002 and is currently emeritus nolloth professor of the philosophy of the christian religion. The existence of god by richard swinburne librarything. This new book is designed for a wider audience than professional philosophers. Swinburne now claims that it is probable that the main christian doctrines about the nature of god and his actions in the world are true. Richard swinburne argues compellingly that if there is a god, then the main doctrines which the christian church teaches about god are very probably true. Swinburne, in the space of 125 pages, manages to sum up many of his books in easy to comprehend, interesting, and thoughtful bits of. He bases this on the part of h s that says that god is just one person, not many, and that. Find and use ebooks help library swinburne university.
Swinburne departs from the received tradition of natural theology by denying that god is a necessary being, so on his view gods existence is itself a brute fact. Swinburne uses scientific reasoning to argue that the best answers to these questions are given by the existence of god. Richard swinburnes argument to the simplicity of god via. I shall argue that the existence and actions of god make no difference to the fact that there are moral truths, but that they make a great difference to what those moral truths are. This edition is a shorter version of the existence of god, 1979. In my chapter 3 outline swinburne argued in point a. Editions for is there a god 0198235453 paperback published in 1997, 019958043x paperback published in 2010, 0198235445 hardcover published in 1996.
Weidemann et al, the philosophy of richard swinburne, ontosverlag, frankfurt, 2008. Mar 30, 2017 professor richard swinburne university of oxford speaks at the philosophy society lecture series, 10th march 2016. Unfortunately, it is an often richard swinburne, the emeritus nolloth professor of the philosophy of religion at oxford and one of the foremost philosophers of our time, is my elvis. His main conclusion is that theism provides the simplest and most coherent theory to explain facts. Swinburne argues compellingly that the existence of the universe, its lawgoverned nature and finetuning, human consciousness and moral awareness, and evidence of miracles and religious experience, all taken together and despite the occurrence of pain and suffering, make it likely that there is a god. Article pdf available in the expository times 12410. Using the methods of scientific reasoning, swinburne rigorously argues that science, far from replacing god, provides good grounds for belief in god.
Kindle ebooks can be read on any device with the free kindle app. There is a straightforward reason why the two passages are not in tension, but recognition of this reason raises a problem for swinburne s argument in the existence of god the conclusion of which is that god likely exists. Find unit reading help library swinburne university. No other work has made a more powerful case for the probability of the existence of god.
There is a straightforward reason why the two passages are not in tension, but recognition of this reason raises a problem for swinburnes argument in the. Some ebook central ebooks are restricted to three concurrent users. Richard swinburne, is there a god richard swinburne, was jesus god. For many people, this gives strength to the belief that god is not needed to explain the universe. His philosophical contributions are primarily in the philosophy of religion and. In virtue of his omnipotence and perfect goodness, god must be a trinity, live a human life in order to share our suffering, and found a church which would enable him to tell all humans about this. Professor swinburne uses the methods of scientific reasoning to argue that the best answers to these questions are given by the existence of god. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.
In it, he employs the tools of modern confirmation theory to develop a sustained argument for theism. The project gutenberg ebook of poems and ballads, by. Compared to swinburnes earlier book is there a god. This consists of a lecture by me 148 above, papers by members of the philosophy faculty of the university of munster critical of various aspects of my philosophy, and my answers to these criticisms, 150 above. The existence of god richard swinburne university of oxford. Over the last 50 years swinburne has been an influential proponent of philosophical arguments for the existence of god. Richard swinburne presents a substantially rewritten and updated edition of his most celebrated book. Most ebook central ebooks allow an unlimited number of concurrent users. In the existence of god swinburne writes that god is a person who is omniscient and perfectly free. The picture of the universe that science gives us is completed by god. The existence of god paperback richard swinburne oxford. This book, at least to me, reads more like a straightforward book of conservative christian apologetics than one written by a renowned philosopher of religion. My answer is that to suppose that there is a god explains why there is a physical universe at all. Ebook collection ebscohost includes ebooks on most subjects, including science and social science, design, psychology, education, health, engineering and computer science view and read.
In particular, he shows that there is strong philosophical support for the belief that jesus, while remaining god, acquired a human nature and lived on earth for thirty years as a human being. An analysis of richard swinburnes the existence of god. Swinburne presents a powerful and approachable case for the existence of god. Evidence for god why believe that there is a god at all. Algernon charles swinburne5 april 1837 10 april 1909 algernon charles swinburne was an english poet, playwright, novelist, and critic.
In this paper i present the problem for swinburne s argument. This updated edition features a new, stronger argument as to why theism doesand materialism does notprovide a very simple ultimate explanation of. Hence the occurrence of e is reason for supposing that there is a god. It forms part of a trilogy which began with the coherence of theism clarendon press, 1977, reissued in paperback, 1986 and was completed by faith and reason clarendon press, 1981, reissued inpaperback, 1983, but it does not in any way presuppose knowledge of the earlier work. The picture of the universe that science gives us iscompleted by god. Features new sections on how the existence of god explains the universe, drawing on ideas from physics about multiple universes. This new, updated edition of richard swinburne s popular introductory book is there a god. Professor richard swinburne university of oxford speaks at the philosophy society lecture series, 10th march 2016. In the christian god, richard swinburne examines basic metaphysical categories1. Oxford university press, paperback edition 1997 144 pages. Richard swinburne is formerly nolloth professor of the philosophy of the christian. As the battle rages over religion and rationality, richard swinburne probes the key doctrines about jesusthat he was god incarnate, atoned for our sins, and rose from the deadand argues that each has a strong and defensible logical underpinning.
799 745 859 915 879 1311 1310 39 188 1387 1534 1505 951 4 276 430 569 182 365 817 419 271 1264 1547 1081 273 908 1251 798 466 402 176 998 1128 150 998 355 925 487 107 716 1194 1395 76 1109