Reading Philosophy of Religion

Reading Philosophy of Religion combines a diverse selection of classical and contemporary texts in philosophy of religion with insightful commentaries.

• Offers a unique presentation through a combination of text and interactive commentary
• Provides a mix of classic and contemporary texts, including some not anthologized elsewhere
• Includes writings from thinkers such as Aquinas, Boethius, Hume, Plantinga and Putnam
• Divided into sections which examine religious language, the existence of God, reason, argument and belief, divine properties, and religious pluralism

Introduction.

1 Religious Language.

Introduction to the issues.

Introduction to Ayer.

A. J. Ayer, ‘Critique of Theology’ (selection from Language, Truth and Logic ch. 6) (5).

Commentary on Ayer.

Introduction to BerkeleyGeorge Berkeley, ‘Alciphron’ (selection from the seventh dialogue) (5).

Commentary on Berkeley.

Introduction to PutnamHilary Putnam ‘Wittgenstein on Religious Language’ (selection from Renewing Philosophy ch. 7-8) (15).

Commentary on Putnam.

Introduction to AlstonWilliam Alston ‘Referring to God’ (11).

Commentary on Alston.

2 Reason, Argument and Belief in God.

Introduction to the issues.

Introduction to New.

Christopher New, ‘Antitheism’ (8).

Commentary on New.

Introduction to Clifford.

William Clifford, ‘The Ethics of Belief’ (8).

Commentary on Clifford.

Introduction to James.

William James, ‘The Will to Believe’ (17).

Commentary on James.

Introduction to Plantinga.

Alvin Plantinga, ‘Is Belief in God Properly Basic?’ (10).

Commentary on Plantinga.

Introduction to Rae.

Georges Rey, ‘Meta-Atheism: Religious Avowal as Self-Deception’ (8).

Commentary on Rae.

3 The Existence of God.

Introduction to the issues.

Introduction to Anselm.

Anselm, Proslogion: The Ontological Argument (selection) (5).

Commentary on Anselm.

Introduction to Aquinas.

Aquinas, Summa Theologica: First Way, Third Way (3).

Commentary on Aquinas.

Introduction to Pascal.

Blaise Pascal, Pensées: The Wager (2).

Commentary on Pascal.

Introduction to Paley.

William Paley, ‘Natural Theology’ (selection) (10).

Commentary on Paley.

Introduction to Hume.

David Hume ‘Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion’ (selection) (12).

Commentary on Hume.

Introduction to Everitt.

Nicholas Everitt ‘Teleological Arguments’ (selection from The Non-Existence of God,ch. 5) (5).

Commentary on Everitt.

Introduction to Rowe.

William Rowe, ‘The Problem of Evil and Some Varieties of Atheism’ (6).

Commentary on Rowe.

4 Divine Properties.

Introduction to the issues.

Introduction to Boethius.

Boethius, The Consolation of Philosophy (selection) (3).

Commentary on Boethius.

Introduction to Savage.

C. Wade Savage, ‘The Paradox of the Stone’ (5).

Commentary on Savage.

Introduction to Pike.

Nelson Pike, ‘Divine Omniscience and Voluntary Action’ (6).

Commentary on Pike.

Introduction to Kretzmann.

Norman Kretzmann, ‘Abraham, Isaac and Euthyphro: God and the Basis of .

Morality’ (11).

Commentary on Kretzmann.

5 Pluralism.

Introduction to the issues.

Introduction to Hick.

John Hick, The Interpretation of Religion (selection) (6).

Commentary on Hick.

Introduction to Plantinga.

Alvin Plantinga, ‘Pluralism: A Defense of Religious Exclusivism’ .

(selection) (12).

Commentary on Plantinga.

.

Further reading and essay questions

Graham Oppy is Professor of Philosophy at Monash University, where he has recently been Head of the School of Philosophy and Bioethics, and Associate Dean Research in the Faculty of Arts. His publications in philosophy of religion include Ontological Arguments and Belief in God (1996), Philosophical Perspectives on Infinity (2006), and Arguing about Gods (2006) and numerous journal articles.

Michael Scott is lecturer in Philosophy at the University of Manchester and editor of Ars Disputandi, an online journal in philosophy of religion. He has written several papers in philosophy of religion and perception and co-authored Realism and Religion (2007) with Andrew Moore. Reading Philosophy of Religion offers a diverse collection of carefully chosen classical and contemporary texts in philosophy of religion accompanied by detailed and insightful commentaries as well as questions to stimulate further study. The readings reflect central topics of study: religious language; the existence of God; reason, argument and belief in God; divine properties; and religious pluralism. The twenty-two excerpts span the philosophical spectrum and include such thinkers as Alston, Anselm, Aquinas, Ayer, Berkeley, Boethius, Clifford, Hume, Paley, Pascal, Plantinga, Putnam and Rowe.

With its combination of thoughtfully chosen texts and illuminating analysis, Reading Philosophy of Religion is the ideal choice for an introductory textbook in philosophy of religion courses, or for any individual curious about the philosophical study of the nature of religion.

"This is a brilliant set of readings with unique and student-friendly commentaries that makes it an ideal, vibrant resource for the study and practice of philosophy of religion today." Charles Taliaferro, St. Olaf College

“For those with a basic grounding in Philosophy, this book represents an ideal introduction to Philosophy of Religion in the Western tradition. Oppy and Scott are to be commended for encouraging and enabling detailed engagement with some of the most important primary texts in the field.” Dr Elizabeth Burns, Heythrop College, University of London