God’s Scrutiny, Divine Anonymity, and the Reception of Social Action

Building on Thomas DeGloma’s book Anonymous: The Performance of Hidden Identities (2023), to further explore the subject of anonymity, in this paper I elaborate on its connections with the themes of God and the divine. I open with a discussion of two “impossibilities”: to act undercover in the sight of almighty entities and to identify such almighty entities. Therefore, I examine the fragility of anonymous performances to underscore how the anticipation of exposure can make them less free (in a way, less anonymous) as well as abundant, since the allure of investigation often drives engagement. I then shift to the node of “impossible identification”, addressing how certain forms of ultimate authority remain deliberately faceless to absorb blame, deflect praise, and facilitate the public misattribution of both. I conclude by emphasizing the role of the audience in shaping social behavior, linking anonymity to the broader category of reaction.