Is God hidden? The debate rages on. From Pascal to Nietzsche, philosophers have grappled with the idea of divine hiddenness. But could self-deception play a role in why some find it hard to see God's presence? In this episode of Truth Tribe, I explore the concept of self-deception and how it may influence our perception of God's existence. Could our desires and motivations be clouding our ability to see the evidence around us?

The fool says in their heart, “There is no God’ (Psalm 14:1).

If I saw no sign [in nature] of Divinity I should decide on a negative solution: if I saw signs of a Creator everywhere, I should peacefully settle down in faith. But, seeing too much to deny and not enough to affirm, I am in a pitiful state, where I have wished a hundred times over that, if there is a God supporting nature, she should unequivocally proclaim him, and that, if the signs in nature are deceptive, they should be completely erased; that nature should say all or nothing so that I could see what course I ought to follow.[1] - Voice of a skeptic in Pascal’s Pensées.

Here are three key takeaways from this thought-provoking episode:


The Existence of Honest Atheists: The episode discusses the argument that if God truly exists as all-good and all-powerful, there would be no honest atheists. However, the conversation delves into the idea that there are indeed honest atheists who are rationally justified in their unbelief. This challenges the notion that all atheists are simply in denial.


The Logic of Self-Deception: One of the fascinating points raised in the episode is the concept of self-deception. It explores how individuals may deny the evidence for God due to various motivations, desires for autonomy, and the pursuit of alternative idols. The discussion sheds light on the psychological and philosophical aspects of self-deception in the context of belief in God.


Prudence in Seeking God: Despite the perceived hiddenness of God, the episode emphasizes the importance of prudence in seeking God. Drawing from Pascal's wager, the idea that there is much to gain by believing in God and potentially much to lose by not believing is highlighted. The episode encourages listeners to continue seeking God, even in moments when His presence may seem elusive.

<p data-pm-slice="1 1 [&quot;aiblock&quot;,{&quot;prompt&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;preview&quot;:false,&quot;block&quot;:{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;blk_01J14S04XY0JFB4CQ750WJ068C&quot;,&quot;status&quot;:&quot;succeeded&quot;,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;twitter_thread&quot;,&quot;selected_variation&quot;:0,&quot;variations&quot;:[&quot;🎙️ Excited to share insights on the hiddenness of God in my latest podcast episode! Dive into the discussion on why some claim there's insufficient evidence for God's existence. Here's a thread summarizing key points:\n\n1/ Is God hidden? The debate rages on. From Pascal to Nietzsche, philosophers have grappled with the idea of divine hiddenness. But could self-deception play a role in why some find it hard to see God's presence?\n\n2/ In my podcast, I explore the concept of self-deception and how it may influence our perception of God's existence. Could our desires and motivations be clouding our ability to see the evidence around us?\n\n3/ The podcast delves into the arguments for God's existence, from cosmological to design arguments. Despite the claims of atheists, there is strong evidence that points towards a Creator.\n\n4/ Even atheists like Nietzsche and Nagel have hinted at the design in the universe, yet choose to deny it. Could personal motivations and desires be driving this denial?\n\n5/ The episode also touches on the importance of seeking God, even in times when His presence may seem hidden. Prudence, as Pascal's wager suggests, urges us to explore the possibility of God's existence.\n\nListen to the full episode for a deep dive into the hiddenness of God and the role of self-deception in shaping our beliefs. Don't miss out on this thought-provoking discussion! #Podcast #HiddennessOfGod #Apologetics 🙏&quot;],&quot;configuration&quot;:null,&quot;prosemirror&quot;:[{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;rootblock&quot;,&quot;content&quot;:[{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;paragraph&quot;,&quot;content&quot;:[{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;🎙️ Excited to share insights on the hiddenness of God in my latest podcast episode! Dive into the discussion on why some claim there's insufficient evidence for God's existence. Here's a thread summarizing key points:&quot;}]},{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;paragraph&quot;,&quot;content&quot;:[{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;1/ Is God hidden? The debate rages on. From Pascal to Nietzsche, philosophers have grappled with the idea of divine hiddenness. But could self-deception play a role in why some find it hard to see God's presence?&quot;}]},{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;paragraph&quot;,&quot;content&quot;:[{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;2/ In my podcast, I explore the concept of self-deception and how it may influence our perception of God's existence. Could our desires and motivations be clouding our ability to see the evidence around us?&quot;}]},{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;paragraph&quot;,&quot;content&quot;:[{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;3/ The podcast delves into the arguments for God's existence, from cosmological to design arguments. Despite the claims of atheists, there is strong evidence that points towards a Creator.&quot;}]},{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;paragraph&quot;,&quot;content&quot;:[{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;4/ Even atheists like Nietzsche and Nagel have hinted at the design in the universe, yet choose to deny it. Could personal motivations and desires be driving this denial?&quot;}]},{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;paragraph&quot;,&quot;content&quot;:[{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;5/ The episode also touches on the importance of seeking God, even in times when His presence may seem hidden. Prudence, as Pascal's wager suggests, urges us to explore the possibility of God's existence.&quot;}]},{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;paragraph&quot;,&quot;content&quot;:[{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Listen to the full episode for a deep dive into the hiddenness of God and the role of self-deception in shaping our beliefs. Don't miss out on this thought-provoking discussion! #Podcast #HiddennessOfGod #Apologetics 🙏&quot;}]}]}],&quot;previous_block&quot;:null,&quot;next_block&quot;:null,&quot;error_code&quot;:null,&quot;feedback&quot;:null},&quot;template&quot;:{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;twitter_thread&quot;}},&quot;rootblock&quot;,null]">Is God hidden? The debate rages on. From Pascal to Nietzsche, philosophers have grappled with the idea of divine hiddenness. But could self-deception play a role in why some find it hard to see God's presence? In this episode of Truth Tribe, I explore the concept of self-deception and how it may influence our perception of God's existence. Could our desires and motivations be clouding our ability to see the evidence around us?
The fool says in their heart, “There is no God’ (Psalm 14:1).
<blockquote>
If I saw no sign [in nature] of Divinity I should decide on a negative solution: if I saw signs of a Creator everywhere, I should peacefully settle down in faith. But, seeing too much to deny and not enough to affirm, I am in a pitiful state, where I have wished a hundred times over that, if there is a God supporting nature, she should unequivocally proclaim him, and that, if the signs in nature are deceptive, they should be completely erased; that nature should say all or nothing so that I could see what course I ought to follow.<a href="#_ftn1">[1]</a> - Voice of a skeptic in Pascal’s Pensées.
</blockquote>
Here are three key takeaways from this thought-provoking episode:
<ol>
<li>
The Existence of Honest Atheists: The episode discusses the argument that if God truly exists as all-good and all-powerful, there would be no honest atheists. However, the conversation delves into the idea that there are indeed honest atheists who are rationally justified in their unbelief. This challenges the notion that all atheists are simply in denial.
</li>
<li>
The Logic of Self-Deception: One of the fascinating points raised in the episode is the concept of self-deception. It explores how individuals may deny the evidence for God due to various motivations, desires for autonomy, and the pursuit of alternative idols. The discussion sheds light on the psychological and philosophical aspects of self-deception in the context of belief in God.
</li>
<li>
Prudence in Seeking God: Despite the perceived hiddenness of God, the episode emphasizes the importance of prudence in seeking God. Drawing from Pascal's wager, the idea that there is much to gain by believing in God and potentially much to lose by not believing is highlighted. The episode encourages listeners to continue seeking God, even in moments when His presence may seem elusive.
</li>
</ol>

Truth Tribe with Douglas Groothuis is a podcast dedicated to finding the truth through reason, and evidence about what matters most. Our subjects include how to defend the Christian faith (through apologetics), biblical ethics, and social issues.

Truth Tribe with Douglas Groothuis

Truth Tribe with Douglas Groothuis is a podcast dedicated to finding the truth through reason, and evidence about what matters most. Our subjects include how to defend the Christian faith (through apologetics), biblical ethics, and social issues.

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