Our Idea of God

Morris's Our Idea of God presents a systematic philosophical analysis of the concept of God within the Christian theistic tradition, offering both a defense of classical divine attributes and a methodological framework for conducting natural theology. The work engages with contemporary philosophical debates about divine perfection, necessity, and the coherence of traditional theistic claims, positioning itself against both skeptical critiques and revisionist theological proposals that would diminish or redefine classical divine attributes.

The monograph employs the method of perfect being theology, which Morris defends as a legitimate approach to understanding the divine nature through reason. This method proceeds from Anselm's insight that God is "that than which nothing greater can be conceived," using this as a regulative principle to determine which properties a maximally perfect being would possess. Morris argues that this approach, when properly constrained by revelation and careful philosophical analysis, yields a coherent account of divine attributes including omnipotence, omniscience, perfect goodness, necessity, and eternity.

A significant portion of the work addresses contemporary philosophical objections to classical theism. Morris responds to arguments that divine attributes are either internally incoherent or mutually incompatible, such as the alleged conflict between divine omniscience and human freedom, or between divine immutability and God's responsive relationship with creation. He develops nuanced analyses of each attribute, showing how apparent contradictions dissolve when the concepts are properly understood. For instance, his treatment of divine eternity explores both temporal and atemporal models, arguing for a sophisticated understanding that preserves God's transcendence while allowing for meaningful divine-human interaction.

The work also examines the relationship between philosophical theology and religious faith, defending the legitimacy of rational reflection on divine matters against both fideistic and naturalistic challenges. Morris contends that while human concepts of God are necessarily limited and analogical, they can nonetheless provide genuine knowledge of the divine nature. He critiques both anthropomorphic reductions of God and apophatic extremes that render God unknowable.

Morris's contribution advances the God debate by demonstrating the continued viability of classical theism in light of modern philosophical challenges. His careful analytical approach shows how traditional divine attributes can be defended without sacrificing philosophical rigor or retreating into mere assertion. The work serves as both an introduction to philosophical theology and a sophisticated defense of perfect being theology as a method for understanding the divine nature.