Challenging the New Atheism: Pragmatic Confrontations in the Philosophy of Religion (Routledge Studies in American Philosophy)

This book presents a pragmatic response to arguments against religion made by the New Atheism movement. The author argues that analytic and empirical philosophies of religion―the mainstream approaches in contemporary philosophy of religion―are methodologically unequipped to address the “Threefold Challenge” made by popular New Atheist thinkers such as Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, Christopher Hitchens, and Daniel Dennett. The book has three primary motivations. First, it provides an interpretation of the New Atheist movement that treats their claims as philosophical arguments and not just rhetorical exercises or demagoguery. Second, it assesses and responds to these claims by elaborating four distinct contemporary philosophical perspectives― analytic philosophy, empirical philosophy, continental philosophy, and pragmatism―as well as contextualizing these perspectives in the history of the philosophy of religion. Finally, the book offers a metaphilosophical critique, returning again and again to the question of method. In the end, the author settles upon a modified version of pragmatism that he concludes is best suited for articulating the terms and stakes of the God Debate. __Challenging the New Atheism__ will be of interest to scholars and students of American philosophy and philosophy of religion. Cover Half Title Series Page Title Page Copyright Page Table of Contents Preface 1 The New Atheism: A Threefold Challenge The Three Challenges of the New Atheism What’s “New” about the New Atheism? The Three Challenges: A Critical Exposition The Three Challenges and the “God Debate” Conclusion 2 Contemporary Philosophy of Religion vs. the Threefold Challenge The Mythology behind the Consequences Challenge The Truth Challenge and Analytic Philosophy of Religion Ayer on Religion Wittgensteinian Philosophy of Religion Plantinga’s Realism and Reformed Epistemology Conclusion on Analytic Philosophy of Religion Empirical Philosophy of Religion “Explaining” Religion—Naturally On Empirical Philosophy of Religion and the Three Challenges Gestures in the Right Direction for Addressing the Meaning Challenge Conclusion 3 Modern Origins of the Threefold Challenge Essentialism and Skepticism in Modern Philosophy of Religion The Social Dimension in Modern Philosophy of Religion Kant’s Philosophy of Religion Post-Kantian Philosophy of Religion: Schleiermacher and Hegel Conclusion 4 A Postmodern Approach to the Truth and Meaning Challenges Postmodernism in Contemporary Continental Philosophy of Religion Vattimo’s Nihilistic Secularization The Truth and Meaning Challenges in Postmodernity Marion: Theologizing an Impossible God Caputo’s Radical Theology and Postmodern Philosophy of Religion Conclusion 5 Challenging Meaning: Pragmatic Reflections on Metaphilosophical Issues A Metaphilosophical Interlude Advancing the Challenge: Pragmatist Philosophy of Religion Pragmatist Philosophy of Religion and the Three Challenges Pragmatist Philosophy of Religion: Toward “Integration” 6 Integration and “More than Pragmatist” Philosophy of Religion The Meaning of “Integration” Conceptual Elements of Religious Integration “More-than-Pragmatist” Philosophy of Religion Concluding Remarks Bibliography Index "This book presents a pragmatic response to arguments against religion made by the New Atheism movement. The author argues that analytic and empirical philosophies of religion-the mainstream approaches in contemporary philosophy of religion-are methodologically unequipped to address the "Threefold Challenge" made by popular New Atheist thinkers such as Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, Christopher Hitchens, and Daniel Dennett. The book has three primary motivations. First, it provides an interpretation of the New Atheist movement that treats their claims as philosophical arguments and not just rhetorical exercises or demagoguery. Second, it assesses and responds to these claims by elaborating four distinct contemporary philosophical perspectives- analytic philosophy, empirical philosophy, continental philosophy, and pragmatism-as well as contextualizing these perspectives in the history of the philosophy of religion. Finally, the book offers a metaphilosophical critique, returning again and again to the question of method. In the end, the author settles upon a modified version of pragmatism that he concludes is best suited for articulating the terms and stakes of the God Debate. Challenging the New Atheism will be of interest to scholars and students of American philosophy and philosophy of religion"-- Provided by publisher