The Problem of Particularity: If there is an infinite, omnipotent, omnibenevolent God (or gods), why is the evidence for its existence and nature so ambiguous, culturally specific, and historically contingent? Why would such a being choose to reveal itself through ancient texts, personal feelings, and contested miracles—modes that look indistinguishable from human invention and psychological projection—rather than in a universally obvious, unchanging, and unambiguous way? The hard problem is reconciling the hypothesized nature of God with the messy, obscure, and often contradictory nature of the alleged evidence.
*Example: An all-powerful God desires a loving relationship with all humanity. The hard problem asks: Why is the primary method a 2000-year-old book, requiring translation, interpretation, and faith, which leads to thousands of conflicting denominations? Why not a continuous, direct, and clear communication to every person in a way that transcends culture and language? The obscurity and conflict surrounding divine revelation seem more characteristic of limited human cultural processes than of an infinite being with a clear message. The ambiguity itself becomes the central theological puzzle.* Hard Problem of Theology.
by Nammugal January 24, 2026
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