God of the gaps is a type of theological perspective in which gaps in scientific knowledge are taken to be evidence or proof of God's existence. The term was invented by Christian theologians not to discredit theism but rather to point out the fallacy of relying on teleological arguments for God's existence. Nonetheless, in current usage, it refers to a specific form of the argument from ignorance fallacy.
Read more about God Of The Gaps: Origins of The Term, General Usage, Usage in Referring To A Type of Argument, Criticism
Famous quotes containing the words god of, god and/or gaps:
“I long to talk with some old lover’s ghost
Who died before the god of love was born.
I cannot think that he who then loved most,
Sunk so low as to love one which did scorn.”
—John Donne (1572–1631)
“I see the moon,
And the moon sees me;
God bless the moon,
And God bless me.”
—Unknown. I See the Moon (l. 1–6)
“... if we take the universe of ‘fitting,’ countless coats ‘fit’ backs, and countless boots ‘fit’ feet, on which they are not practically fitted; countless stones ‘fit’ gaps in walls into which no one seeks to fit them actually. In the same way countless opinions ‘fit’ realities, and countless truths are valid, tho no thinker ever thinks them.”
—William James (1842–1910)