Abstract

This book examines what it means to believe in God. It does not discuss arguments for the existence of God but seeks to understand some of the ways the word ’God’ and related words function in the lives of believers. The approach is thus related to Wittgenstein’s. Constant themes are that ’God’ is not the name of a person and that the concept of ’absence’ is central in understanding language about God. Topics covered are: differences between language about God and language about persons; trusting, loving and fearing God; getting to heaven; prayer; miracles; the activity and creativity of God