Skepticism and Belief in God

This monograph examines the relationship between philosophical skepticism and religious belief, arguing that rigorous skeptical inquiry undermines the rational foundations of theism. Palmer approaches the question through analytic philosophy, systematically evaluating the coherence of core theistic concepts and finding them wanting under scrutiny.

The work engages primarily with the incoherence-of-theism argument family, demonstrating how traditional divine attributes generate logical contradictions when subjected to careful analysis. Palmer examines classical formulations of omnipotence, omniscience, and perfect goodness, showing how these properties cannot coherently coexist within a single being. His treatment extends beyond mere cataloging of paradoxes to explore why such incoherence matters for rational belief formation.

Palmer's methodology reflects the precision characteristic of contemporary analytic philosophy. He dissects theological language with particular attention to ambiguity and vagueness, arguing that many apparent resolutions to theological problems depend on equivocation or conceptual slippage. The analysis proceeds through careful examination of necessary and sufficient conditions for key theological concepts, revealing internal tensions that resist resolution.

The work situates itself within ongoing debates about the rationality of religious belief, engaging with both classical theological formulations and contemporary philosophical defenses of theism. Palmer responds to attempts by analytic theologians to reformulate divine attributes in coherent ways, arguing that such modifications either evacuate the concepts of their religious significance or simply relocate the contradictions. His critique extends to reformed epistemology and other philosophical frameworks that attempt to ground rational theistic belief without resolving these fundamental conceptual problems.

Palmer's contribution lies in demonstrating how skeptical methodology, when consistently applied, reveals deep structural problems in theistic worldviews. He argues that the burden of proof rests on theists to articulate coherent conceptions of divinity before questions of existence become meaningful. The work challenges readers to recognize that skepticism about God need not stem from empirical considerations alone but can arise from the logical architecture of theism itself.

The monograph advances philosophical discourse by showing how skepticism functions not merely as doubt but as a positive methodology for exposing conceptual confusion. Palmer's analysis suggests that intellectual integrity requires acknowledging when cherished concepts fail to withstand rational scrutiny, regardless of their cultural significance or psychological appeal.