5. William Lane Craig vs Philip Goff: A philosopher's 'slightly heretical' Christian conversion?
Apr 8, 2025
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William Lane Craig, a leading Christian philosopher and founder of Reasonable Faith, engages with Philip Goff, a Durham University professor and recently converted 'slightly heretical' Christian. They explore the concept of a God with limited power, discussing its implications on philosophy, suffering, and science. Goff shares his journey from atheism to a nuanced Christian belief, while Craig challenges traditional views of God and resurrection, bringing in perspectives on consciousness and the complexities of divine power amidst evil.
Philip Goff's 'slightly heretical' Christian conversion highlights his belief in a limited God as an explanation for suffering and fine-tuning.
William Lane Craig argues against Goff's theory, emphasizing that limiting God's attributes raises significant philosophical and theological challenges.
The discussion on resurrection exemplifies a fundamental divide, with Goff viewing it as a visionary event while Craig insists on its physicality.
Goff's attraction to Eastern Orthodox mystical practices reflects a growing emphasis on experiential faith, beyond traditional philosophical argumentation.
Deep dives
The Concept of God and Limited Power
The discussion revolves around Philip Goff's idea of God possessing limited power, which he believes can explain both the fine-tuning of the universe and the presence of suffering. He argues that traditional notions of an omnipotent God are philosophically and scientifically untenable. Goff proposes that if God is constrained after creating the universe, it allows for a coherent explanation of why suffering exists. This perspective distinguishes between a general concept of God and the more traditional all-powerful God, suggesting that a limited deity can still fulfill essential roles in understanding the cosmos.
Philip Goff's Journey and Christian Rebirth
Philip recounts his journey from atheism to a 'slightly heretical' Christian stance, detailing how teaching philosophy of religion led him to reconsider arguments for the existence of God. He explains his exposure to the mystical traditions of Christianity, particularly from Eastern Orthodox perspectives, which resonated more with his philosophical questions than his Catholic upbringing. Goff highlights the limited God hypothesis as a satisfactory response to the problem of evil and the evolving nature of his beliefs. This transformation emphasizes the importance of navigating one's spiritual journey while grappling with philosophical complexity.
Philosophical Divergence: Craig vs. Goff
William Lane Craig articulates his concerns regarding Goff's limited God theory, arguing that it diminishes God's traditional attributes and presents philosophical challenges, especially concerning the universe's fine-tuning. He identifies specific disagreements across multiple domains, including mind philosophy, suffering, and biblical interpretations. Craig contends that assigning limited attributes to God ultimately raises more questions than it answers, particularly in understanding morality and divine action. Their philosophical exchange underscores how differing interpretations of God can lead to fundamentally different theological conclusions.
The Resurrection: A Point of Contentious Debate
A significant point of contention arises around the concept of resurrection, particularly how it relates to Goff's view of the ascension of Jesus. Goff suggests that the resurrection could be understood as a visionary experience rather than a physical event, which Craig disputes vocally. Craig emphasizes the historicity and the traditional understanding of resurrection as a physical event, arguing that Goff’s revisionist take lacks grounding in first-century Jewish thought. This division highlights broader implications for how one's view of resurrection shapes Christian identity and doctrine.
The Problem of Evil and Suffering
The problem of evil is central to their discussion, with Goff positing that a limited God avoids the need to explain gratuitous suffering. Craig counters that God’s omnipotence does not preclude Him from having morally sufficient reasons for allowing evil, urging that divine foresight incorporates free will into a broader historical context. This philosophical debate reignites questions of causality, divine justice, and the nature of human suffering. Thus, while Goff attempts to create a simplified narrative around a limited deity, the complexity of suffering continues to challenge both perspectives.
The Role of Mystical Experience in Faith
Goff indicates a strong attraction to Eastern Orthodox mystical practices, suggesting that spirituality goes beyond rational argumentation. This view emphasizes the experiential dimension of faith, promoting the idea that participation in religious rituals can facilitate deeper understanding. The discussion implies that spirituality may involve more than just intellectual assent but also a holistic engagement with the divine. By grounding experience as a valid component of faith, Goff illustrates a potential pathway toward reconciliation with traditional beliefs.
Engaging with the Divine: A Call to Experience
Both speakers illustrate the importance of engaging with God beyond mere philosophical discourse, highlighting that faith encompasses personal experience as well. Goff's inclination toward practices that invite personal encounters with the divine suggests a shift from intellectual contemplation to experiential faith. This notion reaffirms that belief systems must navigate not only analytical but also emotive and relational dimensions of human experience. By embracing a more comprehensive approach to faith, individuals may find themselves drawn towards deeper connections with spirituality.
Agnostic philosopher Philip Goff has been on a 'surprising rebirth' journey recently. After announcing his embrace of a 'slightly heretical' form of Christianity, he says he has come to believe in a God of limited power.
Renowned Christian philosopher William Lane Craig engages Goff in a conversation on the universe, suffering and Christian faith, as they debate whether a 'limited' God makes sense of science, philosophy and the resurrection.
After hosting the conversation, Justin Brierley is joined by Peter Byrom for post-debate reflections on what happened during the spirited dialogue between the two philosophers.
