J. L. Schellenberg
If a perfectly loving God existed, no one would be a non-believer in good faith.
Life
J. L. Schellenberg (born 1959), a Canadian philosopher, taught at Mount Saint Vincent University (Halifax). In Divine Hiddenness and Human Reason (1993) he gives the argument from reasonable nonbelief: if a perfectly loving God existed, he would be open to a relationship with everyone, and no one would remain a nonbeliever without resisting. He is a leading reference on divine hiddenness.
Main works
States the argument from nonbelief against the existence of a perfectly loving God.
First volume of a trilogy, setting out the basic concepts and tasks of a philosophy of religion.
Restates and defends his argument against objections.
Positions
click a row to see the evidenceA perfectly loving God would make himself open to relationship with everyone; since reasonable non-belief exists, there is no such God.
Schellenberg, Divine Hiddenness and Human Reason (1993)
He urges a long-term inquiring doubt about ultimate questions, since humanity may be early in its inquiry.
Schellenberg, The Will to Imagine (2009); The Wisdom to Doubt (2007)
Religious belief should answer to evidence and honest doubt; he defends a 'sceptical religion' that holds back from faith claims the evidence cannot support.
Schellenberg, The Will to Imagine (2009)