The Philosophy of Religion: An Historical Introduction

by Linda Trinkaus Zagzebski

An accessible and engaging introduction to the philosophy of religion.

Written with verve and clarity by a leading philosopher and contributor to the field

Places key issues and debates in the philosophy of religion in their historical contexts, highlighting the conditions that led to the development of the field

Addresses the core topics, among them the the existence of God, the problem of evil, death and the afterlife, and the problem of religious diversity

Rich with argument, yet never obtrusive

Forms part of the Fundamentals of Philosophy series, in which renowned scholars explore the fundamental issues and core problems in the major sub-disciplines of philosophy

Genres: Philosophy, Religion

254 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

Reviews

[Tyler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very enjoyable. Of the few introductory texts on philosophy of religion I've read so far, this was probably one of the more easily accessible ones, though it is not the most comprehensive. I also appreciated Zagzebski's willingness to provide her own comments on the book's various topics in addition to her more objective survey of the field. In this sense I thought the book felt like a guided tour and hence was more accessible. Though it's a good introduction, the book is not a comprehensive treatment. Some topics, like the possibility of and justifications for miracles, don't get their own chapters, while others, like the relationship between religion and morality, don't get as thorough a treatment as you may find in other books. On the other hand, Zagzebski discusses topics I haven't seen discussed in other introductory texts—the topic of religious emotions, the role of admiration in belief formation and self-trust, divine anti-realist approaches to the problem of evil, to name a few. And of course, the book is helpful in putting key philosophical concepts in historical context. Overall, highly recommended.

[Cerberus · Rating 1 out of 5]

می‌خوام فقط از عکس روی جلد کتاب حرف بزنم: یه شمع روشن که در حال تموم شدنه. در ادبیات فارسی رابطه‌ای بین شمع و پروانه هست؛ موجودی که عاشقانه دور شمع می‌چرخه و گاهی هم می‌سوزه و نیست می‌شه. همینو دارم که بگم: باید مثل این پروانه دیوونه باشی که چرخیدن دور شمعی که داره آخرین پت‌پت‌هاشو می‌زنه، برات عجیب نیاد.

[Ray A. · Rating 3 out of 5]

My first read on the philosophy of religion. A refreshing alternative to the popular and largely superficial and biased (for or against) books more readily available. Worth a second read and following up with more books on the subject.

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to goodreads users I am lucky to have stumbled upon this introduction to the philosophy of religion. Having read other comparable books on the topic by now, I find that Zagzebski's work still surpasses other ones, particularly thanks to its practical use, e.g. for parents.

My review is biased. This was my first book on the subject, one I decided to read "just because." So I was more curious and had more time to read this book compared to other books on the same subject. And as a beginner I lack any substantial knowledge that would allow me to point to Zagzebski's omissions or to challenge the logic in one of her arguments. Then again, this book is intended for beginners, and it excels as such. I hardly would have continued reading on the subject if it wasn't for the concise language, clarity of thought, and smart structure of this particular book. This is almost the ultimate praise an amateur reader from another discipline can give a scholarly piece of writing.

"It is possible for an unreflective belief to be strongly held, but it is not deep" (231). Although this is without a doubt a scholarly book from a highly competent professor, it felt like opening a box filled with philosophical treasures. The writing is simple and accessible, which is a difficult goal to accomplish in both philosophy and religion. The book reads almost like a conversation or class transcript. Zagzebski takes the reader on a walk through deep topics and navigates complicated discussions, careful to present several viewpoints on or approaches to a given problem.

This last point is where I see perhaps the most compelling reason to read this book. We encounter the questions it addresses in our own lives, be it for personal reasons, or when talking with friends or children; be it in the past, present, or future. When looking for answers, it is easy to end up with with just that -- answers, rather than ways to come up with own answers. I find this book to be an excellent source of knowledge when thinking about the many ways I can look at and talk about these questions from different angles. A case in point might be the question(s) one of my children could raise some day. Granted, such a use is far from what the author anticipated, but it doesn't lower its quality -- on the contrary. So I went and exchanged my library copy with a purchase from a used book store, because I am likely to reread sections from this book or the whole of it several times, whether for my own benefit or for others.

[Alex Cole · Rating 4 out of 5]

An essential introduction to the subject of philosophy of religion. It covers a wide variety of topics indepth such as the Problem of Evil, Religious Pluralism, the definition and place of Faith, Divine Commands, Traditional Arguments for God's Existence, and Religious Experience. Zagzebski is never difficult to read and expresses some very high-level concepts in a very intuitive and exciting way, making use of plenty of examples from a wide variety of disciplines. However, Zagzebski does tend to favor theism in her analysis, which is not a problem in itself, but it may turn some skeptical readers off from Philosophy of Religion. Hence, I think that the best way to get an overall understanding of Philosophy of Religion may be to read J.L. Mackie's "The Miracle of Theism" alongside this book, as Mackie tends on the side of atheism.

4/5 or 93/100, a very great intro to the subject.

[Jonathan]

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