Philosophy of religion
Subtitle: a very short introduction
By: Tim Bayne
Edition: First edition.
Series: Very short introductions -- 552; Very short introductions -- 552.
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Published: 2018
Language: eng
Number of pages: 133
ISBN-13: 9780198754961
Copyright date: 2018
Subjects: Religion; Philosophy
Description: What is the philosophy of religion? How can we distinguish it from theology on the one hand and the psychology/sociology of religious belief on the other? What does it mean to describe God as 'eternal'? And should religious people want there to be good arguments for the existence of God, or is religious belief only authentic in the absence of these good arguments?  In this 'Very Short Introduction' Tim Bayne introduces the field of philosophy of religion, and engages with some of the most burning questions that philosophers discuss. Considering how 'religion' should be defined, and whether we even need to be able to define it in order to engage in the philosophy of religion, he goes on to discuss whether the existence of God matters. Exploring the problem of evil, Bayne also debates the connection between faith and reason, and the related question of what role reason should play in religious contexts. Shedding light on the relationship between science and religion, Bayne finishes by considering the topics of reincarnation and the afterlife.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (pages 117-128) and index.
Table of contents: title: What is the philosophy of religion?; title: The concept of God; title: Arguments for the existence of God; title: Divine hiddenness and the nature of faith; title: The problem of evil; title: The roots of religious belief; title: Speaking of God; title: The afterlife.