ABSTRACT

It is necessary to understand the metaphor of the ‘God-shaped hole’ in phenomenological terms, as merely a claim about the psychology of some people. Bertrand Russell presumably thinks that our naturalist universe is in some way worse than the theist alternative that Lady Morrell believes in. Russell was an atheist, but this actually tells us little about his metaphysical views. The point is familiar: atheism is merely a negative claim, a denial of God’s existence. Moving from atheism to naturalism narrows down the options considerably, naturalism can take multiple forms and conceivable naturalist universes will still differ in content and value. Theists who defend pro-theism also often appeal to such goods, which are also included, for example, in the ‘good news’ that Christianity is supposed to deliver. Anti-theism and pro-theism require philosophical and rational justification, which must revolve, in large part, around claims about the difference in value made by God’s existence.