Synopses & Reviews
The philosophy of religion as a distinct discipline is an innovation of the last two hundred years, but its central topics--the existence and nature of the divine, humankind's relation to it, the nature of religion and its place in human life--have been with us since the inception of philosophy. Philosophers have long critically examined the truth of (and rational justification for) religious claims, and have explored such philosophically interesting phenomena as faith, religious experience and the distinctive features of religious discourse. The second half of the twentieth-century has been an especially fruitful period, with philosophers using new developments in logic and epistemology to mount both sophisticated defenses of, and attacks on, religious claims.
The Oxford Handbook of Philosophy of Religion contains newly commissioned chapters by 21 prominent experts who cover the field in a comprehensive but accessible manner. Each chapter is expository, critical, and representative of a distinctive viewpoint. The Handbook is divided into two sections. The first, "Problems," covers the most frequently discussed topics, among them arguments for God's existence, the problem of evil, and religious epistemology. The second is called "Approaches" and contains four essays assessing the advantages and disadvantages of different methods of practicing philosophy of religion.
The Handbook offers contributors of high stature who present substantive and in-depth treatment of the most central topics. It is a must-have reference for anyone with an interest in philosophy and religion.
Review
"An excellent reference source that makes a significant contribution to the discipline...Written by major scholars in the field, the chapters include not only descriptive information but also critical and interpretive insights...Highly recommended."--CHOICE
Review
"This excellent collection is more comprehensive than many of its competitors.... This collection contains many original contributions, worth reading not only by those for whom analytic philosophy has seemed not the best option available but also by those who are practitioners of that tradition. Wainwright has edited a fine addition to join other Handbooks in this series."--Frank Dilley, International Journal for Philosophy of Religion
"An excellent reference source that makes a significant contribution to the discipline...Written by major scholars in the field, the chapters include not only descriptive information but also critical and interpretive insights...Highly recommended."--CHOICE
About the Author
William J. Wainwright is Distinguished Professor Emeritus at The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
Table of Contents
Contributors Introduction William J. Wainwright
Part I Problems
1. Divine Power, Goodness, and Knowledge, William L. Rowe
2. Divine Sovereignty and Aseity, William E. Mann
3. Nontheistic Conceptions of the Divine, Paul J. Griffiths
4. The Ontological Argument, Brian Leftow
5. Cosmological and Design Arguments, Alexander R. Pruss and Richard M. Gale
6. Mysticism and Religious Experience, Jerome I. Gellman
7. Pascal's Wagers and James's Will to Believe, Je?rey Jordan
8. The Problem of Evil, Peter van Inwagen
9. Religious Language, William P. Alston
10. Religious Epistemology, Nicholas Wolterstor?
11. God, Science, and Naturalism, Paul Draper
12. Miracles, George I. Mavrodes
13. Faith and Revelation, C. Stephen Evans
14. Morality and Religion, Linda Zagzebski
15. Death and the Afterlife, Lynne Rudder Baker
16. Religious Diversity: Familiar Problems, Novel Opportunities, Philip L. Quinn
Part II Approaches
17. Analytic Philosophy of Religion, William Hasker
18. Wittgensteinianism: Logic, Reality, and God, D. Z. Phillips
19. Continental Philosophy of Religion, Merold Westphal
20. Feminism and Analytic Philosophy of Religion, Sarah Coakley
Index