Philosophy of Religion: A Contemporary Introduction

by Yandell,Keith E.

• ISBN13: 9780415132145
• ISBN10: 0415132142
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Nonspecific Binding
• Copyright: 1999-01-05
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

Philosophy of Religionprovides an account of the central issues and viewpoints in the philosophy of religion but also shows how such issues can be rationally assessed and in what ways competing views can be rationally assessed. It includes major philosophical figures in religious traditions as well as discussions by important contemporary philosophers. Keith E. Yandell deals lucidly and constructively with representative views from Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism.

Table of Contents

Preface	xiii
Introduction	1	(8)
PART I: PHILOSOPHY AND RELIGION	9	(72)
What is philosophy? What is religion? What is philosophy of religion?	11	(10)
Philosophy	13	(2)
Objectivity	15	(1)
Religion	16	(1)
Philosophy of religion	17	(1)
Questions for reflection	18	(1)
Annotated reading	18	(3)
What sorts of religion are there?	21	(16)
Monotheism	24	(4)
Advaita Vedanta	28	(2)
Jainism	30	(1)
Buddhism	31	(1)
Comparison	32	(1)
The criteria applied	32	(2)
Questions for reflection	34	(1)
Annotated reading	35	(2)
What sorts of religious experience are there?	37	(14)
Structure and content	39	(2)
Descriptions	41	(5)
Criteria and their application	46	(4)
Questions for reflection	50	(1)
Annotated reading	50	(1)
The importance of doctrine and the distinctness of religious traditions	51	(14)
Doctrine	53	(3)
``Truth-claims''	56	(1)
Identity	57	(4)
Diversity	61	(3)
Questions for reflection	64	(1)
Annotated reading	64	(1)
Religious pluralism	65	(16)
Religious plurality and religious pluralism	67	(1)
The content of religious pluralism	67	(1)
Some religion-relevant consequences of RP	68	(2)
A critical discussion of RP: Part one	70	(4)
A critical discussion of RP: Part two	74	(4)
A critical discussion of RP: Part three	78	(1)
Questions for reflection	79	(1)
Annotated reading	80	(1)
PART II: RELIGIOUS CONCEPTIONS OF ULTIMATE REALITY	81	(38)
Monotheistic conceptions of ultimate reality	83	(16)
Generic philosophical monotheism	85	(1)
Greek monotheism	86	(3)
Semitic monotheism	89	(1)
Hindu monotheism	90	(1)
Monotheisms and atheisms	91	(5)
Questions for reflection	96	(1)
Annotated reading	97	(2)
Nonmonotheistic conceptions of ultimate reality	99	(20)
Advaita Vedanta Hinduism	102	(7)
Jainism and Buddhism	109	(7)
Conclusion	116	(1)
Questions for reflection	116	(1)
Annotated reading	117	(2)
PART III: ARGUMENTS CONCERNING MONOTHEISTIC CONCEPTIONS	119	(118)
Arguments against monotheism	121	(46)
Three questions	123	(1)
The problem of evil	124	(1)
Failed escapes	125	(3)
The consistency issue	128	(3)
The evidential issue	131	(30)
Conclusion	161	(1)
Epilogue	161	(3)
Questions for reflection	164	(1)
Annotated reading	165	(2)
Arguments for monotheism	167	(46)
Proof	169	(2)
Logical necessity	171	(3)
Purely conceptual proofs and the Ontological Argument	174	(7)
Empirical proofs, argument strategies, and principles of sufficient reason	181	(3)
Arguments by Thomas Aquinas	184	(26)
Questions for reflection	210	(1)
Annotated reading	211	(2)
Monotheism and religious experience	213	(24)
Phenomenologically thick experiences	215	(1)
Experience as direct evidence	216	(2)
A principle of experiential evidence	218	(10)
Being evidence versus providing evidence	228	(2)
The evidential argument from religious experience	230	(1)
The principle of experiential evidence applied	231	(4)
Questions for reflection	235	(1)
Annotated reading	235	(2)
PART IV: ARGUMENTS CONCERNING NONMONOTHEISTIC CONCEPTIONS	237	(62)
Arguments concerning nonmonotheistic conceptions (1)	239	(26)
Appeals to argument and appeals to experience	241	(1)
Advaita Vedanta	242	(1)
Jainism and Buddhism on persons	242	(2)
Identity	244	(2)
Personal identity	246	(1)
Bundle theory	246	(6)
Copiers and annihilators	252	(7)
Substance theory	259	(4)
Questions for reflection	263	(1)
Annotated reading	264	(1)
Arguments concerning nonmonotheistic conceptions (2)	265	(34)
Appeals to enlightenment experience	267	(4)
Self-authentication	271	(14)
Advaita appeal to enlightenment experience	285	(1)
Jain-type appeals to experience	286	(7)
Buddhist-type appeals to experience	293	(2)
The contrasting arguments	295	(3)
Questions for reflection	298	(1)
Annotated reading	298	(1)
PART V: RELIGION, MORALITY, FAITH, AND REASON	299	(62)
Religion and morality	301	(40)
Religious values and moral values	303	(3)
Deterministic views	306	(3)
Compatibilism and incompatibilism	309	(13)
The Principle of Alternative Possibilities	322	(13)
Divine foreknowledge and human freedom	335	(3)
Conclusion	338	(1)
Questions for reflection	339	(1)
Annotated reading	339	(2)
Faith and reason	341	(20)
Faith	343	(1)
Knowledge	343	(1)
Scientism	344	(2)
Propositions	346	(3)
The epistemic status of religious belief	349	(1)
Robust foundationalism	350	(1)
Confirmationism and falsificationism	351	(4)
Ways of being falsified	355	(1)
Theistic arguments and explanatory power	356	(3)
Questions for reflection	359	(1)
Annotated reading	359	(2)
Glossary	361	(4)
Selected great figures in the history of philosophy of religion	365	(2)
Notes	367	(28)
Bibliography	395	(6)
Index	401