Divine authority as divine parenthood
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 10722725 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Nicholas Hadsell (0000-0002-9727-0124, Baylor University, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2025 |
| Volume | 61 |
| Issue | 4 |
| Pages | 828-849 |
| Publication date | 2025-12-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Religious Studies (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0034-4125 • E-ISSN: 1469-901X |
| Publisher | Cambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1017/s0034412524000027 |
| OpenAlex | W4393054411 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 1 |
| References cited | 62 |
In this article, I argue that God is authoritative over us because he is our divine, causal parent. As our causal parent, God has duties to relate to us, but he can only fulfil those duties if he has the practical authority to give us commands aimed at our sanctification. From ought-implies-can reasoning, I conclude that God has that authority. After I make this argument, I show how the view has significant advantages over extant arguments for divine authority and can help solve other significant problems in philosophy of religion
Divine grace · Divine Providence · Epistemology · Theology · Christian Theology and Mission · Medieval Philosophy and Theology · Philosophy · Theology and Philosophy of Evil
Aristotelian Character Education
Why Love Matters
Justice
The authority of lawEssays on law and morality
The Topography of Divine Love
Justification and Legitimacy
The Obligations and Responsibilities of Parenthood
Moral Principles and Political Obligations
The Sources of Normativity
Being Realistic about Reasons
The Lockean Theory of Rights
Are Parents Fiduciaries
Deflating Parental Rights
Won’t Somebody Please Think of the Parents
The Best Available Parent
Why Parents’ Interests Matter
Kant’s Justification of Parental Duties
An Analysis of Holiness
Why there is no obligation to love God
The grounds of worship
Conversational implicatures cannot save divine command theory from the counterpossible terrible commands objection
Hell
The Best Available Parent and Duties of Justice
God and Moral Obligation
How Valuable Could a Person Be
Moral Realism
Finite and Infinite Goods
Family, Ancestry and Self
On Becoming an Adult
| Unique citing works | 1 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 1 |
| Citation span | 2026 - 2026 (1) |
| Citation velocity | current |
| Highly cited | No |