Bogoslovska smotra, Vol. 80 No. 4, 2010.
Original scientific paper
Don Cupitts non-realist Philosophy of Religion. Overview and Critique
Danijel Tolvajčić
; Catholic Faculty of Theology, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Abstract
The aim of this paper is to provide an overview and a critical analysis of »theological non-realism«. »Theological non-realism« is one of the most intriguing recent developments in contemporary Anglo-Saxon philosophy of religion and theology. Its aim is to »de-objectify«, »internalise«, and »autonomies« religious doctrines. »Theological non-realism« often denotes particual set of views associated with works of Don Cupitt (1934), who is a Life Fellow and former Dean of Emmanuel College, Cambridge. In his writings Cupitt attempts to »save« religion in the religiously indifferent world by promoting the idea of »non-objective« God. According to Cupitt, »God« is no longer an objectively existing being »out there«. For »non-realists«, »God« is a mythological personification of religious requirement and religious goal. It is - according to this school of thought - the only possible »reinstallation« of religion if we truly care about man's autonomy. Nevertheless, some issues are still unsolved, especially the problem of religious relevance of »theological non-realism«: can an objectively non-existent God« be a fulfilment of religious requirement and religious goal (especially if we have in mind Abrahamic religious traditions)? According to our interpretation, the answer is no.
Keywords
Don Cupitt; realism; theological non-realism; philosophy of religion; idea of a non-objective God; Sea of Faith
Hrčak ID:
63017
URI
Publication date:
30.12.2010.
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