Saints as Divine Evidence

'This book asks afresh what are the 'evidences' for God's existence, and answers that question with painstaking attention to the often-neglected issue of the manifest holiness of the saints. Readers will find here not only an illuminating orientation to the current state of play in analytic philosophy of religion in general, but a creative stretching of its usual boundaries to include considerations of affective, moral, and spiritual efficacy. This is a book of unusual insight and suggestive theological discernment.' Sarah Coakley, FBA, Norris-Hulse Professor of Divinity, emerita, University of Cambridge
'Saintly figures are of obvious importance in guiding the thought and practice of religious believers across traditions, and for many, saintly lives stand as a persuasive witness to the reality of the God with whom they appear to be engaged. Even so, philosophers have given relatively little attention to the epistemic significance of the saints. Professor MacSwain's carefully argued and wide-ranging study takes up that issue, approaching with philosophical depth and nuance the spiritually and humanly pressing question of what we may hope to learn from the example of saintly lives.' Mark Wynn, FBA, Nolloth Professor of the Philosophy of the Christian Religion, University of Oxford
'The only thing that explains why this book has not already been written is that its perennially important ideas were awaiting this author to write it. Only a mind powerfully possessed of analytical care and theological imagination could have brought it to life. Professor MacSwain treats with utmost seriousness a truth so central to the Christian life - that the validity of Christian claims depends on the witness of Christian people - that we have taken it for granted. No longer, and what we have now sheds light on so much that comes before and after.' Jonathan Tran, Professor of Theological Ethics, Duke University Divinity School