Debating Christian Religious Epistemology: An Introduction to Five Views on the Knowledge of God

Description

What does it mean to believe in God? What passes as evidence for belief in God? What issues arise when considering the rationality of belief in God? Debating Christian Religious Epistemology introduces core questions in the philosophy of religion by bringing five competing viewpoints on the knowledge of God into critical dialogue with one another. Each chapter introduces an epistemic viewpoint, providing an overview of its main arguments and explaining why it justifies belief. The validity of that viewpoint is then explored and tested in a critical response from an expert in an opposing tradition. Featuring a wide range of different philosophical positions, traditions and methods, this introduction: Packed with lively debates, this is an ideal starting point for anyone interested in understanding the major positions Cover Half Title Series Title Copyright Dedication Contents Preface Introduction to Religious Epistemology Topics from Epistemology Belief Justification Structure of Beliefs Evidence Defeaters Knowledge Topics from Philosophy of Religion Natural Theology Divine Hiddenness Epistemic Peer Disagreement Religious Epistemologies and a Battle Royale Notes 1 Classical Evidentialism Defining Classical Evidentialism The Case for Classical Evidentialism Classical Evidentialism and Natural Theology Classical Evidentialism and the Problem of Divine Hiddenness Classical Evidentialism and Peer Disagreement Faith and Evidence Conclusion Notes Reponses to John M. DePoe A Phenomenal Conservative Response to Classical Evidentialism §1 An Objective Connection to Truth §2 The Subjective Assurance of Truth §3 Final Worries Notes A Proper Functionalist Response to Classical Evidentialism A Covenantal Epistemology Response to Classical Evidentialism A Tradition-Based Perspectival Response to Classical Evidentialism Classical Evidentialism: Response to Critics Incorrigibility or Bust? The Specter of Skepticism A Covenantal Merger? A Few Parting Shots My Final Plea Notes 2 Phenomenal Conservatism Introduction Phenomenal Conservatism Common Objections to PC Theism and Noninferential Justification Theism and Inferential Justification Beyond Theism to Christian Faith Notes A Classical Evidentialist Response to PC Are Seemings Connected to Truth? Another View of Seemings Conceptual Circularity PC and Theism Notes A Proper Functionalist Response to PC A Covenantal Epistemology Response to PC A Tradition-Based Perspectival Response to PC PC: Response to Critics The Natural Theology Objection The Seemings Aren’t Ultimate Objection The Crazy Liberal Objection The Conceptual Circularity Objection The Truth Connection Objection Conclusion Notes 3 Proper Functionalism Reformed Epistemology: What It Is and What It Isn’t Warrant as Proper Function The SD and Reliability Divine Hiddenness and Reformed Epistemology Summary Notes A Classical Evidentialist Response to Proper Functionalism Epistemology without Subjective Awareness Natural Theology and Reformed Epistemology A Phenomenal Conservatist Response to Proper Functionalism §1 An Objection to Proper Functionalism §2 A Dialectical Advantage A Covenantal Epistemology Response to Proper Functionalism A Tradition-Based Perspectival Response to Proper Functionalism Proper Functionalism: Response to Critics Ad DePoe Ad Gage and McAllister Ad Baldwin Ad Oliphint 4 Covenantal Epistemology Notes A Classical Evidentialist Response to Covenantal Epistemology First Things First Faith and Reason A Phenomenal Conservatist Response to Covenantal Epistemology §1 What Does Scripture Teach Us about Knowledge of God? §2 Epistemology and Scripture A Proper Functionalist Response to Covenantal Epistemology A Tradition-Based Perspectival Response to Covenantal Epistemology Covenantal Epistemology: Response to Critics 5 Tradition-Based Perspectivalism Traditions of Inquiry and Tradition-Based Perspectivalism The Case for Tradition-Based Perspectivalism First Argument: The Necessity of Tradition-Based Inquiry Second Argument: Against Modern Liberalism Third Argument: Tradition vs. Both Encyclopedia and Genealogy Tradition-Based Perspectivalism and Issues in Contemporary Religious Epistemology Notes A Classical Evidentialist Response to Tradition-Based Perspectivalism Do Traditions Lead to Relative Standards? Are There Universal Standards of Rationality? Circular Reasoning A Phenomenal Conservatist Response to Tradition-Based Perspectivalism A Proper Functionalist Response to Tradition-Based Perspectivalism A Covenantal Epistemology Response to Tradition-Based Perspectivalism Tradition-Based Perspectivalism: Response to Critics Invalid Inferences? Is TBP a Tradition-Transcendent Truth? Relative Standards, Science, and Math TBP and Logical Circularity Cognitive Science and Hard-Wired Beliefs Necessity, Morality, and Causality Covenantal Epistemology and TBP Works.Cited Contributors Index