The Myth of Religious Neutrality: An Essay on the Hidden Role of Religious Beliefs in Theories - Hardcover

Clouser, Roy A.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 026801390X ISBN 13: 9780268013905

Publisher: University of Notre Dame Press, 1991

Synopsis

This book offers a radical reinterpretation of the general relations between religion, philosophy and science. It claims that scientific and philosophical theories cannot help but have religious presuppositions that control and regulate them. In making the case for this reinterpretation, Clouser also argues that there is a distinctly biblical perspective for theorizing that ought to be adopted by those who believe in God.

About this title

Review

Contrary to popular opinion that holds that most of the affairs of day-to-day life are seen as neutral with respect to religious belief, [Clouser] finds 'that religious belief is the most powerful and influential belief in the world' and that it 'has the single most decisive influence on everyone's understanding of the major issues of life ranging across the entire spectrum of human experience. Theology Digest"

"Contrary to popular opinion that holds that most of the affairs of day-to-day life are seen as neutral with respect to religious belief, [Clouser] finds 'that religious belief is the most powerful and influential belief in the world' and that it 'has the single most decisive influence on everyone's understanding of the major issues of life ranging across the entire spectrum of human experience." --Theology Digest

"[A[] welcome volume for Christians who are in the sciences and especially those who recognize the important role religion can play in science. . . . The Myth of Religious Neutrality has much to commend itself. Certainly philosophers will enjoy reading the revised edition. . . . But I particularly recommend a serious consideration of the book to scientists." --Perspectives on Science and Christian Faith

"Clouser urges his fellow-believers to abandon their vain efforts to harmonize pagan philosophical and scientific theories with belief in God and embrace the 'radically biblical' claim that 'there is no knowledge or truth that is neutral with respect to belief in God' (94). This claim, he argues, must include theories about every conceivable aspect of reality, from philosophical overviews of reality and theories of knowledge to aesthetics and zoology. . . . This edition, in which Clouser offers extensive responses and rebuttals to his critics as he travels far and wide across philosophy of religion and biblical studies as well as philosophy of science, ontology, and epistemology, is sure to extend and deepen our understanding of what it means to develop theories that honor our belief that Yahweh alone is that on whom all reality depends." --Christian Scholar's Review

About the Author

ROY A. CLOUSER is professor emeritus of philosophy and religion at The College of New Jersey, Trenton.

Edition details

• Publisher: University of Notre Dame Press
• Publication date: 1991
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 026801390X
• ISBN 13: 9780268013905
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 384