Reinventing Philosophy of Religion: An Opinionated Introduction (Palgrave Pivot)

Widespread conflict between worldviews prompts philosophical questions. Are all worldviews religious? Is there a common core to all worldviews? Is there one true worldview? Are some worldviews better than others? Are there proofs that ought to bring an end to all disputes about worldviews? Might we reasonably agree to disagree when it comes to questions about worldviews? Can one lead a worthwhile life if one subscribes to a false worldview? Are people who do not have a religious worldview necessarily wicked or immoral? Should worldview education be an entirely private matter? This book is an introduction to these - and other - central questions in the philosophy of religion, as well as a defense of the idea that these kinds of questions are the central subject matter of philosophy of religion Preface -- Acknowledgments -- Introductory Remarks -- Part I. Epistemology. Disagreement, Opinion And Expertise -- Belief, Faith And Evidence -- Debate, Reason And Argument -- Part Ii. Metaphysics. Science, Nature And Transcendence -- Mind, Body And Spirit -- Cause, Freedom And Responsibility -- Part Iii. Ethics. Flourishing, Virtue And Happiness -- Trust, Violence And Power -- Meaning, Understanding And Narrative -- Postscript. Graham Oppy. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 99-102) And Index. Content: Preface -- Acknowledgments -- Introductory remarks -- Part I. Epistemology. Disagreement, opinion and expertise -- Belief, faith and evidence -- Debate, reason and argument -- Part II. Metaphysics. Science, nature and transcendence -- Mind, body and spirit -- Cause, freedom and responsibility -- Part III. Ethics. Flourishing, virtue and happiness -- Trust, violence and power -- Meaning, understanding and narrative -- Postscript. Considerations about the existence and nature of God are given far too much weight in contemporary discussions of philosophy of religion. Against prevailing orthodoxy, this introduction to philosophy of religion urges a broader perspective that attends seriously to a wide range of religious and non-religious worldviews.