Philosophers and the gods : at the frontiers of faith and reason

Public interest in religious debate in the UK and USA has recently been fed by a series of books of popular polemic against theism, religion and the discipline of theology itself. A small industry has grown up around these works—by Dawkins, Dennett, Hitchens, and others—but many have complained not just of their theological illiteracy but also of their tendency to conflate religious belief with fundamentalism. They have contributed to a public atmosphere of anti-pluralist hostility to the expression of "faith positions." The atmosphere in Britain of aggressive secularism contrasts sharply with a public culture in the USA of religious conservatism that is suspicious of secular humanism. Here, a series of philosophers reflect, in an exploratory and confessional spirit, upon the status and sources of their religion or other spiritual sympathies—this may come in the form of a commitment to faith, an openness to religion, or another experience of transcendence. The authors get down to the essentials of religious agnosticism, the limits of secular humanism, the idea of conversion, the nature of despair, and the possibility of moral objectivity. Science And Religion : The Immersion Solution / Peter Lipton -- What Has Plotinus' One To Do With God? / Stephen R.l. Clark -- Thinking, Attending, Praying / Nicholas Lash -- Mystery, World And Religion / David E. Cooper -- Searching For God? / Daphne Hampson -- Love And Reason / Janet Martin Soskice -- Beyond My God, With God's Blessing / Francis X. Clooney -- In Search Of Wisdom / Morny Joy -- Agnosticism And Atheism / Anthony Kenny -- Ideals Without Idealism / Clare Carlisle -- The God Of The Prophet Jesus Of Nazareth / James P. Mackey -- Humanism And Spirituality : Or How To Be A Good Atheist / Michael Mcghee -- A Turn To Spiritual Virtues In Philosophy Of Religion : 'the Thoughtful Love Of Life' / Pamela Sue Anderson -- Secularism And Shared Values / Richard Norman -- Religion In Public Life / Anthony O'hear -- Religion And Theology / Gordon Graham -- Wisdom And Belief In Theology And Philosophy / Simon Oliver -- Provocation / Harriet A. Harris. Edited By John Cornwell And Michael Mcghee. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Public Interest in religious debate in the UK and USA has recently been fed by a series of books of popular polemic against theism, religion and the discipline of theology itself. A small industry has grown up around these works - Dawkins, Dennett, Hitchens - complaining not just about their theological illiteracy but also about their tendency to conflate religious belief with fundamentalism and their contribution to a public atmosphere of anti-pluralist hostility to the expression of 'faith positions' A group of philosophers and theologians reflect upon their religious attitudes, detailing their various religious and spiritual sympathies, their secularism and agnosticism. -- Back cover