Theistic Proofs and Immanuel Kant: A Conflict Revisited

Abstract

TRADITIONALLY one of the tasks assigned to theologians has been to provide philosophical defenses for various religious doctrines and, in particular, for the central doctrine of many religions, namely, that God exists. Indeed, historically much energy has been expended by apologists in attempting to formulate proofs of God's existence. Yet despite their efforts many of the resulting proofs were judged flawed when subjected to modern philosophical scrutiny. This seemingly singular lack of success in formulating theistic proofs led to a general decline of interest in the whole matter so that by the second quarter of the twentieth century very few scholars aside from Catholic theologians were providing proofs of the usual variety for God's existence. However, if my observations are correct, the 1960's and early 70's seem to show a renewal of interest by philosophers in theistic proofs, as evidenced by the publication of a number of fine works in this field.'