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

1. Religious Language Introduction Introduction to Ayer A. J. Ayer, ‘Critique of Theology’ (selection from Language, Truth and Logic ch. 6) Commentary on Ayer Introduction to Berkeley George Berkeley, ‘Alciphron’ (selection from the seventh dialogue) Commentary on Berkeley Introduction to Putnam Hilary Putnam, ‘Wittgenstein on Religious Language’ (selection from Renewing Philosophy ch. 7-8)              Commentary on Putnam Introduction to Alston William Alston, ‘Referring to God’ Commentary on Alston 2. Arguments about the Existence of God Introduction Introduction to Anselm Anselm, Proslogion: The Ontological Argument Commentary on Anselm Introduction to Aquinas Aquinas, Summa Theologica: First Way, Third Way Commentary on Aquinas Introduction to Pascal Blaise Pascal, Pensées: The Wager Commentary on Pascal Introduction to Paley William Paley, ‘Natural Theology’ (selection) Commentary on Paley Introduction to Hume David Hume, ‘Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion’ (selection) Commentary on Hume Introduction to Everitt Nicholas Everitt, ‘Teleological Arguments’ (selection from The Non-Existence of God, ch. 5) Commentary on Everitt Introduction to Mackie   John Leslie Mackie, ‘Evil and Omnipotence’ Commentary on Mackie Introduction to Rowe William Rowe, ‘The Problem of Evil and Some Varieties of Atheism’ Commentary on Rowe 3. Evidence, Argument and Belief in God Introduction to New Christopher New, ‘Antitheism’ Commentary on New Introduction to Clifford William Clifford, ‘The Ethics of Belief’ Commentary on Clifford Introduction to James William James, ‘The Will to Believe’ Commentary on James Introduction to Plantinga Alvin Plantinga, ‘Is Belief in God Properly Basic?’ Commentary on Plantinga Introduction to Rey Georges Rey, ‘Meta-Atheism: Religious Avowal as Self-Deception’ Commentary on Rey 4. Divine Attributes Introduction to Boethius Boethius, The Consolation of Philosophy (selection) Commentary on Boethius Introduction to Savage B Wade Savage, ‘The Paradox of the Stone’ Commentary on Savage Introduction to Pike Nelson Pike, ‘Divine Omniscience and Voluntary Action’ Commentary on Pike Introduction to Kretzmann Norman Kretzmann, ‘Abraham, Isaac and Euthyphro: God and the Basis of Morality’ Commentary on Kretzmann 5. Religious Diversity Introduction Introduction to Hick John Hick, The Interpretation of Religion (selection) Commentary on Hick Introduction to Plantinga Alvin Plantinga, ‘Pluralism: A Defense of Religious Exclusivism’ (selection) Commentary on Plantinga