Biblical Hope and Moral Endeavour

Abstract

The paper contrasts the humanist and Christian positions, arguing that the former is not one of enlightened optimism but rather renders moral endeavour hopeless. Christian affiliation may at first sight not seem to fare any better, but it affirms the reality of prayer and the divine answers to it. Ultimately Christian hope rests on the promises of God. Within the Christian framework of thinking there is good reason to believe, then, in the hopefulness of moral endeavour. All this leads to a programme for further explorations as hope seeks for understanding (spes quaerens intellectum).