Interesting interview with Don Cupitt - who is a "non-realist" about God. "God doesn't exist apart from our faith in him".
I wonder what Rev Sam and others think?
I am considering asking Cupitt to participate in a CFI event.
Interview is here - thanks to philosophybites and Nigel Warburton.
Cupitt's classic book is The Sea of Faith.
Comments
a "non-realist" about God. "God doesn't exist apart from our faith in him".
Am I missing some subtlety of his position or isn't being a nonrealist about God the same as being an atheist?
I've read a few interviews with Cupitt and I liked much of what he said I just don't understand why he's unwilling to call himself an atheist---which he seems pretty clearly to be.
Thanks Stephen, for the link.
Regards, Paul
I also agree with him that God is dependent on humans rather than the other way round, and I have been arguing that for a long time. The ‘evolution’ of God, in this sense, is possibly best captured by Karen Armstrong in The History of God – one of the best books on religion I’ve read. He talks about God being an ideal, whereas I think it’s a personal ideal. It has always been obvious to me that everyone’s idea of God is different, amongst believers, though Cupitt actually falls short of saying that. It was obvious to me from an early age that God is an internal experience, and even Augustine makes that allusion in some of his discourse. I still think one can believe that without being an atheist. It’s just a question of what you think God is? I think it’s something very personal, that can’t be explained, and, yes, it could be a projection as Feuerbach once said. I also agree, as I’ve contended many times, that it’s not important whether you believe in a god or not, but that you be governed in your actions and attitudes, by their direct and indirect impact on humanity, or your 'belief in life', as Cupitt puts it.
I also thought that the interviewer(s) (Edmonds or Warburton or both?) asked really good questions.
Regards, Paul.
The interviewer was me (Nigel Warburton). David Edmonds does the introductions. I'm glad you liked the questions!
Best wishes,
Nigel