“Deus absconditus” is a Latin phrase that translates to “hidden God.” It is a theological concept that refers to the idea that God has hidden himself from humanity, either by choice or by necessity. This idea can be found in many religions and philosophies, but it is most commonly associated with Christian theology.

I think it is qute fascinating how the philosophy of God evolved from the Old Testament idea of an almost a Greek-like, very present, very feisty deity into the absent god. It took a while to get there, and it’s an interesting to think about why earlier generations felt the presence of a god that much more potently. Perhaps the general saturation of everyday life in religious meaning waned with time, so God also receded into the unknowable.

The concept of “deus absconditus” originated in the writings of the German theologian Martin Luther. Luther argued that God had hidden himself from humanity as a result of the Fall of Man. According to Luther, before the Fall, God was present and visible to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. However, after they sinned, God withdrew from human view, and now only reveals himself through faith.

The notion of a hidden God is not unique to Christianity, however. It can also be found in Jewish and Islamic theology, as well as in the writings of many philosophers. For example, the philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche used the concept of “deus absconditus” to describe the loss of faith in God in modern society. Nietzsche believed that God had died, but that humanity had not yet fully recognized this fact.

In general, the idea of a hidden God is used to explain the apparent absence of divine intervention in the world. It is often associated with the problem of evil, or the question of why a benevolent God would allow suffering and injustice to exist. By positing a hidden God, theologians and philosophers attempt to reconcile the existence of evil with the belief in a loving God.