The Hope That is in You

Abstract The focus of this chapter is on the posthumously published Three Essays on Religion: ‘Nature’, ‘Utility of Religion’, and ‘Theism’. The contents of all three are presented, including Mill’s addressing the problem of evil by denying divine omnipotence while affirming the goodness of God, his probabilist theism, his case for reasonable hope, and for the divine mission of Jesus Christ. There is also a discussion of Mill’s affinity with the Broad Church and liberal Anglicanism. Finally, there is a presentation of the negative reaction to ‘Theism’ by disciples of Mill who were religious unbelievers such as Alexander Bain and John Morley.