ABSTRACT

This book offers a theological, and more specifically ecclesiological, response to the philosophical problem of divine hiddenness. It engages with philosopher J.L. Schellenberg’s argument on hiddenness and sets out a theologically rich and fresh response, drawing on the ecclesiological thought of Gregory of Nyssa. With careful attention to Gregory’s work, the book shows how certain ecclesiological problems and themes are critical to the hiddenness argument. It looks to the gathered church (the church as the body of Christ) and the scattered church (the church as the image of God) for relevance to the hiddenness problem. The volume will be of interest to scholars of theology and philosophy, particularly analytic theologians and philosophers of religion.

chapter |5 pages

Introduction

chapter 1|21 pages

Locating Hiddenness

The Problem of Divine Hiddenness

chapter 2|23 pages

Hidden and Revealed

Participation as the Knowledge of God

chapter 3|25 pages

Head and Body

The Nature of the Church

chapter 4|21 pages

Seeing the Face of Christ

Sensing Christ in Gathered Worship

chapter 5|21 pages

The Sacramental Life

Experiencing Christ in Baptism and the Eucharist

chapter 6|24 pages

Mirrors of God

The Scattered Images of God

chapter 7|15 pages

Conclusion

An Ecclesiological Response to Divine Hiddenness