Philosophy of religion Books

Book SynopsisThis book examines conversion stories as told by people who have actually undergone a conversion experience, including experiences of apostasy. The stories reveal that there is not just one ""conversion story."" Scot McKnight and Hauna Ondrey show that ""conversion theory"" helps explain why some people walk away from one religion, often to another, very different religion. The book confirms the usefulness--particularly for pastors, rabbis, and priests, and university and college teachers--of applying conversion theory to specific groups. However, the book's sensitive detailing of the stories themselves makes conversion more than a theoretical occurrence; it makes the immediacy, and often the difficulty, of conversion both real and moving.Trade ReviewThis book stirs deep reflection on the faith journeys of courageous people. -Lewis Rambo, San Francisco Theological SeminaryTable of Contents Conversion: What Really Happens? 1 Leaving Church, Finding Freedom Anatomy of Apostasy 2 Leaving the Synagogue, Finding the Church When Jews Become Messianic Jews 3 Leaving Rome, Finding Wheaton Catholics Behaving Protestantly 4 Leaving Wheaton, Finding Rome The Improbable Conversion of Evangelicals to Catholicism Conclusion Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisGod's Final Victory addresses the ongoing controversy concerning which doctrine is more defensible: the doctrine of hell or the doctrine of universal salvation. Would the just and loving God of traditional Christianity ever cause or allow some creatures to endure hell, that is, eternal alienation from both God and the blessed? Many think the answer is yes. Some defend this answer by arguing that God is not only loving but also just, and that eternal damnation is sometimes the only way God can meet the demands of justice with respect to sin. Others argue that, out of respect for creatures, God affords them the freedom to choose their destiny—and some choose eternal alienation from God. God's Final Victory examines the presuppositions underlying both lines of argument and finds that, once understood in their most defensible form, they offer good reason to suppose God would save all if He could and no compelling reason to suppose that He would or could not. As such, even conservative Christians should believe in universal salvation.Trade Review"The authors controversially argue that, in the light of fundamental Christian doctrine, the view that all are saved is more reasonable than any view on which some are not. This is the state of the art of argument in support of universalism, and should be taken into account in any discussion of it." -- Keith E. Yandell, Julius R. Weinberg Professor, Philosophy Department, University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA'...The overall quality of the work overshadows any critique of form. The historical breadth and depth of analysis will make this volume helpful for researchers and for graduate-level courses in philosophy of religion.'—Choice Magazine"In their comparative case for Christian universalism entitled God's Final Victory, John Kronen and Eric Reitan display an exhaustive knowledge of the relevant philosophical and theological literature; and even though they make no claim of completeness for their study, they may in fact have produced the most complete discussion to date of the relevant philosophical and theological issues. No philosopher or theologian who in the future addresses the issue of universalism will be able to ignore the arguments of this book, and even many parishioners in the pew, however impatient they may be with finely drawn philosophical distinctions, will benefit greatly from it. The final chapter in particular will be of interest to the Christian community as a whole, because it includes an easy to digest summary of the overall argument and also addresses the issue of evangelism as well as other practical Christian concerns.The book's most important contribution to the contemporary discussion lies in a sustained and powerful critique of the so-called Argument from Freedom, the argument that, for all we know, God cannot save all sinners without violating their freedom in inappropriate ways. Kronen and Reitan demonstrate first how, given the traditional Christian understanding of his nature, God is in a position to confer efficacious grace on anyone, or on any combination of persons, without violating the rational autonomy of any individual. But they also have an additional surprise, albeit one that Reitan has articulated in previous papers, for those who insist that salvation requires an undetermined libertarian free choice that could have gone the other way. For as they also argue, the assumption that sinners retain their libertarian freedom indefinitely together with the Christian doctrine of the preservation of the saints yields the following result: We can be just as confident that God will eventually win over all sinners (and do so without causally determining their choices) as we can be that that a fair coin will land heads up at least once in a trillion tosses. One can hardly expect everyone to find such arguments as persuasive as I do; but even those who remain unpersuaded will at least find in them a formidable challenge to be met." -- Thomas Talbott, Professor Emeritus of Philosophy, Willamette University, USATable of ContentsChapter I: Introduction / Chapter II: Hellisms: The Species of DH / Chapter III: Universalisms: The Species of DU / Chapter IV: Universalism and the "Plain Sense" of Scripture / Chapter V: A Prima Facie Case for DU / Chapter VI: Hell and Justice / Chapter VII: The Argument from Efficacious Grace / Chapter VIII: Freely Chosen Universal Salvation / Chapter IX: Final Concerns / Bibliography / Index

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Book SynopsisAlthough it has been almost seventy years since Time declared C.S. Lewis one of the world's most influential spokespersons for Christianity and fifty years since Lewis's death, his influence remains just as great if not greater today. While much has been written on Lewis and his work, virtually nothing has been written from a philosophical perspective on his views of happiness, pleasure, pain, and the soul and body. As a result, no one so far has recognized that his views on these matters are deeply interesting and controversial, and—perhaps more jarring—no one has yet adequately explained why Lewis never became a Roman Catholic. Stewart Goetz's careful investigation of Lewis's philosophical thought reveals oft-overlooked implications and demonstrates that it was, at its root, at odds with that of Thomas Aquinas and, thereby, the Roman Catholic Church.Trade ReviewA book all interested in C. S. Lewis will want to read. * Church of England Newspaper *This [is a] philosophical page-turner ... One of the most unique and eclectic books on Lewis in recent years, it easily shoots to the top rank of studies on Lewis’s philosophical and theological thought ... Highly recommendable for serious philosophers and students in ‘Lewisiology’. * Theology *Goetz makes a strong case that Lewis is a hedonist concerning happiness and that he is a substance dualist with regard to mind and body … this book fills a major gap in the literature on Lewis’s philosophical ideas. Summing Up: Recommended. Lower-level undergraduates through researchers/faculty. -- D. C. Kolb, St. Meinrad Archabbey Library * CHOICE *Why didn’t C. S. Lewis’s religious journey end in Rome? Stewart Goetz suggests that the answer involves a theoretical quarrel with Thomas Aquinas about pleasure and the soul. It is a provocative thesis, carefully argued. * Christian Century (reviewed by Dennis O'Brien) *This book is doubly intriguing, both as a fresh and illuminating piece of Lewis scholarship, and as an exploration of philosophical issues that are deeply interesting in their own right, such as the relationship between pleasure and true happiness. Goetz makes a convincing case that Lewis retained his Protestant identity not only for reasons typically cited, but also because of fundamental differences with Rome that were philosophical in nature. Anyone interested in these issues will find this volume fascinating as well as informative. * Jerry L. Walls, Scholar in Residence and Professor of Philosophy, Houston Baptist University, USA *An informative argument to the effect that Lewis’s views of happiness (Hedonism) and the self (Substance Dualism) were the primary intellectual barriers to him becoming a Roman Catholic--anyone with an interest in Lewis as a philosopher/theologian will find much here that is both pleasurable and good for the soul. * T.J. Mawson, Fellow and Tutor in Philosophy, St. Peter’s College, University of Oxford, UK *This is the most intellectually satisfying book on C. S. Lewis I have read. Because of Goetz's meticulous and respectful attention to Lewis's thought, as required for accurate treatment of his philosophical opinions, all that he says consequently about his subject bears the mark of this fair and careful reasoning. He is convincing on Lewis's differences with the received Catholic philosophy of his time; nothing in it is careless, facile, or partisan, and he blesses in particular Catholic readers who love Lewis with his conviction that inability to join the Catholic Church was based primarily on honorable difficulties with Thomism … [A] must-read book. * Touchstone (reviewed by S. M. Hutchens, senior editor of Touchstone) *Table of ContentsIntroduction 1: C. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity, and Roman Catholicism 2: C. S. Lewis on Happiness, Pleasure, and Pain 3: C. S. Lewis on Soul and Body 4: Thomas Aquinas on Happiness, Pleasure, and Pain 5: Thomas Aquinas on Soul and Body 6: C. S. Lewis in Defense of Common Sense Bibliography Index

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Book Synopsis1. Introduction1.1. Getting a Grip on the Topic1.2. The Relevant Cases1.3. A Brief History of Ineffability1.4. Four Ways of Predicate Application1.5. Structure of the Book 2. Terminology 2.1. Content 2.2. Representations2.3. Experience2.4. Truth and Truth-Bearers2.5. Expressibility and Ineffability3. Ineffable Properties and Objects3.1. Why Ineffable Properties and Objects? 3.2. The Absolute3.3. Haecceities3.4. Bare Particulars4. Ineffable Propositions 4.1. Why Ineffable Propositions? 4.2. Inaccessibility 4.3. Semantic Paradoxes4.4. Unformulable Mathematical Propositions4.5. Excess Propositions4.6. Perspective Propositions5. Ineffable Content5.1. Why Ineffable Content? 5.2. Non-Conceptual Concept in Perception5.3. The Contents of Aesthetic Experience5.4. The Contents of Religious Experience 6. Ineffable Knowledge I6.1. Why Ineffable Knowledge? 6.2. Objective Ineffable Knowledge6.3. Knowledge-How6.4. Basic Logical Knowledge6.5. Non-Representational Knowledge 7. Ineffable Knowledge II 7.1. Subjective Ineffable Knowledge 7.2. Indexical Knowledge7.3. Phenomenal Knowledge7.4. Self-Acquaintance 8. Conclusion 9. BibliographyTrade Review"A rare combination of first-rate analytical philosophy with a grand metaphysical ambition." - Michael Inwood, University of Oxford, UK "A clear and lucid investigation of a notoriously difficult topic, bringing together an impressive range of contemporary scholarship and probing in places deeper than existing literature." - Edward Kanterian, University of Kent, USA Table of Contents 1. Introduction1.1 Getting a Grip on the Topic1.2 The Relevant Cases1.3 A Brief History of Ineffability1.4 Four Ways of Predicate Application1.5 Structure of the Book2.Terminology2.1 Content2.2 Representations2.3 Experience2.4 Truth and Truth-Bearers2.5 Impressibility and Ineffability3.Ineffable Properties and Objects3.1 Why Ineffable Properties and Objects?3.2 The Absolute3.3 Haecceities3.4 Bare Particulars4.Ineffable Propositions4.1 Why Ineffable Propositions?4.2 Inaccessibility4.3 Semantic Paradoxes4.4 Unformulable Mathematical Propositions4.5 Excess Propositions4.6 Perspective Propositions5.Ineffable Content5.1 Why Ineffable Content?5.2 Non-Conceptual Concept in Perception5.3 The Contents of Aesthetic Experience5.4 The Contents of Religious Experience6.Ineffable Knowledge I6.1 Why Ineffable Knowledge?6.2 Objective Ineffable Knowledge6.3 Knowledge-How6.4 Basic Logical Knowledge6.5 Non-Representational Knowledge7.Ineffable Knowledge II7.1 Subjective Ineffable Knowledge7.2 Indexical Knowledge7.3 Phenomenal Knowledge7.4 Self-Acquaintance8.Conclusion

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Book SynopsisJ. L. Schellenberg is Professor of Philosophy at Mount Saint Vincent University, Canada.Trade ReviewSchellenberg’s reasoning is very clear, and his writing is beautiful. The book is written in an accessible way; I believe it would make an excellent textbook in many undergraduate philosophy of religion courses ... Schellenberg is rightly celebrated for encouraging philosophers and theologians to take seriously the idea of the deep future. * Reading Religion *Over the last quarter century, atheism has come out of the closet and is today more acceptable—even respectable—than at any time in history. But the militancy often associated with the strong atheism that asserts God’s nonexistence is not enough to build a movement. We need a progressive atheism, which the philosopher J. L. Schellenberg provides us with in this brilliantly-argued and clearly-written book. Progressive Atheism is must reading for everyone interested in these ultimate questions * Michael Shermer, Presidential Fellow, Chapman University, USA *How can atheism be "progressive"? First, by being based on moral progress. Such progress alters our understanding of God's perfect goodness, yielding an idea of God that is "too good to be true." Second, by freeing us to explore new spiritual terrain. Schellenberg acts as guide, ending the book with a fascinating tour of a variety of live religious possibilities. For open-minded readers, this book is a breath of fresh air. Highly recommended! * Paul Draper, Professor of Philosophy, Purdue University, USA *Table of ContentsPreface 1. Getting Oriented 2. An (A)theological Dead End 3. Naturalism’s Shortcut 4. Unexplored Territory: Moral Evolution 5. Updating God 6. A Relationally Responsive God 7. A Kinder God 8. A Nonviolent God 9. Challenging the New Theism 10. Atheism’s Brave New World Notes Glossary Acknowledgments

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Book SynopsisAndrew Dole is a Professor of Religion at Amherst College, USA.Trade ReviewMarx, Nietzsche, and Freud have shined a light on the roles of hidden motives, unacknowledged dispositions, and repressed desires in human behavior, and the critical study of religion today would not be possible without their contributions. In this important and jargon-free book, Andrew Dole provides an incisive rereading of the “suspicious explanation” that runs as a common thread running through historical materialism, genealogy, and psychoanalysis. Dole is among the sharpest scholars using philosophical tools to improve the academic study of religions, and his new book offers an original account that will reframe the three masters of suspicion in contemporary terms. * Kevin Schilbrack, Professor of Religious Studies, Appalachian State University, USA *Dole’s book provides a theoretical basis for understanding claims about causation and social actors. He unpacks the way that three of the most important social theorists employ suspicion as a way to explain broad social contexts. In doing so, he demonstrates the resonance of their suspicion-based interpretations—their hermeneutics of suspicion—with more contemporary conspiratorial thinking. In providing a genealogy for suspicious interpretations, Dole does a service to scholars researching conspiratorial belief today. * Benjamin E. Zeller, Associate Professor of Religion, Lake Forest College, USA *This fascinating study reconsiders the contribution of Karl Marx, Friedrich Nietzsche, and Sigmund Freud to modern intellectual currents by shifting attention from their substantive research fields to their practice of explaining large-scale social and historical phenomena through recourse to hidden agents, resulting in what Andrew Dole terms "suspicious" explanations. This is an original study that forges likes between three distinct fields to create new knowledge. * Carole M. Cusack, Professor of Religious Studies, the University of Sydney, Australia *Conspiracy theories can be seen as a popularised version of critical theory, and Reframing the Masters of Suspicion applies this perspective to some of the foundational figures of the field. Critical theory has much to tell us about conspiracy theories, but this timely book challenges scholars to consider what conspiracy theories might say about our theoretical toolbox. * David Robertson, Lecturer in Religious Studies, The Open University, UK *Table of ContentsAcknowledgements Introduction 1. Suspicious Explanation, A Primer 2. Classic Suspicion: Marx 3. Classic Suspicion: Nietzsche 4. Classic Suspicion: Freud 5. Conclusion: Paradigms of Suspicion Bibliography Index

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