Paul Copan

The _Routledge Companion to Philosophy of Religion_ is an indispensable guide and reference source to the major themes, movements, debates and topics in philosophy of religion. A team of renowned international contributors provide sixty-five accessible entries organized into nine clear parts: philosophical issues in world religions key figures in philosophy of religion religious diversity the theistic conception of God arguments for the existence of God arguments against the existence of God philosophical theology christian theism recent topics in philosophy of religion. Covering key world religions including Hinduism, Buddhism, and Islam, and key figures such as Augustine, Aquinas and Kierkegaard, the book explores the central topics in theism such as the ontological, cosmological and teleological arguments for God's existence. Three final parts consider Catholicism, Protestantism, Eastern orthodoxy and current debates including phenomenology, reformed epistemology, religious experience, and religion and science. This is essential reading for anyone interested in philosophy, religion and related disciplines.

The _Routledge Companion to Philosophy of Religion_ is an indispensable guide and reference source to the major themes, movements, debates and topics in philosophy of religion. A team of renowned international contributors provide sixty-five accessible entries organized into nine clear parts: philosophical issues in world religions key figures in philosophy of religion religious diversity the theistic conception of God arguments for the existence of God arguments against the existence of God philosophical theology christian theism recent topics in philosophy of religion. Covering key world religions including Hinduism, Buddhism, and Islam, and key figures such as Augustine, Aquinas and Kierkegaard, the book explores the central topics in theism such as the ontological, cosmological and teleological arguments for God's existence. Three final parts consider Catholicism, Protestantism, Eastern orthodoxy and current debates including phenomenology, reformed epistemology, religious experience, and religion and science. This is essential reading for anyone interested in philosophy, religion and related disciplines.

Despite its name, “naturalism” as a world-view turns out to be rather unnatural in its strict and more consistent form of materialism and determinism. This is why a number of naturalists opt for a broadened version that includes objective moral values, intrinsic human dignity, consciousness, beauty, personal agency, and the like. But in doing so, broad naturalism begins to look more like theism. As many strict naturalists recognize, broad naturalism must borrow from the metaphysical resources of a theistic world-view, in which such features are very natural, common sensical, and quite “at home” in a theistic framework. The Naturalness of Belief begins with a naturalistic philosopher’s own perspective of naturalism and naturalness. The remaining chapters take a multifaceted approach in showing theism’s naturalness and greater explanatory power. They examine not only rational reasons for theism’s ability to account for consciousness, intentionality, beauty, human dignity, free will, rationality, and knowledge; they also look at common sensical, existential, psychological, and cultural reasons—in addition to the insights of the cognitive science of religion.

Despite its name, “naturalism” as a world-view turns out to be rather unnatural in its strict and more consistent form of materialism and determinism. This is why a number of naturalists opt for a broadened version that includes objective moral values, intrinsic human dignity, consciousness, beauty, personal agency, and the like. But in doing so, broad naturalism begins to look more like theism. As many strict naturalists recognize, broad naturalism must borrow from the metaphysical resources of a theistic world-view, in which such features are very natural, common sensical, and quite “at home” in a theistic framework. The Naturalness of Belief begins with a naturalistic philosopher’s own perspective of naturalism and naturalness. The remaining chapters take a multifaceted approach in showing theism’s naturalness and greater explanatory power. They examine not only rational reasons for theism’s ability to account for consciousness, intentionality, beauty, human dignity, free will, rationality, and knowledge; they also look at common sensical, existential, psychological, and cultural reasons—in addition to the insights of the cognitive science of religion.

The atheist philosopher Michael Martin has established himself as one of today's leading antagonists of theism. I have chosen to focus on one particular aspect of his atheological argumentation---the moral dimension---and offer criticisms of his position. Martin rejects the moral argument for God's existence---the argument from objective moral values---and claims that moral goodness can exist without rooting it in some transcendent Being. Martin utilizes the Euthyphro argument to reinforce his point. Martin believes the moral objectivism and atheism are perfectly compatible. ;First, as a prolegomenon, I try to show that natural theology serves a useful function to show the greater plausibility of theism over against atheism. ;Second, I argue that for Martin's moral objectivism to make any sense, he must be able to offer some reason from within his atheistic worldview for thinking that human beings have intrinsic moral value and are morally responsible agents. However, he offers no plausible ontological basis for affirming this; I suggest that the theistic understanding of the imago Dei furnishes us with the necessary basis. Affirming human dignity and significance is far more plausible and natural in a theistic setting. ;Third, despite Martin's claim that there are analytic moral truths that exist regardless of God's existence, a moral world can more readily be expected given a theistic framework. However, it is extremely difficult to see how a universe would emerge by chance that contains the sorts of beings to which moral truths apply. ;Fourth, Martin's Euthyphro dilemma used to show that some external moral standard must exist even if God did fails since Martin's own position cannot evade similar charges. Nor is God "obligated" to certain moral truths; rather, he by his very nature does what is right without consulting any standard external to him. ;Finally, despite Martin's appeals to various defenses of objective morality sans God, each of these defenses offers no ontological foundation for affirming human dignity and personal accountability but rather deals with the more surface level---namely, the epistemological and empirical considerations of morality.

_The Routledge Companion to Philosophy of Religion, Second edition_ is an indispensable guide and reference source to the major themes, movements, debates and topics in philosophy of religion. Considerably expanded for the second edition, over seventy entries from a team of renowned international contributors are organized into nine clear parts: philosophical issues in world religions key figures in philosophy of religion religious diversity the theistic conception of God arguments for the existence of God arguments against the existence of God philosophical theology Christian theism recent topics in philosophy of religion. Covering key world religions including Hinduism, Buddhism and Islam, and key figures such as Augustine, Aquinas and Kierkegaard, the Companion explores the central topics in theism such as the ontological, cosmological and teleological arguments for God’s existence. Three final parts consider Catholicism, Protestantism, Eastern orthodoxy and current debates including phenomenology, reformed epistemology, religious experience, and religion and science, making the _Companion_ as a whole_ _essential reading for students of philosophy or religion, and suitable for anyone coming to the subject for the first time. This second edition includes new chapters on Blaise Pascal, Baruch Spinoza, Interreligious Dialogue, Death and the Afterlife, Incorporeality, Religion and Global Ethics, New Religious Movements, Religion and the Environment, and Religion and Film.

Did the universe begin to exist? If so, did it have a cause? Or could it have come into existence uncaused, from nothing? These questions are taken up by the medieval-though recently-revived-kalam cosmological argument, which has arguably been the most discussed philosophical argument for God's existence in recent decades. The kalam's line of reasoning maintains that the series of past events cannot be infinite but rather is finite. Since the universe could not have come into being uncaused, there must be a transcendent cause of the universe's beginning, a conclusion supportive of theism. This anthology on the philosophical arguments for the finitude of the past asks: Is an infinite series of past events metaphysically possible? Should actual infinites be restricted to theoretical mathematics, or can an actual infinite exist in the concrete world? These essays by kalam proponents and detractors engage in lively debate about the nature of infinity and its conundrums; about frequently-used kalam argument paradoxes of Tristram Shandy, the Grim Reaper, and Hilbert's Hotel; and about the infinity of the future.

The kalam cosmological argument-perhaps the most discussed philosophical argument for God's existence in recent decades-maintains that whatever begins to exist must have a cause. And since the universe began to exist, there must be a transcendent cause of its beginning, a conclusion which is confirmatory of theism. So this medieval argument for the finitude of the past has received fresh wind in its sails from recent scientific discoveries. This collection reviews and assesses the merits of the latest scientific evidences for the universe's beginning. It ends with the kalam argument's conclusion that the universe has a cause-a personal cause with properties of theological significance.

The divine command to kill the Canaanites is the most problematic of all Old Testament ethical issues. This article responds to challenges raised by Wes Morriston and Randal Rauser. It argues that biblical and extrabiblical evidence suggests that the Canaanites who were killed were combatants rather than noncombatants and that, given the profound moral corruption of Canaan, this divinely-directed act was just. Even if it turns out that non­combatants were directly targeted, the overarching Old Testament narrative is directed toward the salvation of all nations—including the Canaanites.

Philosopher William Lane Craig of the Talbot School of Theology has published three other Kluwer books on time and eternity and God’s relationship to them. In this book, Craig draws some important strands together regarding the concept of God and relativity theory. He notes the striking “paucity of integrative literature” in this regard: “I am convinced that this lack is largely due to the fact that theologians and philosophers of religion do not understand Einstein’s theories and so are reduced to merely parroting what they read in scientific popularizations,” resulting in “a superficial and uncritical interaction”.

_Philosophy of Religion: Classic and Contemporary Issues_ offers a comprehensive and authoritative overview of the most important ideas and arguments in this resurgent field. Provides a solid foundation on the history of religious philosophy while broadening our understanding of religion’s significance in today’s world Features 18 newly-commissioned essays by well-known scholars with varied viewpoints on the philosophy of religion Examines the evolution of religious philosophy from it roots to contemporary issues while expanding its analysis to include non-Western religious themes Includes charts, questions, and annotated suggested readings to stimulate further study and reflection.

Felt, a philosophy professor at Santa Clara University, has helpfully expounded the freedom-determinism discussion in a popular, understandable manner. Although he admits that there are no knock-down arguments against determinism, belief in freedom is the more plausible, sensible perspective. Felt presents the basic arguments defending the related concepts of determinism, compatibilism, and fatalism and successfully refutes them. Felt also discusses concepts of temporality, causality, and the problem of evil as they relate to freedom.

This companion volume to philosopher William Craig’s Tensed Theory of Time is an excellent exposition and critique of the arguments for a tenseless of time as well as a presentation of arguments against it; thus, in light of the Tensed Theory volume, Craig sees an A-theoretic understanding of time vindicated. The present volume is, again, divided into two parts: “Arguments for a B-Theory of Time” and “Arguments Against a B-Theory of Time”. Craig’s meticulously researched and well-reasoned book exhibits an impressive grasp of the physics of relativity and its various interpretations.