ABSTRACT

This chapter explains two independent alternatives ananthropocentric theism and axiarchism, Ananthropocentric theism (AT) holds that the universe was created by a morally perfect God who has no interest in human beings. One argument for AT starts from the existence of evil. Benevolent Theism (BT) attempts to reconcile evil with the existence of a God who is omniscient, omnipotent, and benevolent toward human beings. Non-moral creator Gods are not entirely unfamiliar. Such Gods face no problem of evil, having no reason to eliminate human suffering. Ananthropocentric Theism seeks to combine the advantages of both non-moral and benevolent theism. AT agrees that God is morally perfect but denies that God is benevolent toward, or interested in, human beings. The case for AT combines respected arguments from the perennial debate between atheism and BT. Anyone who thinks atheism and BT are both credible should take AT seriously.