Naturalism and Religion : A Contemporary Philosophical Investigation

Description

This book guides readers through an investigation of religion from a naturalistic perspective and explores the very meaning of the term {u2018}religious naturalism{u2019}. Oppy considers several widely disputed claims: that there cannot be naturalistic religion; that there is nothing in science that poses any problems for naturalism; that there is nothing in religion that poses any serious challenges to naturalism; and that there is a very strong case for thinking that naturalism defeats religion.  Read more... Cover Half Title Title Page Copyright Page Table of Contents Preface 1. Introduction 1. The plan 2. Tips to readers 2. What is naturalism? 1. First pass 2. Natural and non-natural 3. What might have been 4. Big pictures 5. Attitudes 6. Critics 7. Concluding remarks 3. What is religion? 1. Data 2. Definition 3. Inside/Outside 4. Spirituality 5. Is naturalism a religion? 6. Is philosophy a religion? 7. Theories of religion 8. Concluding remarks 4. Can there be naturalistic religion? 1. Pantheism 2. Panentheism 3. Religious naturalism 4. Naturalistic religion 5. Religion of humanity6. Religious humanism 7. Concluding remarks 5. Does science defeat naturalism? 1. Background 2. Epistemology 3. 'Superficial conflict' 4. 'Merely apparent conflict' 5. 'Arguments for theism' 6. 'Support for theism' 7. 'Deep concord' 8. Interim conclusion 9. EAAN 10. Reliability 11. Cases 12. Analysis 13. Contra 14. Truth 15. Premise 2 16. Premise 3 17. Premise 4 18. Upshot 19. EAAN* 20. Disclaimer 21. Concluding remarks 6. Does religion defeat naturalism? 1. Rea's argument against naturalism 2. The Thomist challenge to naturalism 3. Concluding remarks7. Does science defeat religion? 1. What is science? 2. Is science a religion? 3. Are scientists religious? 4. How is science related to religion? 5. What do religions say about science? 6. What does science say about religion? 7. Concluding remarks 8. Does naturalism defeat religion? 1. Outline 2. Background: big pictures 3. Background: idealisation 4. Background: method 5. Background: theoretical virtues 6. Background: shortcut 7. Premise 1 8. Premise 2 (overview) 9. Premise 2 (general causal features) 10. Premise 2 (general design features) 11. Premise 2 (mind)12. Premise 2 (anomalies) 13. Premise 2 (experience) 14. Premise 2 (artifacts) 15. Premise 2 (communication) 16. Conclusions 9. Conclusion Bibliography Index