The Meaning of Theism

Leading philosophers reflect on what belief in God, or its absence, means for the subject and what difference it makes to the flow and perceived significance of someone's life.

• A stimulating juxtaposition of views including the different perspectives of Christians, Buddhists, Jews, atheists and agnostics
• Contributors include Sir Anthony Kenny, Alvin Plantinga, John Haldane, Richard Norman, David Benatar and John Cottingham
• Enables the reader to see how crucial issues about the nature and significance of religious belief are dealt with from widely differing philosophical and religious perspectives

List of Contributors vii

Preface ix

1 What’s God Got To Do With It? Atheism and Religious Practice 1
David Benatar

2 What Difference Does It Make? The Nature and Significance of Theistic Belief 19
John Cottingham

3 Philosophy, the Restless Heart and the Meaning of Theism 39
John Haldane

4 Worshipping an Unknown God 59
Anthony Kenny

5 ‘Seeke True Religion. Oh, Where?’ 71
Michael McGhee

6 The Varieties of Non-Religious Experience 91
Richard Norman

7 Divine Action in the World (Synopsis) 111
Alvin Plantinga

Index 121

“Taken as a whole, the book is a success; several essays in it will reward further, careful study.” (Religious Studies Review, March 2009) John Cottingham was educated at Oxford University and is currently Professor of Philosophy at the University of Reading, where he holds an Established Chair of Philosophy. He is also an Honorary Fellow of St John’s College, Oxford. He is (since 1993) Editor of Ratio, the international journal of analytic philosophy. In 2002-4 he was Stanton Lecturer in the Philosophy of Religion at Cambridge University, and his most recent book is The Spiritual Dimension (2005).

In this provocative volume, leading philosophers reflect on what belief in God, or its absence, means for the subject and what difference it makes to the flow and perceived significance of someone's life.

Contributors include:

• Sir Anthony Kenny on the idea of 'devout agnosticism'
• Alvin Plantinga on the compatibility of science and religion
• John Haldane on the human desire for God
• Richard Norman on atheistic interpretations of religious experience
• David Benatar on the value of religious observance irrespective of belief
• John Cottingham on the role of emotions and habits of virtue in the adoption of a religious outlook.

The different perspectives of the authors, Christian, Buddhist, Jewish, atheist and agnostic make for an unusually stimulating juxtaposition of views.