Contemporary Debates in Philosophy of Religion

Contemporary Debates in Philosophy of Religion features newly commissioned debates on some of the most controversial issues in the field. For example: Is evil evidence against belief in God? Does science discredit religion? Is God’s existence the best explanation of the universe? Is eternal damnation compatible with the Christian concept of God? Is morality based on God’s commands?This first title in Blackwell′s Contemporary Debates in Philosophy series presents important philosophical issues in a stimulating and engaging manner. Twelve central questions are posed, with each question addressed by a pair of opposing essays. The debates range from vigorous disagreements between theists and their critics to arguments between theists of different philosophical and theological persuasions. Both students and scholars in the philosophy of religion will readily sense the value of rigorous debate for sharply defining the issues and paving the way for further progress.

Notes to Contributors. Preface. Part I: Attacks on Religious Belief: . 1. Is Evil Evidence against Belief in God? . Evil Is Evidence against Theistic Belief: William L. Rowe (Purdue University). Evil Does Not Make Atheism More Reasonable than Theism: Daniel Howard–Snyder (Western Washington University) and Michael Bergmann (Purdue University). Reply to Howard–Snyder and Bergmann. Reply to Rowe. 2. Does Divine Hiddenness Justify Atheism? . Divine Hiddenness Justifies Atheism: J. L. Schellenberg (Mount Saint Vincent University). Divine Hiddenness Does Not Justify Atheism: Paul K. Moser (Loyola University, Chicago). Reply to Moser. Reply to Schellenberg. 3. Does Science Discredit Religion? . Science Discredits Religion: John Worrall (London School of Economics). The Demise of Religion: Greatly Exaggerated Reports from the Science/Religion Wars: Del Ratzsch (Calvin College). Reply to Ratzsch. Replay to Worrall. Part II: Arguments for Religious Belief: . 4. Is God’s Existence the Best Explanation of the Universe? . Explanation and the Cosmological Argument: Bruce R. Reichenbach (Augsburg College). Why Traditional Cosmological Arguments Don’t Work, and a Sketch of a New One that Does: Richard Gale (University of Pittsburgh). Reply to Gale. Reply to Reichenbach. 5. Does Religious Experience Justify Religious Belief? . Religious Experience Justifies Religious Belief: William P. Alston (Syracuse University). Do Mystics See God?: Evan Fales (University of Iowa). Reply to Fales. Reply to Alston. 6. Is It Rational for Christians to Believe in the Resurrection? . It Is Rational to Believe in the Resurrection: Stephen T. Davis (Claremont McKenna College). It Is Not Rational to Believer in the Resurrection: Michael Martin (Boston University). Reply to Martin. Reply to Davis. Part III: Issues within Religion: . 7. Can Only One Religion Be True? . How to Sink in Cognitive Quicksand: Nuancing Religious Pluralism: Keith E. Yandell (University of Wisconsin). It Is Not Reasonable to Believer that Only One Religion is True: Peter Byrne (King’s College, University of London). Reply to Byrne. Reply to Yandell. 8. Does God Take Risks in Governing the World? . God Takes Risks: William Hasker (Huntington College). God Does Not Take Risks: Paul Helm (Regent College). Reply to Helm. Reply to Hasker. 9. Does God Respond to Petitionary Prayer? . God Responds to Prayer: Michael J. Murray (Franklin and Marshall College). God Does Not Necessarily Respond to Prayer: David Basinger (Roberts Wesleyan College). Reply to Basinger. Reply to Murray. 10. Is Eternal Damnation Compatible with the Christian Concept of God? . Eternal Hell and the Christian Concept of God: Jerry Walls (Asbury Theological Seminary). No Hell: Thomas Talbott (Willamette University). Reply to Talbott. Reply to Walls. 11. Is Morality Based on God’s Commands? . Divine Commands Are the Foundation of Morality: Janine Marie Idziak (Loras College). Ethics Is Based on Natural Law: Craig A. Boyd (Greenville College) and Raymond J. VanArragon (Asbury College). Reply to Boyd and VanArragon. Reply to Idziak. 12. Should a Christian Be a Mind–Body Dualist? . Christians Should Affirm Mind–Body Dualism: Dean W. Zimmerman (Rutgers University). Christians Should Reject Mind–Body Dualism: Lynne Rudder Baker (University of Massachusetts). Reply to Baker. Reply to Zimmerman. Index

Michael L. Peterson is Professor of Philosophy at Asbury College. His publications include The Problem of Evil: Selected Readings (1992), and Reason and Religious Belief (co–authored, 2002). He is also series editor of Blackwell’s Exploring the Philosophy of Religion . Raymond J. VanArragon is Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Asbury College. He specializes in epistemology and philosophy of religion.

"Peterson and VanArragon′s volume is neither contentious nor coercive; it is a model for philosophical progress. It will certainly be a valuable resource for both students and professional philosophers in the future." David Efird, Philosophical Books "This lively volume brings together excellent authors to debate major topics in the philosophy of religion. The result is concise exchanges that are both accessible to students and valuable for professional readers in the field." Robert Audi, University of Notre Dame <!––end––>