Philosophical thinking and the religious context : essays in honor of Santiago Sia

This new collection covers a wide range of cutting-edge and timely questions in contemporary philosophy of religion from a rich variety of backgrounds and perspectives. The essays in the volume deal with a range of fascinating topics in the philosophy of religion such as views of God's nature in process philosophy and theology, process views compared with traditional views (such as that found in St Thomas Aquinas), teleology and purpose in human life and in the universe, religion and evolution, the problem of evil both in human experience and in the natural world, and ethical questions concerning the human road to God, and the question of human rights in pluralist, democratic states. The essays in the first section, "Approaches to God," examine the rationality of the approach to the nature of God defended in process philosophy, particularly in the work of two pioneering thinkers, Charles Hartshorne and A.N. Whitehead. The second section of the book, "Science, Evolution and God," turns to the engagement of Christian views regarding the nature of God and creation with modern developments in science and philosophy. The last section, "Philosophy of Religion and Ethics," takes up broader, more foundational questions. Santiago Sia concludes the volume with a sustained reflection on the nature of philosophy, and philosophizing, a discussion to which he brings many insights and experiences from his own academic career. Title Page Copyright Page Contents Introduction II Part One Approaches to God Chapter 1 Remembered Identity: Exploring the Possibility of a Process Anthropology I Introduction II Some process notions about God III A process anthropology IV Event metaphysics and the inadequacy of substance V Memory and identity VI Implications for a process anthropology Notes Chapter 2 Stengers on Whitehead on God I Against classical theism II Against theism III An interpretation of Whitehead IV The importance of Hartshorne Notes Chapter 3 Thinking about the God of John Macquarrie (1919–2007) I Macquarrie and Friedrich von Hügel’s dimensions of religion II Macquarrie’s “Seeing” of God III Aquinas, classical theism, and Macquarrie IV Conclusion Notes Part Two Science, Evolution, and God Chapter 4 Teleology I The exclusion of purpose from the modern world II The road less traveled Notes Chapter 5 Darker Sides of Twenty-First-Century Science and Perspectives from a Founding Father I Introduction II Biographical notes on Robert Boyle III Darker sides to science and medicine IV Ownership of the agenda in science V Ownership of the medical school agenda: “He who pays the piper . . .” VI Conclusions Notes Chapter 6 Evolution and the Goodness of God: A Hartshornean Perspective I The problem of evil and evolution II Divine power III The neoclassical God and evolution IV Conclusion Notes Chapter 7 Does Evolution make the Problem of Evil Worse? II Notes Part Three Philosophy of Religion and Ethics Chapter 8 Hyperbolic Thought: On Creation and Nothing1 I What has philosophy to do with creation? II Beyond univocal intelligibility? III Origin beyond Holism? IV Coming to be and becoming: Creation and beings in the between V Creation and nothing VI The hyperbole of agapeic origin Notes Chapter 9 The Heart’s Road to God: Uncovering the Metaphysical Foundation of Beauty in Franciscan Ethics I Introduction II The Franciscan metaphysics of beauty III The metaphysical constitution of the rational will IV Franciscan praxis: Moral transformation into love Notes Chapter 10 Carnap’s Distinction and the God-Question1 I External and internal questions II The question of God’s existence III Metaphysical frameworks Notes Chapter 11 A Different Mode of Encounter: Egalitarian Liberalism and the Christian Tradition1 I Introduction II Human rights as egalitarian liberalism III Christianity’s encounter with liberalism Notes Postscript Chapter 12 Philosophizing, Philosophy, and the Religious Context: Reflections on the Source, Resource, and Setting of a Quest1 I Philosophy II Questions and question III Question in context IV Philosophizing and its source V Question and context VI Turning to philosophy as resource VII Philosophy in context VIII Religion as context IX The quest as pursuit of wisdom Notes Guide to Further Reading Publications of Santiago Sia Books Journal Articles/Chapters In Books List of Contributors Index This New Collection Covers A Wide Range Of Cutting-edge And Timely Questions In Contemporary Philosophy Of Religion From A Rich Variety Of Backgrounds And Perspectives. The Essays In The Volume Deal With A Range Of Fascinating Topics In The Philosophy Of Religion Such As Views Of God's Nature In Process Philosophy And Theology, Process Views Compared With Traditional Views (such As That Found In St Thomas Aquinas), Teleology And Purpose In Human Life And In The Universe, Religion And Evolution, The Problem Of Evil Both In Human Experience And In The Natural World, And Ethical Questions Concerning The Human Road To God, And The Question Of Human Rights In Pluralist, Democratic States. -- Introduction / Brendan Sweetman -- Part 1. Approaches To God -- Remembered Identity : Exploring The Possibility Of A Process Anthropology / Rev Ferdinand Santos, Phd -- Stengers On Whitehead On God / Daniel A. Dombrowski -- Thinking About The God Of John Macquarrie (1919-2007) / Owen Cummings -- Part 2. Science, Evolution, And God -- Teleology / John B. Cobb, Jr. -- Darker Sides Of Twenty-first-century Science And Perspectives From A Founding Father / Jim Malone -- Evolution And The Goodness Of God : A Hartshornean Perspective / Donald Wayne Viney-- Does Evolution Make The Problem Of Evil Worse? / Brendan Sweetman -- Part 3. Philosophy Of Religion And Ethics -- Hyperbolic Thought : On Creation And Nothing / William Desmond -- The Heart's Road To God : Uncovering The Metaphysical Foundation Of Beauty In Franciscan Ethics / Sr Mary Beth Ingham, Csj -- Carnap's Distinction And The God-question / James G. Murphy Sj -- A Different Mode Of Encounter : Egalitarian Liberalism And The Christian Tradition / Linda Hogan -- Post Script -- Philosophizing, Philosophy, And The Religious Context : Reflections On The Source, Resource, And Setting Of A Quest / Santiago Sia -- Guide To Futher Reading -- Publications Of Santiago Sia -- List Of Contributors -- Index. Edited By Brendan Sweetman. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.