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PhD, University of Wales Trinity Saint David, Lampeter, 2010: Theodicy and Practical Theology
PhD thesis excerpts on the theological concept of hope, from a Christian perspective:
There is hope!
David Lyon warns against the dangers of fundamentalism and hedonism/nihilism and states that the goodness and grace of the Christian God is the only hope for the world. Lyon (1998: 294). In a secularized Western culture the Christian Church needs to restructure where necessary certain practices without denying the Biblical revelation which provides hope for persons. Lyon (1998: 294).
Moltmann explains that it is believed that Christ will be God’s lieutenant in this godless world and bring about, through his crucifixion and resurrection, the promise of a better future, which includes hope. Moltmann (1993: 256). The Kingdom of God was present in Christ and this has been defined in history. Moltmann (1993: 263).
There is no hope!
Critically, D.Z. Phillips reasons that there is not actual hope for persons after death in another realm. Phillips (2005: 248). This would appear empirically true, but if the Biblical resurrection is true there is hope for those in Christ.
Clarence Darrow reasoned that there was no hope. He deduced that those within the New Testament era had little scientific knowledge, and therefore resurrection doctrine is a product of those with blind faith, wild dreams, hopeless hopes, and cowardly fears. Darrow (1928)(1973: 266-267). Darrow (1932)(1973) writes that the best one can do is hold on ‘to the same speck of dirt’ as we proceed ‘side by side to our common doom.’ Darrow (1932)(1973: 453).
There is some hope!
John Roth does have hope as he looks for a resurrection of the dead in the future, and in the present realm hopes that somehow ‘the waste’ as in unnecessary evil, will be placed in check. He views the traditional concept of God that Davis has as a God that is ‘hidden, absent, even non-existent.’ A trust and hope in any type of God is risky, but Roth reasons that the hope does not completely die.
I question whether an omnipotent God with less than perfect motives that would will so much evil, not for the greater good throughout history (Roth's view), would ever change his ways or be convinced by finite creatures to do so. There is certainly a degree of truth to the idea that the evil God allows often cannot be reasonably understood by persons. This could, however, be due as much, or even more, to finite human nature and reasoning as opposed to a moral deficiency or lack of omnipotence with God.
Religious history in Scripture
Without the biblical resurrection of Jesus Christ and imputed to believers (Revelation 20-22, I Corinthians 15), death would end all hopes of ultimate reunion between those who remain and those who have died. Speculation from those in philosophy of religion, such as John Roth and John Hick, does not suffice. The Hebrew Bible and the New Testament manuscript copies do serve as authentic religious history. The New Testament documenting God's resurrection plans for humanity in the work, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
DARROW, CLARENCE
(1928)(1973) ‘The Myth of the Soul’, in The
Forum, October, in Paul Edwards and Arthur Pap (eds.), A Modern
Introduction To Philosophy, New York, The Free Press.
DARROW, CLARENCE
(1932)(1973) ‘The Delusion of Design and Purpose’, in The Story of My Life,
October, in Paul Edwards and Arthur Pap (eds.), A Modern Introduction To
Philosophy, New York, The Free Press.
HICK, JOHN (1970) Evil and The God of Love, London, The Fontana Library.
HICK, JOHN (1978) ‘Present and Future Life’, Harvard Theological Review, Volume 71, Number 1-2, January-April, Harvard University.
HICK, JOHN (1981) Encountering Evil, Stephen T. Davis (ed.), Atlanta, John Knox Press.
HICK, JOHN (1993) ‘Afterword’ in GEIVETT, R. DOUGLAS (1993) Evil and the Evidence for God, Philadelphia, Temple University Press.
HICK, JOHN (1993) The Metaphor of God Incarnate, Louisville, Kentucky, John Know Press.
HICK, JOHN (1994) Death and Eternal Life, Louisville, Kentucky, John Knox Press.
HICK, JOHN (1999) ‘Life after Death’, in Alan Richardson and John Bowden (eds.), A New Dictionary of Christian Theology, Kent, SCM Press.
LYON, DAVID (1998) ‘Memory and the Millennium: Time and Social Change at the Fin de Siecle’, Timothy Bradshaw (ed.), in Grace and Truth in the Secular Age, Grand Rapids, Eerdmans.
MOLTMANN, JÜRGEN (1993) The Crucified God, Minneapolis, Fortress Press.
MOLTMANN, JÜRGEN (1999) ‘Perseverance’, in Alan Richardson and John Bowden (eds.), New Dictionary of Christian Theology, Kent, SCM Press Ltd.
PHILLIPS, D.Z. (1981) Encountering Evil, Stephen T. Davis (ed.), Atlanta, John Knox Press.
PHILLIPS, D.Z. (2005) The Problem of Evil and the Problem of God, Fortress Press, Minneapolis.
ROTH, JOHN K. ‘Introduction’ (1892-1907)(1969) in The Moral Philosophy of William James, John K. Roth (ed.), Thomas Y. Crowell Company, New York.
ROTH, JOHN K. (1981) Encountering Evil, Stephen T. Davis (ed.), Atlanta, John Knox Press.
