“Will the real God please stand up?”

To tell the truth practical theology style

Abstract

The long-running popular American television show “To Tell the Truth” involved having celebrity panellists select the real holder of an unusual job from a group made up of two imposters and an authentic contestant. After a period of questioning and reflection, the big reveal would come with the now iconic tag line, “Will the Real X please stand up?” Like multiple contestants on the game show, empirical research consistently demonstrates that people in predominantly Christian countries like the United States hold differing views about the nature of God. Such research begs the question, “Will the real God please stand up?” More than simply an interesting matter of scholarly debate, views of God have real world moral and political consequences for the individuals and communities who hold them. Responding to the organizing question of the 2023 Global Network conference from an orientation within the field of practical theology involves taking seriously the available empirical evidence for beliefs about God in particular cultural contexts and relating those views to conceptions of the divine that arise from theological work premised on special revelation and ecclesial traditions. This article will offer an answer to the organizing question in a way that would make sense to at least some practical theologians.