Choice Review

Moore's book is an impressive study of the problem of realism in modern theology and philosophy: whether God exists independently of human beings and their concepts. Citing the contributions of a wide variety of scholars who have addressed this topic in recent years, Moore (Regent's Park College, Oxford) argues against the traditional approaches that use cosmological or ontological "proofs" that argue "from truth to God," since these end, at best, with only a concept of God and, at worst, in a form of idolatry. Calling his approach "dialectical fideism," he begins with God's self-revelation in Jesus Christ as mediated by the Holy Spirit, which he believes ends in an understanding of the realism of the Triune God. In developing and defending his position, Moore utilizes speech act theory (Wittgenstein, Austin, et al.) to develop an outline of the meaningfulness of both Christian language and Christian practice. Since the work assumes an understanding of a great deal of modern theology and philosophy, it is best suited for those with some background in the philosophy of religion, philosophy of language, and theology. ^BSumming Up: Recommended. Upper-division undergraduates and above. C. L. Hansen formerly, Midland Lutheran College