Natural Theology and the God who Hides Himself

Please click here for a pdf version of this document

This post and essay represent our first serious foray into the discussion about modern science and Christian theology. At first glance, it would seem to be done in an academic style, replete with formal language and footnotes. But it is not. It is, instead, the personal journey of one of our contributors from listening to those who hold natural theology in high regard to joining with the prophet Isaiah who proclaimed: “Truly you are a God who hides himself.”

The essay examines developments in modern science with an eye to their larger implications, which always turn out to be ambiguous. It places recent scientific developments alongside Lutheran thought on the hidden and revealed God. In so doing it always drives toward a certain goal – demonstrating the futility of discerning God’s nature or purpose from observations of the natural world while explaining some of the implications of that futility for the pastoral ministry.

Read the document here.