William Hamilton, death of God theologian, dies at 87

William Hamilton, a theologian who declared nearly a half century ago that God was dormant if not dead, was remembered at his death for the media impact made by the "death of God movement."

The Time cover for April 8, 1966, with its stark words "Is God Dead?" against a dark background, garnered record sales. So did a 1966 book, Radical Theology and the Death of God, coauthored by Hamilton and Thomas J. J. Altizer. "It was Bill who in the '60s created the scandal of a death of God theology," Altizer told the Century, adding that Hamilton was the more articulate.

Hamilton, 87, died February 28 of congestive heart failure in the Portland, Oregon, apartment that he shared with his wife of 62 years.