The Oxford Handbook of Philosophy of Religion

Oxford Handbooks in Philosophy

by William J. Wainwright (Editor)

The philosophy of religion as a distinct discipline is an innovation of the last two hundred years, but its central topics--the existence and nature of the divine, humankind's relation to it, the nature of religion and its place in human life--have been with us since the inception of philosophy. Philosophers have long critically examined the truth of (and rational justification for) religious claims, and have explored such philosophically interesting phenomena as faith, religious experience and the distinctive features of religious discourse. The second half of the twentieth-century has been an especially fruitful period, with philosophers using new developments in logic and epistemology to mount both sophisticated defenses of, and attacks on, religious claims.

The Oxford Handbook of Philosophy of Religion contains newly commissioned chapters by 21 prominent experts who cover the field in a comprehensive but accessible manner. Each chapter is expository, critical, and representative of a distinctive viewpoint. The Handbook is divided into two sections. The first, "Problems," covers the most frequently discussed topics, among them arguments for God's existence, the problem of evil, and religious epistemology. The second is called "Approaches" and contains four essays assessing the advantages and disadvantages of different methods of practicing philosophy of religion.

The Handbook offers contributors of high stature who present substantive and in-depth treatment of the most central topics. It is a must-have reference for anyone with an interest in philosophy and religion.

Genres: Philosophy, Religion, Nonfiction, Theology, Essays

528 pages, Paperback

First published November 19, 2004

Reviews

[Garrett Starr · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book as a required text in my Philosophy of Religion class in seminary. It was one of those books that was real work, but I am so thankful for having read it because it opened my eyes to read much more philosophy in order to understand non-biblical worldviews, framing and positing arguments, etc. I recommend this book to every pastor and budding apologist.

[Jose · Rating 5 out of 5]

The many different authors make for a variety of tastes that appeals to different readers.
I did my undergrad in philosophy and I was not disappointed.
There were also other chapters that were too easy to read.
If you cannot handle the whole book I'm sure you will find at least one chapter you will love.