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Review by Dr Pravin Thevathasan
The Evidence For God
by Keith Ward
D. L. T
Publisher's
Book Information
Keith Ward, the Anglican theologian, has written a scholarly but readable work defending the case for the existence
of the spiritual dimension. He supports all the classical arguments for the existence of God, but believes that
they need to be re-stated. An examination of science,for instance, especially cosmology and quantum physics, points
to a world that is far more profound than a purely material universe.
Ward notes that according to the Christian doctrine of creation, the whole of space and time
depend on a reality beyond space and time. Christianity does not reveal how things begin. It is rather argued that
the whole purpose of creation depends on God. Theology is more interested in why than how.
Apart from science, Ward examines the arts, morality, philosophy and personal experience and concludes that belief
in God is reasonable. He writes that "our own beliefs (in the existence of God) will be provisional in many
respects." Cardinal Newman would surely have approved of this approach. The arguments in favour of the existence
of God are not knock down philosophical or scientific ones. Otherwise, the best believers are going to be scientists
and logicians, which points towards an unjust God!
Art may be, but need not be, seen as evidence of transcendent meaning and value. Ward also notes that while secularist
philosophers claim that moral values are subjective with no foundation in objective reality, there have been well
known atheists like J. L Mackie who have admitted that for most people a sense of right and wrong appears to express
some "truths which are not just about human states of mind."
The style of writing is calm and solid. There is no attempt at ridiculing the opposition. Dawkins
will not be impressed. But those who are open to the truth will be.
This reviewer is not endorsing the works of Ward in general, much of which can only be described
as liberal in tendency. But this work was certainly worth the effort.
Copyright ©; Dr Pravin Thevathasan 2014
Version: 23rd December 2014
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