Philosophy of Religion: A Contemporary Introduction (Routledge Contemporary Introductions to Philosophy)

Keith Yandell's Philosophy of Religion is an instalment in the Routledge Contemporary Introductions to Philosophy series. This series is intended to help students transition from introductory to higher level philosophical study. From my perspective the book is a mixed success; it has some clear strength as well as some shortcomings. With respect to strengths, the scope of the discussion, the criticism of religious pluralism and the handling of Hinduism and Buddhism are noteworthy. First, with regard to scope, often discussions within the philosophy of religion are limited to Western monotheistic traditions for reasons of comfort and applicability (more amenable to rational analysis), Yandell's move beyond this traditional area with the inclusion of Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism is helpful. Second, the debunking of religious pluralism. Not pluralism in the sense that there is a variety of religions - clearly this is the case - but, rather, in the sense that the different religions are compatible. This notion of compatibility is appealing for many commentators - if true, it would seem to allow for greater toleration and acceptance between faith groups and cultures. As Yandell notes, however, beyond trivial assertion such as the denial of physicalism, the different traditions are incompatible. Broadly speaking, religions offer two things, an assessment of the human condition and a recommendation for its rectification. Even considered superficially the problem/solution claims of the different religions appear irreconcilable. For example Christianity posits sin as the problem and divine forgiveness as the cure, while Buddhism frames the problem as a sense of permanence and the solution as awareness of the transitory nature of existence. It would appear that the only way that these traditions can be equally valid is if they are all incorrect - which does seem to be the underlying contention of religious pluralism. Third, the application of Western rational criticism to the different Eastern tradition raises interesting and important questions. For instance Yandell argues persuasively that Advaita Vedanta (Monistic) Hinduism and Theravada Buddhism are incoherent from a rational perspective. That is, in the Hindu view, how can things that posses a multiplicity of qualities be equivalent to qualityless Braham? While with regard to Buddhism what is to be made of notions such as karma and the wheel of life in the absence of true personhood? If all there is are transitory bundles of non-enduring states, to what does karma accrue, and, what is liberated from the wheel of life? These are important and interesting questions that warrant greater consideration. With regard to drawbacks, Yandell occasionally slips into an excessively analytic style; this is especially the case when discussing Western Monotheism. While understandable given that the arguments in this area are well rehearsed this approach may strike some readers as unnecessarily pedantic and a bit irksome. I imagine that many readers in the target audience (relatively new undergrads), would find some of this argumentation discouraging and confusing. And last, the text seems to peter out in a rather disjointed manner; a subsequent edition would benefit from a concluding chapter to bring together the text's many threads. Overall, a good read with some valuable insights. I recommend it for readers seeking a critical and contemporary discussion of the philosophy of religion Philosophy Of Religion Provides An Account Of The Central Issues And Viewpoints In The Philosophy Of Religion But Also Shows How Such Issues Can Be Rationally Assessed And In What Ways Competing Views Can Be Rationally Assessed. It Includes Major Philosophical Figures In Religious Traditions As Well As Discussions By Important Contemporary Philosophers. Keith Yandell Deals Lucidly And Constructively With Representative Views From Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, And Jainism. This Book Will Appeal To Students Of Both Philosophy And Religion As Well As To The General Reader Interested In The Subject. Introduction -- What Is Philosophy? What Is Religion? What Is Philosophy Of Religion? -- What Sorts Of Religion Are There? -- What Sorts Of Religious Experience Are There? -- The Importance Of Doctrine And The Distinctness Of Religious Traditions -- Religious Pluralism -- Monotheistic Conceptions Of Ultimate Reality -- Nonmonotheistic Conceptions Of Ultimate Reality -- Arguments Against Monotheism -- Arguments For Monotheism -- Monotheism And Religious Experience -- Arguements Concerning Nonmonotheistic Concetions (1) -- Arguments Concerning Nonmonotheistic Conceptions (2) -- Religion And Morality -- Faith And Reason. Keith E. Yandell. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [395]-399) And Index. Book Cover......Page 1 Title......Page 4 Contents......Page 5 Preface......Page 14 Introduction......Page 20 PHILOSOPHY AND RELIGION......Page 28 What is philosophy? What is religion? What is philosophy of religion?......Page 30 What sorts of religion are there?......Page 40 What sorts of religious experience are there?......Page 56 The importance of doctrine and the distinctness of religious traditions......Page 70 Religious pluralism......Page 84 RELIGIOUS CONCEPTIONS OF ULTIMATE REALITY......Page 100 Monotheistic conceptions of ultimate reality......Page 102 Nonmonotheistic conceptions of ultimate reality......Page 118 ARGUMENTS CONCERNING MONOTHEISTIC CONCEPTIONS......Page 138 Arguments against monotheism......Page 140 Arguments for monotheism......Page 186 Monotheism and religious experience......Page 232 ARGUMENTS CONCERNING NONMONOTHEISTIC CONCEPTIONS......Page 256 Arguments concerning nonmonotheistic conceptions (1)......Page 258 Arguments concerning nonmonotheistic conceptions (2)......Page 284 RELIGION, MORALITY, FAITH, AND REASON......Page 318 Religion and morality......Page 320 Faith and reason......Page 360 Glossary......Page 380 Selected great figures in the history of philosophy of religion......Page 384 Notes......Page 386 Bibliography......Page 414 Index......Page 420 Humanities Book Cover 1 Title 4 Contents 5 Preface 14 Introduction 20 PHILOSOPHY AND RELIGION 28 What is philosophy? What is religion? What is philosophy of religion? 30 What sorts of religion are there? 40 What sorts of religious experience are there? 56 The importance of doctrine and the distinctness of religious traditions 70 Religious pluralism 84 RELIGIOUS CONCEPTIONS OF ULTIMATE REALITY 100 Monotheistic conceptions of ultimate reality 102 Nonmonotheistic conceptions of ultimate reality 118 ARGUMENTS CONCERNING MONOTHEISTIC CONCEPTIONS 138 Arguments against monotheism 140 Arguments for monotheism 186 Monotheism and religious experience 232 ARGUMENTS CONCERNING NONMONOTHEISTIC CONCEPTIONS 256 Arguments concerning nonmonotheistic conceptions (1) 258 Arguments concerning nonmonotheistic conceptions (2) 284 RELIGION, MORALITY, FAITH, AND REASON 318 Religion and morality 320 Faith and reason 360 Glossary 380 Selected great figures in the history of philosophy of religion 384 Notes 386 Bibliography 414 Index 420 Philosophy of Religion provides an account of the central issues and viewpoints in the philosophy of religion but also shows how such issues can be rationally assessed and in what ways competing views can be rationally assessed. It includes major philosophical figures in religious traditions as well as discussions by important contemporary philosophers. Keith Yandell deals lucidly and constructively with representative views from Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. This book will appeal to students of both philosophy and religion as well as to the general reader interested in the subject.Unique features of Philosophy of Religion:* key reading and new reading in the subject area* questions at the ends of chapters* list of selected great figures in the history of philosophy of religion* a glossary of philosophical terms* annotated further reading. Philosophy of Religion provides an account of the central issues and viewpoints in the philosophy of religion but also shows how such issues can be rationally assessed and in what ways competing views can be rationally assessed. It includes major philosophical figures in religious traditions as well as discussions by important contemporary philosophers. Keith Yandell deals lucidly and constructively with representative views from Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. This book will appeal to students of both philosophy and religion as well as to the general reader interested in the subject. Unique features of Philosophy of Religion:* key reading and new reading in the subject area* questions at the ends of chapters* list of selected great figures in the history of philosophy of religion* a glossary of philosophical terms* annotated further reading Philosophy of Religion provides an account of the central issues and viewpoints in the philosophy of religion but also shows how such issues can be rationally assessed and in what ways competing views can be rationally assessed. It includes major philosophical figures in religious traditions as well as discussions by important contemporary philosophers. Keith Yandell deals lucidly and constructively with representative views from Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. This book will appeal to students of both philosophy and religion as well as to the general reader interested in the subject.
Unique features of Philosophy of Religion:
* key reading and new reading in the subject area
* questions at the ends of chapters
* a glossary of philosophical terms
* annotated further reading Annotation Philosophy of Religionprovides an account of the central issues and viewpoints in the philosophy of religion but also shows how such issues can be rationally assessed and in what ways competing views can be rationally assessed. It includes major philosophical figures in religious traditions as well as discussions by important contemporary philosophers. Keith Yandell deals lucidly and constructively with representative views from Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. This book will appeal to students of both philosophy and religion as well as to the general reader interested in the subject. Unique features of Philosophy of Religion:* key reading and new reading in the subject area* questions at the ends of chapters* a glossary of philosophical terms* annotated further reading In this lucid introduction to the philosophy of religion Keith Yandell covers central issues and figures, as well as representative views from Judaism, Christianity, Islam Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism