Belief in God

This monograph presents a systematic defense of theistic belief through rigorous analytic philosophical examination of classical arguments for and against God's existence. Mawson develops a cumulative case for rational belief in God by carefully analyzing the major theistic arguments while addressing the most significant objection to theism, the problem of evil.

The work begins with methodological considerations about the nature of rational religious belief before examining the ontological argument. Mawson explores both classical Anselmian formulations and contemporary modal versions, arguing that while these arguments may not compel belief, they demonstrate the internal coherence of the concept of God as a maximally great being. His treatment emphasizes how ontological arguments establish important conceptual groundwork for subsequent theistic reasoning.

Turning to cosmological arguments, Mawson defends both contingency-based and kalam-style temporal versions. He argues that the existence of contingent beings and the beginning of the universe provide strong grounds for inferring a necessary, uncaused cause. His analysis engages with contemporary cosmological theories while maintaining that scientific explanations ultimately require metaphysical grounding in a necessary being.

The design argument receives substantial treatment, with Mawson examining both classical biological design arguments and contemporary fine-tuning arguments from physics. He contends that the precise calibration of physical constants and laws for the possibility of life provides significant evidence for purposive design, while acknowledging the explanatory challenges posed by evolutionary theory for biological design arguments.

Regarding religious experience, Mawson develops a sophisticated epistemological framework for evaluating the evidential value of religious experiences. He argues that under certain conditions, religious experiences can provide rational justification for theistic belief, particularly when considered alongside other evidence in a cumulative case.

The problem of evil receives extended analysis as the primary challenge to theism. Mawson examines both logical and evidential versions, developing a multifaceted response that includes free will considerations, soul-making theodicies, and skeptical theism. While acknowledging the genuine difficulty evil poses, he maintains that it does not defeat rational theistic belief when weighed against positive evidence for God's existence.

Throughout, Mawson engages seriously with atheistic and agnostic philosophers while building a comprehensive case that belief in God remains intellectually defensible within the framework of analytic philosophy. His work exemplifies the continuing vitality of natural theology in contemporary philosophical discourse.