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Is Berkeley an Atheist?

Published in Religious Philosophy 3 mins read

No, George Berkeley was emphatically not an atheist. He was a convinced adherent of Christianity and his philosophical system was deeply intertwined with his belief in God.

Berkeley, an Irish philosopher, posited that physical objects exist only as ideas in minds, a concept known as immaterialism or subjective idealism. Crucially, he believed God to be present as an immediate cause of all our experiences. This means that for Berkeley, the existence of everything we perceive is guaranteed by its being an idea in God's mind. He did not evade the question of the external source of the diversity of the sense data at the disposal of the human individual, attributing it directly to God.

Understanding Berkeley's Theocentric Philosophy

Berkeley's philosophy is unique in its integration of theological conviction with metaphysical theory. His arguments against skepticism and materialism often relied on the omnipresence and omnipotence of God.

Here are key aspects of Berkeley's philosophical stance that demonstrate his strong belief in God:

  • God as the Ultimate Perceiver: For Berkeley, the continuous existence of objects when no human mind perceives them is maintained because God always perceives them.
  • Immediate Cause of Experience: Sensory experiences (like seeing a tree or feeling heat) are not caused by external material objects, but directly by God imparting these ideas to our minds.
  • Rejection of Material Substance: He argued against the existence of a mind-independent material substance, believing it to be an unnecessary and problematic concept that could lead to atheism or skepticism.

Contrasting Views: George Berkeley vs. Atheism

To further clarify, consider the fundamental differences between Berkeley's views and those of atheism:

Aspect George Berkeley's Stance Atheist Stance (General)
Belief in God A convinced adherent of Christianity; God is central to existence and perception. No belief in any deity or divine being.
Source of Reality Ideas in minds, with God's mind as the ultimate reality and guarantor of existence. Often material and independent of a divine being; reality is explained without reference to a god.
Divine Intervention God is the immediate and constant cause of all sensory experiences and the order of the world. No divine intervention or causation in the natural world or human experience.

The Role of God in Berkeley's System

Berkeley saw God not just as a creator, but as an active, continuous upholder of reality. His philosophical project was, in many ways, an attempt to use reason to defend and reinforce religious faith against what he saw as the threats of materialism and atheism prevalent in his time. Thus, Berkeley's entire philosophical framework presupposes and actively incorporates the existence of God, making him a profoundly religious philosopher rather than an atheist.