Thomas Jonathan Jackson Altizer (May 28, 1927 – November 28, 2018) was an American university professor, religious scholar, and theologian, noted for his incorporation of Death of God theology and Hegelian dialectical philosophy into his body of work.
[citation needed] After receiving his doctoral degree, he sought ordination as an Episcopal priest, but failed the psychiatric test.
"[7] However, a second notable religious experience happened in 1955, while reading an essay on Nietzsche and Rilke, Altizer truly experienced the death of God as a conversion.
The latter issue, published at Easter time, put the question on its cover in bold red letters on a plain black background: "Is God Dead?"
In the mid-1960s Altizer was drawn into discussions about his views with other radical Christian theologians such as Gabriel Vahanian, William Hamilton, and Paul Van Buren, and also the rabbi Richard Rubenstein.
Altizer also entered into formal critical debates with the orthodox Lutheran John Warwick Montgomery, and the Christian countercult movement apologist Walter Martin.