An Interpretation Of Religion: Human Responses To The Transcendent (humanity's Varied Response To The Transcendent)

This investigation takes full account of the findings of the social and historical sciences while offering a religious interpretation of the religions as different culturally conditioned responses to a transcendent Divine Reality. The work is based on the author's Gifford Lectures, 1986-7. It treats the principal topics in the philosophy of religion and establishes both a basis for religious affirmation today and a framework for the developing worldwide inter-faith dialogue. John Hick is the author of many books on the philosophy of religion including "Problems of Religious Pluralism", "Evil and the God of Love", "Death and Eternal Life", "God and the Universe of Faiths" and "Faith and Knowledge". Introduction -- The Soteriological Character Of Post-axial Religion -- Salvation/liberation As Human Transformation -- The Cosmic Optimism Of Post-axial Religion -- Ontological, Cosmological And Design Arguments -- Morality, Religious Experience And Overall Probability -- The Naturalistic Option -- Natural Meaning And Experience -- Ethical And Aesthetic Meaning And Experience -- Religious Meaning And Experience -- Religion And Reality -- Contemporary Non-realist Religion -- The Rationality Of Religious Belief -- The Pluralistic Hypothesis -- The Personae Of The Real -- The Impersonae Of The Real -- Soteriology And Ethics -- The Ethical Criterion -- Myth, Mystery And The Unanswered Questions -- The Problem Of Conflicting Truth-claims. John Hick. Includes Index. Bibliography: P. 381-404. A new and groundbreaking investigation which takes full account of the finding of the social and historical sciences whilst offering a religious interpretation of the religions as different culturally conditioned responses to a transcendent Divine Reality. Written with great clarity and force, and with a wealth of fresh insights, this major work (based on the author's Gifford Lectures of 1986-7) treats the principal topics in the philosophy of religion and establishes both a basis for religious affirmation today and a framework for the developing world-wide inter-faith dialogue.