The Problem of God: Yesterday and Today

by John Courtney Murray

In an urbane and persuasive tract for our time, the distinguished Catholic theologian combines a comprehensive metaphysics with a sensitivity to contemporary existentialist thought. Father Murray traces the “problem of God” from its origins in the Old Testament, through its development in the Christian Fathers and the definitive statement by Aquinas, to its denial by modern materialism. Students and nonspecialist intellectuals may both benefit by the book, which illuminates the problem of development of doctrine that is now, even more than in the days of Newman, a fundamental issue between Roman Catholic and Protestant, theologians and nonspecialst intellectuals alike will find the subject of vital interest. As a challenge to the ecumenical dialogue, the question is raised whether, in the course of its development through different phases, the problem of God has come back to its original position. Father Murray is Ordinary professor of theology at Woodstock College, Woodstock, Maryland. St. Thomas More Lectures, 1.
 
"A gem of a book—lucid, illuminating, brilliantly written. A fine contribution to the current Catholic theological renaissance."—Paul Weiss.

Genres: Theology, Philosophy

128 pages, Paperback

First published September 10, 1965

Reviews

[Tino Paz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book I've read by Fr. Murray. My university background in philosophy definitely helped me make sense of the arguments, which are very subtle and complex, but nonetheless important. What I like about Fr. Murray's approach is that he does the opposite of "creating a straw man" that he then proceeds to dismantle. He gives the "opposing" viewpoint credit for raising issues that are new and important, and that requires a response that isn't just an emotional, knee jerk reaction.

I read through it in only two days, with only a few notes & highlights, to get a better feel for the gist of his argument and presentation. Definitely worth re-reading more slowly, to grasp (and maybe challenge) some of his analysis and presentation.

[Justin Evans · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting little set of lectures, the kind of thing I imagine would be almost impossible today. The blurb describes it as 'urbane,' and that's precisely right. Can you imagine anyone being described as urbane today, let alone a Jesuit?

Murray runs through how people see their relationship to God in the Old Testament, New Testament, the battles around the Nicean council, Thomism, and existentialism (broadly understood). He is as sympathetic to Sartre as he is to Arius as he is to Thomas as he is to Marx. It's almost as if he would prefer to engage in rational debate, rather than yell about DAMNED COMMUNISTS or, what's perhaps worse, yell about how he's engaging in rational debate. If only Murray were around to be sympathetic to Ben Shapiro and his kin, so that I could stop getting so irritated by him and them.

[James Marland · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very heavy going indeed. I reckon myself pretty well educated with OK Latin & Greek, but I found the vocabulary used pretty impenetrable in places. I went through the text (only 117 pages) and noted 80 word that were unfamiliar to me. A selection: scilicet, gnoseology, hylomorphism, libertinage, lightsome, logomachy, intersubjective, soteriological. A shame, as I liked following the arguments, especially the final chapter.

[Shannon MacArthur · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was really interesting and well said. Lost me a little at the end there when he started going off abt Marxist’s but he pulled it back together and asks some really interesting questions

[Cormack Shenker · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is going to be one of my shortest reviews, mainly because I didn't finish the book. I got about 98 pages in (out of 121) and the book just wasn't what I was looking for. It talks a lot about doubting God throughout history and atheism in its modern and historical sense, which is great, but not what I was looking for. The book is super dense with crazy vocabulary that ended up with me just glazing over pages without understanding much of what I was reading. I'm sure this book would be much better if I 1) understood all of the vocabulary, 2) was able to digest all of it, 3) was interested in the topics it was covering.

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this a long time ago. John Courtney Murray is one of the great names in American Catholic theology. I noticed that I read a whole bunch of books on secularisation of religion but they are all "dead" names, although their effects live on. For example, the death of God movement has died. But people do act as if God had died.

That is an ancient problem and a real truth, if Jesus is who we say he is.

[Johannes · Rating 4 out of 5]

A not very pithy historical survey of the problem of God (read: the problem of Man) which, for most Christians, is largely answered by the Nicene Creed.