The Routledge Companion to Theism (Routledge Religion Companions) - Hardcover

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0415881641 ISBN 13: 9780415881647

Publisher: Routledge, 2012

Synopsis

There are deep and pervasive disagreements today in universities and colleges, and popular culture in general, over the credibility and value of belief in God.  This has given rise to an urgent need for a balanced, comprehensive, accessible resource book that can inform the public and scholarly debate over theism.  While scholars with as diverse interests as Daniel Dennett, Terry Eagleton, Richard Dawkins, Jürgen Habermas, and Rowan Williams have recently contributed books to this debate, "theism" as a concept remains poorly understood and requires a more thorough and systematic analysis than it has so far received in any single volume.  The Routledge Companion to Theism addresses this need by investigating theism's history as well as its relationship to inquiry in the sciences, social sciences, and humanities, and to its wider cultural contexts.

The contents are not confined within the philosophy of religion or even within the more expansive borders of philosophy.  Rather, The Routledge Companion to Theism investigates its subject through the lens of a wide variety of disciplines and explores the ramifications of theism considered as a way of life as well as an intellectual conviction.  The five parts of the volume indicate its inclusive scope: I. What is Theism?; II. Theism and Inquiry; III. Theism and the Socio-Political Realm; IV. Theism and Culture; V. Theism as a Way of Life.  The result is a well ordered and thorough collection that should provide a wide spectrum of readers with a better understanding of a subject that's much discussed, but frequently misunderstood.  As the editors note in their Introduction, while stimulating and informing the contemporary debate, a key aim of the volume is to open new avenues of inquiry into theism and thereby to encourage further research into this vital topic.

Comprised of 54 essays by leading scholars in philosophy, history, theology, religious studies, political science, education and sociology, The Routledge Companion to Theism promises to be the most useful, comprehensive resource on an emerging subject of interest for students and scholars.

About this title

Review:

"Theism not only shaped our past, but continues to shape our thought and institutions in a myriad of ways.  This volume offers a wide ranging approach to the history, philosophy, and meaning of theism across many cultures and eras.  For those who thought the 'new atheists' had settled the matter of God (but also hoped there were intelligent alternatives to their dismissals) this collection of wise essays will refresh their views of theism." –James Hudnut-Beumler, Dean of the Divinity School and Anne Potter Disinguished Professor of American Religious History, Vanderbilt University

"This is the most comprehensive collection on the subject to date, written by the leading figures in the field. While maintaining a philosophical focus and grounded in the best of contemporary analytic philosophy, the anthology includes welcome multidisciplinary, global and historical perspectives." –Robert C. Koons, Professor of Philosophy, University of Texas, Austin

 "The Routledge Companion to Theism isn’t just for academics; this is an essential resource for a better-informed public discourse about the myriad ways our beliefs about God affect the whole range of human affairs." --Jim Rice, editor, Sojourners magazine

"A welcome addition to the literature that reflects the continuing resurgence of interest in theism, religion and philosophy in the academy... This Companion is a must have for collections that undergird programs in philosophy and religion." -M.Y. Spomer, Azusa Pacific University, CHOICE magazine

About the Author:

Charles Taliaferro is Professor of Philosophy at St. Olaf College.

Victoria Harrison is Reader in Philosophy at the University of Glasgow.

Stewart Goetz is Chair and Professor in the department of Philosophy and Religion at Ursinus College.

About this edition

• Publisher: Routledge
• Publication date: 2012
• ISBN 10: 0415881641
• ISBN 13: 9780415881647
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 752
• Editor: Taliaferro Charles, Harrison Victoria S., Goetz Stewart