God and Inscrutable Evil: In Defense of Theism and Atheism

In this review of God and Inscrutable Evil, David O'Connor tackles one of the thorniest issues in philosophy of religion: the problem of inscrutable evil. Readers seeking a careful, balanced examination of arguments from evil will find this book rewarding because it advances both a reworked logical argument and an indirect empirical argument while arguing for a reasoned detente between competing positions. O'Connor's tone is analytical rather than polemical, and the book is most valuable to readers who want rigorous argumentation about theism and atheism rather than devotional or apologetic material.

Key Features

• Balanced argumentation: The author develops and defends both a version of theism called friendly theism and a version of atheism called friendly atheism, offering fair consideration of both sides.
• Two original arguments from evil: The book presents a reformed logical argument and an indirect empirical argument that give readers new frameworks to evaluate the problem of evil.
• Critical target: O'Connor deploys his arguments specifically against a central formulation of orthodox theism, sharpening the debate on terms that matter to contemporary theologians.
• Philosophical detente: The conclusion proposes a warranted outcome of detente between friendly theism and friendly atheism, which encourages constructive dialogue rather than winner-take-all conclusions.
• Academic contribution: The work situates itself within contemporary debates in philosophy of religion and provides material suitable for classroom discussion and scholarly engagement.

Who It's For

Philosophy students, academics, and thoughtful lay readers who want an even-handed, philosophical examination of the problem of evil will appreciate O'Connor's measured approach and his development of new argumentative moves. Those looking for practical pastoral resources or devotional reassurance should look elsewhere, since the book is analytic and aimed at conceptual clarity rather than spiritual consolation.

Readers engaged in contemporary debates in theology, religious studies, or philosophy of religion will find the book useful for seminar discussion or for refining their own positions, whereas casual readers expecting simplified summaries of arguments may find the level of detail demanding.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Clear, balanced presentation of both friendly theism and friendly atheism that avoids rhetorical partisanship.
• Inventive philosophical work: offers a reformed logical argument and an indirect empirical argument that advance discussion.
• Focuses discussion by addressing orthodox theism directly, making the critique concrete and relevant to scholars.

Cons

• The analytic style and technical arguments may be dense for readers without prior background in philosophy of religion.

Specifications

Title	God and Inscrutable Evil: In Defense of Theism and Atheism
Author	David O'Connor
Subject focus	Problem of inscrutable evil, arguments from evil
Key arguments	Reformed logical argument; indirect empirical argument
Positions developed	Friendly theism and friendly atheism
Debate target	Orthodox theism

Our Verdict

God and Inscrutable Evil is a thoughtful, well-argued contribution to philosophy of religion that is best for readers who want rigorous, balanced treatment of the problem of evil. Its dual approach-reworking the logical argument and offering an indirect empirical argument-makes it good value for seminar use and serious study, though its analytic tone limits its appeal to general-interest devotional readers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this book argue only for atheism?
No; the author argues that both a form of theism (friendly theism) and a form of atheism (friendly atheism) can be justified on the evidence and recommends a detente between them.

What kinds of arguments does O'Connor use?
He develops two central moves: a reformed version of the logical argument from evil and an indirect version of the empirical argument, both aimed at a central formulation of orthodox theism.

Is this suitable for classroom use?
Yes; the book's careful argumentation and engagement with contemporary debates make it well suited for seminars in philosophy of religion and theology.