The Blackwell Companion to Natural Theology

With the help of in-depth essays from some of the world's leading philosophers, The Blackwell Companion to Natural Theology explores the nature and existence of God through human reason and evidence from the natural world.

• Provides in-depth and cutting-edge treatment of natural theology's main arguments
• Includes contributions from first-rate philosophers well known for their work on the relevant topics
• Updates relevant arguments in light of the most current, state-of-the-art philosophical and scientific discussions
• Stands in useful contrast and opposition to the arguments of the 'new atheists'

List of figures vi

Notes on contributors vii

Introduction ix
William Lane Craig and J. P. Moreland

1 The project of natural theology 1
Charles Taliaferro

2 The Leibnizian cosmological argument 24
Alexander R. Pruss

3 The kalam cosmological argument 101
William Lane Craig and James D. Sinclair

4 The teleological argument: an exploration of the fine-tuning of the universe 202
Robin Collins

5 The argument from consciousness 282
J. P. Moreland

6 The argument from reason 344
Victor Reppert

7 The moral argument 391
Mark D. Linville

8 The argument from evil 449
Stewart Goetz

9 The argument from religious experience 498
Kai-Man Kwan

10 The ontological argument 553
Robert E. Maydole

11 The argument from miracles: a cumulative case for the resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth 593
Timothy McGrew and Lydia McGrew

Index 663

William Lane Craig is Research Professor of Philosophy at talbot School of Theology in La Mirada, California. He has authored or edited more than thirty books and many articles in professional journals of philosophy and theology.

J. P. Moreland is distinguished Professor of Philosophy at talbot School of Theology in La Mirada, California. He has authored, edited, or contributed to thirty books and authored over 100 articles in professional journals of philosophy and theology.

THE BLACKWELL COMPANION TO NATURAL THEOLOGY

"if natural theology is overdue for a comeback, this work will help it on its way, and, for skeptical readers, there is much here to go on thinking about for months to come (making it a good catalyst for intelligent debate)." Reference Reviews

"All of these essays show sophistication and deserve wide attention. Common objections to the theistic arguments are considered and logical proofs are helpfully provided when appropriate." Religious Studies Review

The last few decades have witnessed a stunning resurgence of philosophical interest in God and theology. Although much of this renaissance is focused on the rationality of theistic belief apart from evidence, there is a gathering movement in philosophical circles to re-establish natural theology's legitimate role in justifying belief in God's existence.

The Blackwell Companion to Natural Theology gathers together original contributions from a variety of leading philosophers to provide a timely and thought-provoking exploration of the nature and existence of God as manifested in the existence, order, and character of the natural world. Each of the in-depth essays explores at length a particular theistic argument – from Contingency and Consciousness to Reason and Religious Experience – with the distinguished authors providing analysis and evaluation of each argument, offering original insights and new perspectives on perennial questions.

The result is an engaging and deeply profound examination of the question of God's existence based on human reason and evidence from the natural world.