Wieman's minimalist definition of god

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Here is Henry Nelson Wieman's minimalist definition of God. I first learned of it from Andrew James Brown who proposed to his congregation that it is the minimalist definition that everyone, despite their different maximalist conceptions of God could agree on.

Highlights

Whatever else the word God may mean, it is a term used to designate that Something upon which human life is most dependent for its security, welfare and increasing abundance. That there is such a Something cannot be doubted. The mere fact that human life happens, and continues to happen, proves that this Something, however, unknown, does certainly exist.

Of course one can say that there are innumerable conditions which converge to sustain human life and that is doubtless a fact. But in that case either one of two things are true. Either the universe is a single individual organic unity, in which case it is the whole indivisible universe that has brought forth and now sustains human life; or else certain of these sustaining conditions are more critically, ultimately and constantly important for conditions are human welfare than are others. According to the first view God would be, or involve, the whole universe; according to the second he would be those most important conditions which, taken collectively, constitute the Something which must have supreme value for all human living. The word God, taken with its very minimum meaning, is the name for this Something of supreme value. God may be much more than this, but he is certainly this by definition. In this sense, with this minimum, God cannot be denied. His existence is absolutely certain. He is simply that which is supremely significant in all the universe for human living, however known or unknown he may be.

Of course this statement concerning God proves nothing about his character, except that he is the most beneficent object in the universe for human beings. He is certainly the object of supreme value. Nothing is implied by this definition concerning personality in God; but neither is personality denied. In fact, personality is by no means a clear and simple term. But two things are made certain: his existence and the supremacy of his value over all others, if we measure value in terms of human need.

Quotes

Notes

Collations

Per Wieman, human life is most dependent on something for its security and flourishing.

This something upon which human life is most dependent on may be referred to as God.

Per Wieman, the minimal definition of God is that which human life is most dependent on for its security and flourishing.

The minimal definition of God doesn't suggest personality but neither does it deny it.

If we believe in the minimal definition of God, there are two things we are certain of:

  1. God exists.
  2. God's value is supreme over all others.

A proof that this thing (God), which human life is most dependent on exists, is the continuous occurrence and flourishing of human life.

This thing (God) that sustains human life could either be two things:

  1. The entire universe as a whole.
  2. A portion of the universe which is most critical in the sustenance of human life.

Prompts

Wieman's minimal definition of God. :: That which human life is most dependent on for its security and flourishing.

The minimal definition of God doesn't suggest personality but neither does it deny it.

If we believe in Wieman's minimal definition of God, what two things can we be certain of? :: God exists and God's value is supreme over all others.

Proof that Wieman's God (that which human life is most dependent on for its security and flourishing) exists. :: Human life continuous to occur and flourish.

Two scopes of Wieman's minimal concept of God. :: The entire universe as a whole or a part of it.

Something upon which human life is most dependent for its security, welfare and increasing abundance.

The mere fact that human life happens, and continues to happen, proves that this Something, however, unknown, does certainly exist.

there are innumerable conditions which converge to sustain human life

Either the universe is a single individual organic unity, in which case it is the whole indivisible universe that has brought forth and now sustains human life

certain of these sustaining conditions are more critically, ultimately and constantly important for conditions are human welfare than are others

Nothing is implied by this definition concerning personality in God; but neither is personality denied.

two things are made certain: his existence and the supremacy of his value over all others, if we measure value in terms of human need.

Annotations

Wieman's idea of God works for me but should be modified to not just refer to that which brings the most benefit to human living but benefit to the entire Universe (including the nonhuman).

Per my personal communication with Andrew J. Brown dated 2025-04-22, he agrees with my observation that the Wieman's concept of God is that of a process. However, he expanded his thinking further by saying that the Wieman's concept of God as a process is similar to Baruch Spinoza's idea of natura naturans, which is "God-or-Nature/deus-sive-natura simply doing what nature (or God-or-Nature), in its totality, always does." Andrew adds that he feels certain that this process is also what Shin'ichirō Imaoka was referring to, using Bergsonian language, as "the great life of free and selfless creative evolution."

I feel like I'm comfortable using the word God again given my past. My intricate relationship to that persona, which is now taking on a very different image.

References

Wieman, Henry Nelson. Religious Experience and Scientific Method. The Macmillan Company, 1926.