Professors Wright and Swinburne on the Method of Ramified Natural Theology

In this chapter, I argue that Wright’s historically based approach would be greatly strengthened by Richard Swinburne’s conception of ramified natural theology as an extension of bare natural theology. Unlike Wright, proponents of this latter conception of ramified natural theology make full use of traditional and contemporary forms of philosophical-theological reasoning—which are themselves not reducible to, and are typically not principally based upon, the examination of history—in the effort to render more or less probable some claim that God has revealed himself in history. Once we recognize that Wright’s historically based approach is strengthened by, and in certain respects is dependent upon, the kind of philosophical-theological reasoning from which Wright distances himself, we see that historical inquiry may be seen as but one valuable form of study among others in the construction of a Christian, ramified natural theology. In the end, my goal is not to argue that Wright’s project in History and Eschatology is irreparably misconceived. Instead, the aim is to build bridges by suggesting ways in which the works of leading Christian thinkers are mutually supportive and perhaps even lay the groundwork for a richer, more compelling Christian apologetic.