Probing the Foundations (Paperback)

Paperback. In Probing the Foundations: A study in Theistic Reconstruction David A. Pailin investigates fundamental problems concerning the significance and credibility of theistic understanding. Can such understanding justify its claim to offer a vision of meaning and hope that is rationally credible when compared to secular paganism and naive credulity, which between them have captured the minds of many people today? Underlying this question is the prior issue of the proper status of rational reflection in determining belief. Dr. Pailin responds to this basic issue by arguing, that the ultimate authority for deciding matters of belief is reason, not scripture or tradition. In the following chapters he then explores various ways in which process thought may contribute to solving a critical problem for theistic understanding, namely, the problem of finding and giving significant content to an intrinsically coherent concept of God. After outlining the basic elements of process theology, Pailin shows how these elements may be used both to conceive of God as ultimate, perfect and personal, and to make sense of different facets of the relationship between God and the world, including the fundamental matter of the relationship between God and time, and God and humankind. Here Pailin exposes the need for radical revisions in traditional Christian self-understanding. Finally this 'probing of the foundations' of belief in God considers the kind of argument by which theistic belief may seek to establish its rational credibility. Book jacket. Shipping may be from our Sydney, NSW warehouse or from our UK or US warehouse, depending on stock availability. …