Religious Philosophy As Multidisciplinary Comparative Inquiry : Envisioning a Future for the Philosophy of Religion

__Argues that philosophy, as multidisciplinary comparative inquiry, is essential to the contemporary academic study of religion.__ Front Cover......Page 1 Title Page......Page 4 Copyright......Page 5 Dedication......Page 6 Contents......Page 8 Preface......Page 10 Religious Philosophy as a Form of Philosophy......Page 22 Religious Philosophy as a Form of Religious Studies......Page 34 Religious Philosophy as a Form of Theology......Page 47 Tasks of Religious Philosophy......Page 56 Contexts of Religious Philosophy......Page 66 Traditions of Religious Philosophy......Page 71 The Successes and Failures of Modern Epistemology......Page 78 The Successes and Failures of Postmodern Criticism......Page 84 Beyond Modernity and Postmodernity......Page 93 Postmodernism and Apophasis in Religious Philosophy......Page 100 4. Religious Philosophy and Multidisciplinarity......Page 106 The Importance of Multidisciplinarity in Religious Philosophy......Page 107 Case Studies on Multidisciplinarity......Page 116 Incommensurability as Invitation......Page 135 5. Religious Philosophy and Comparison......Page 146 What is Comparison?......Page 147 Comparing Approaches to Comparative Philosophy......Page 155 Comparison and Religious Philosophy......Page 177 6. A Pragmatic Theory of Inquiry......Page 188 Problem Solving and Inquiry......Page 189 The Biological and Sociological Basis of Inquiry......Page 195 Controversial Features of the Pragmatic Theory of Inquiry......Page 217 Religious Dimensions of Inquiry......Page 228 Religious Philosophy and the Demarcation Problem......Page 235 Case Study: Religious Philosophy, Religion, and Secularism......Page 258 8. Traditions in Transformation......Page 268 The Ontotheological Tradition......Page 269 The Cosmotheological Tradition......Page 276 The Physicotheological Tradition......Page 282 The Psychotheological Tradition......Page 294 The Axiotheological Tradition......Page 304 The Mysticotheological Tradition......Page 315 Status Report......Page 325 Afterword: Religious Philosophy in the Modern University......Page 328 Summary of the Deconstructive Case in Support of Religious Philosophy......Page 329 Summary of the Constructive Case in Support of Religious Philosophy......Page 332 Religious Philosophy and the Diversity of Higher Education......Page 334 Conclusion......Page 338 Notes for Chapter 1......Page 340 Notes for Chapter 2......Page 341 Notes for Chapter 4......Page 342 Notes for Chapter 5......Page 347 Notes for Chapter 6......Page 350 Notes for Chapter 7......Page 353 Notes for Chapter 8......Page 354 Notes for Afterword......Page 357 Bibliography......Page 358 Index......Page 378 Back Cover ......Page 398 What can philosophy contribute to the study of religion? This book argues that the study of religion needs philosophy in the form of multidisciplinary comparative inquiry. Contradicting the current tendency to regard philosophical reflection and the academic study of religion as independent endeavors best kept apart, Wesley J. Wildman brings them together, offering a broader vision than that of traditional "philosophy of religion" and surmounting many of its difficulties. His newer conception of "religious philosophy" is well suited to the modern, multicultural, secular university. Through multidisciplinary comparative inquiry, religious philosophy allows for a variety of approaches--from historical and analytical work to evocative description and theoretical evaluation of truth claims--and both secular and religious thinkers participate. The tasks and varieties of religious philosophy as they arc across the world's religions and philosophies are discussed along with religious philosophy's modern and postmodern contexts. Wildman's thoughtful and thought-provoking book will be essential reading for all those concerned with the study of religion, present and future. This Book Argues That The Study Of Religion Needs Philosophy In The Form Of Multidisciplinary Comparative Inquiry. Contradicting The Current Tendency To Regard Philosophical Reflection And The Academic Study Of Religion As Independent Endeavors Best Kept Apart, The Author Brings Them Together, Offering A Broader Vision Than That Of Traditional Philosophy Of Religion And Surmounting Many Of Its Difficulties. Religious Philosophy Among Kindred Disciplines -- Tasks, Contexts, And Traditions Of Religious Philosophy -- Religious Philosophy, Modernity, And Postmodernity -- Religious Philosophy And Multidisciplinarity -- Religious Philosophy And Comparison -- A Pragmatic Theory Of Inquiry -- Religious Philosophy And Inquiry -- Traditions In Transformation -- Afterword: Religious Philosophy In The Modern University. Wesley J. Wildman. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 337-356) And Index.