This path-breaking approach to Thomas Aquinas interprets the Five Ways in the context of his theory of science. Aquinas is the leading medieval philosopher and his work is of continuing contemporary relevance. Addressing all the critical themes of authority and reason, Christopher Martin examines the role of science and definitions in medieval thought, and how to deal with the big question: is there a God? Rigorous and challenging, Martin's clear exposition compares and contrasts Aquinas' arguments with those of other philosophers, Anselm, Descartes and Kant.

In this important new book, David O'Connor discusses both logical and empirical forms of the problem of inscrutable evil, perennially the most difficult philosophical problem confronting theism. Arguing that both a version of theism ('friendly theism') and a version of atheism ('friendly atheism') are justified on the evidence in the debate over God and evil, O'Connor concludes that a warranted outcome is a philosophical d_tente between those two positions. On the way to that conclusion he develops two arguments from evil, a reformed version of the logical argument and an indirect version of the empirical argument, and deploys both against a central formulation of theism that he describes as orthodox theism. God and Inscrutable Evil makes a valuable contribution to contemporary debates in the philosophy of religion.

Contemporary Jews often find meaning in Judaism's family and communal orientation, its beautiful rituals, its enriching culture, its sense of ethnic rootedness, and its moral values. For the classical Jewish tradition, however, all of these features of Judaism depend on a belief in God. Since many modern Jews do not know what to make of that belief, it is often ignored. They may be inspired by Judaism's high regard for education and its passion for justice, but their belief in God rests on childhood images of the Almighty. They are often embarrassed and uneasy, for they sense that their attachment to Judaism may be based upon intellectual quicksand.

This insightful study of how Jesus reflects God will be interesting and accessible not only to scholars but to pastors and church members. Well-known author William Placher shows that the God revealed in Jesus Christ is portrayed in the biblical narratives as a God willing to risk vulnerability in order to fully love creation.

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This book shows that the connections between philosophy and religion, especially Christianity, are illegitimate ones. The history of religious thinking has been created by philosophical reasoning. Breaking the grip of this thinking on religious life has an impact on thinking about God as well. To meet this challenge, the author reviews philosophy's history and its consequences for religious thinking. Then he turns to what authentic religious life involves. Nietmann asserts that philosophical dedication to objective truth forms a barricade to authentic religious life. In Part I, the author sketches a philosophical history in whose terms religious thinking developed. Part II recognizes the contemporary rejection, especially by continental philosophy, of traditional philosophical conceptualizations of reality and how it is known. Contents: Preface; Introduction; PART I: PHILOSOPHICAL OBJECTIVITY AND ITS RELIGIOUS IMPACT; God and Reality; Religious Experience; The Humanization of Religion; Timely Religion; PART II: THE EXISTING INDIVIDUAL AND RELIGION; The Logic of Being a Subject; Religious Language; Conclusion-The Dwelling That Words Among Us; Index.

Gambling on God brings together a superb collection of new and classic essays that provide the first sustained analysis of Pascal's Wager and the idea of an infinite utility as well as the first in-depth look at moral objections to the Wager.

In Perceiving God, William P. Alston offers a clear and provocative account of the epistemology of religious experience. He argues that the "perception of God" his term for direct experiential awareness of God makes a major contribution to the grounds of religious belief. Surveying the variety of reported direct experiences of God among laypersons and famous mystics, Alston demonstrates that a person can be justified in holding certain beliefs about God on the basis of mystical experience. Through the perception that God is sustaining one in being, for example, one can justifiably believe that God is indeed sustaining one in being.

Alston offers a detailed discussion of our grounds for taking sense perception and other sources of belief including introspection, memory, and mystical experience to be reliable and to confer justification. He then uses this epistemic framework to explain how our perceptual beliefs about God can be justified. Alston carefully addresses objections to his chief claims, including problems posed by non-Christian religious traditions. He also examines the way in which mystical perception fits into the larger picture of grounds for religious belief.

Suggesting that religious experience, rather than being a purely subjective phenomenon, has real cognitive value, Perceiving God will spark intense debate and will be indispensable reading for those interested in philosophy of religion, epistemology, and philosophy of mind, as well as for theologians."

In recent years, modern science has discovered that the underlying structural details of the entire universe have been "fine-tuned" toward the goal of producing biological life. Revolutionizing our conception of the relationship between science and religion, God and the New Cosmology uses scientific evidence to prove the existence of God beyond a reasonable doubt.

Originally published by the Paulist Press in 1978, this book attempts to elaborate a foundational theology that could interpret the experience of Christian life in all of its social complexity. Father Gelpi reflects both on his personal experience as well as the principal texts of the Christian religion. He examines the American philosophical contributions of Edwards, Peirce, James, Dewey, Santayana, and Whitehead and their contribution to our Christian heritage. Co-published with the College Theology Society as part of its Reprints in Religion Series.

Traces the interior, evolutionary movement of biblical moments and movements of Genesis, Exodus, Judgement, Incarnation and Apocalypse by meditating on speech and silence in the biblical text of the Old Testament, or Torah. This profoundly moving meditation by a Christian dialectical theologian finds a home in the classical academic literature of Judaism, by virtue of the author's emphasis on the search for words to express man's encounter with the living God. Jacob Neusner, Series Editor, in his new preface, states that, "Judaism in the Torah claims to possess these words." He considers Altizer's work to be a continuation of the legacy of Abraham Joshua Heschel. Originally published by Harper & Row in 1977, this edition contains a new introduction by the author.

Contemporary conversations about religion and culture are framed by two reductive definitions of secularity. In one, multiple faiths and nonfaiths coexist free from a dominant belief in God. In the other, we deny the sacred altogether and exclude religion from rational thought and behavior. But is there a third way for those who wish to rediscover the sacred in a skeptical society? What kind of faith, if any, can be proclaimed after the ravages of the Holocaust and the many religion-based terrors since? Richard Kearney explores these questions with a host of philosophers known for their inclusive, forward-thinking work on the intersection of secularism, politics, and religion. An interreligious dialogue that refuses to paper over religious difference, these conversations locate the sacred within secular society and affirm a positive role for religion in human reflection and action. Drawing on his own philosophical formulations, literary analysis, and personal interreligious experiences, Kearney develops through these engagements a basic gesture of hospitality for approaching the question of God. His work facilitates a fresh encounter with our best-known voices in continental philosophy and their views on issues of importance to all spiritually minded individuals and skeptics: how to reconcile God's goodness with human evil, how to believe in both God and natural science, how to talk about God without indulging in fundamentalist rhetoric, and how to balance God's sovereignty with God's love.

Explores ways in which Trinitarian theology interfaces with major themes of systematic theology. The driving force of Trinitarian Soundings in Systematic Theology is that all of theology is to be shaped in view of the doctrine of the Trinity. To borrow a statement from Robert Jenson, the Trinity "is not a separate puzzle to be solved but the framework within which all theology's puzzles are to be solved". This book explores ways in which Trinitarian theology interfaces with major themes of systematic theology. Given that there are few systematic theologies done 'trinitarianly', the collective project will serve as a road map that suggests a path to follow in the formulation of each particular doctrine. Trinitarian Soundings in Systematic Theology is unique as it presents the major themes of systematic theology from a Trinitarian perspective through the contributions of leading and emerging scholars in the field. The study promises to become an important work for those interested in theology, as its contributors include veteran theologians like Colin Gunton, Robert Jenson, James Houston, Georg Pfleiderer and Stanley Grenz. Additionally, this volume includes contributions from a few younger theologians who are employing this Trinitarian focus with renewed zeal. In all, this collection represents an exciting exploration in systematics, showing how profitable it is to approach all aspects of the faith from a self-consciously Trinitarian perspective.

This powerful collection of essays focuses on the representation of God in the Book of Ezekiel. With topics spanning across projections of God, through to the implications of these creations, the question of the divine presence in Ezekiel is explored. Madhavi Nevader analyses Divine Sovereignty and its relation to creation, while Dexter E. Callender Jnr and Ellen van Wolde route their studies in the image of God, as generated by the character of Ezekiel. The assumption of the title is then inverted, as Stephen L. Cook writes on 'The God that the Temple Blueprint Creates', which is taken to its other extreme by Marvin A. Sweeney in his chapter on 'The Ezekiel that God Creates', and finds a nice reconciliation in Daniel I. Block's chapter, 'The God Ezekiel Wants Us to Meet.' Finally, two essays from Christian biblical scholar Nathan MacDonald and Jewish biblical scholar, Rimon Kasher, offer a reflection on the essays about Ezekiel and his God.

The question of God's relationship to abstract objects touches on a number of perennial concerns related to the nature of God. God is typically thought to be an independent and self-sufficient being. Further, God is typically thought to be supremely sovereign such that all reality distinct from God is dependent on God's creative and sustaining activity. However, the view that there are abstract objects seems to be a repudiation of this traditional understanding of God. Abstract objects are typically thought to exist necessarily and it is natural to think that if something exists necessarily, it does so because it is its nature to exist. Thus, abstract objects exist independently of God. Philosophers have called this the problem of God and abstract objects. In this book, six contemporary solutions to the problem are set out and defended against objections. It will be valuable for all students or scholars who are interested in the concept and nature of God.

"Meaning and Mystery" offers a challenge to the way Philosophy has traditionally approached the issue of belief in God as a theoretical problem, proposing instead a form of reflection more appropriate to the practical nature of the issue. Makes use of abundant illustrative material, from both literature, such as "Les Miserables," Edwin Abott's "Flatland," Yann Martel's "Life of Pi" and Leo Tolstoy's "A Confession," and popular culture, such as advertisements, the television series "Joan of Arcadia" and the film "Stranger Than Fiction"Uses imaginative scenarios to offer explanations of central conceptsIncorporates theories on human thought and behavior in exploring the formation of religious beliefWritten in a style that is accessible to readers with little background knowledge of philosophy

How can one think and name an inconceivable and ineffable God? Christian mystics have approached the problem by speaking of God using "negative" language - devices such as grammatical negation and the rhetoric of "darkness" or "unknowing" - and their efforts have fascinated contemporary scholars. In this text, Thomas A. Carlson reinterprets premodern approaches to God's ineffability and postmodern approaches to the mystery of the human subject in light of one another. The recent interest in mystical theological traditions, Carlson argues, is best understood in relation to contemporary philosophy's emphasis on the idea of human finitude and mortality. Combining both historical research in theology (from Pseudo-Dionysius to Aquinas to Eckhart) and contemporary philosophical analysis (from Hegel and Nietzsche to Heidegger, Derrida, and Marion), this text should interest philosophers, theologians, and other scholars concerned with the possibilities and limits of language surrounding both God and human subjectivity.

For more than 250 years, this simple classic of inspiration has guided readers of all faiths to the open-hearted acceptance of God's will that is the sure path to serenity, happiness, and spiritual peace.

From the tiniest microchip to the information superhighway, the modern world is dominated by and dependent upon science. Yet whether we realize it or not, we live in an age where faith is still an important influence in our lives. The majority of Americans profess a belief in a Christian God and Islam acts as a unifying, energizing force for many of the world's most dispossessed people. In the UK congregations may be shrinking, but popular belief in the supernatural - ghosts and spirits, fortune-telling, faith healing - is stronger than ever. In The Story of God Robert Winston examines the relationship between science and religion across time, beginning with the primitive worship of early ancestors and concluding with a vivid portrait of faith in the modern world. Grand in scope, adventurous in tone - and written from the perspective of a respected scientist who is also committed to Judaism - this groundbreaking work traces a line across continents, cultures and eras.

Traces the doctrine of the Holy Spirit through the New Testament pointing out that true maturity is achieved only in day-to-day obedience, bible study, and prayer. Merrill Unger corrects many contemporary errors and misconceptions.

Outsiders have long attributed to the Middle East, and especially to ancient Egypt, meanings that go way beyond the rational and observable. The region has been seen as the source of civilization, religion, the sciences and the arts; but also of mystical knowledge and outlandish theories, whether about the Lost City of Atlantis or visits by alien beings. In his exploration of how its past has been creatively interpreted by later ages, Robin Derricourt surveys the various claims that have been made for Egypt - particularly the idea that it harbours an esoteric wisdom vital to the world's survival. He looks at 'alternative' interpretations of the pyramids, from maps of space and time to landing markers for UFOs; at images of the Egyptian mummy and at the popular mythology of the 'pharaoh's curse'; and at imperialist ideas of racial superiority that credited Egypt with spreading innovations and inventions as far as the Americas, Australia and China. Including arcane ideas about the Lost Ten Tribes of biblical Israel, the author enlarges his focus to include the Levant.His book is the first to show in depth how ancient Egypt and the surrounding lands have so continuously and seductively tantalised the Western imagination.

In this book: 'Mark Vernon writes with sharp insight and a generous understanding of how humans search and create meanings to sustain their lives' - Madeleine Bunting, Guardian. Why doesn't God go away? God: All That Matters, by philosopher Mark Vernon,suggests that there is something odd about the way God is discussed today. It is often as if the divine were being examined in a test tube, in a search for empirical and objective confirmation of his/her existence. Yet, for people of faith, the experience of God is nothing if not subjectively real; they know God, in-so-far as they do, in their lives. Vernon therefore looks to move the argument on from the debates between atheist and religious fundamentalists, to look at how people through time have looked for, experienced, and explained God - in suffering, in nature, in morality, in peak experiences, in goodness, in the future and in love. This accessible and concise book will appeal to both students and general readers, giving a fascinating introduction to a wide range of perspectives on God. The All That Matters series: All That Matters books: All books in the All That Matters series are written by world experts in their subject field. These experts work to distil a topic and get right to its heart, making the book accessible for both students and general readers. Each compelling book contains new and interesting perspectives and tells stories that matter. The Author: Mark Vernon has an unparalleled ability to convey profound philosophical ideas in a manner that is both accessible and personal but also rigorous and challenging."- Raymond Tallis Mark Vernon is a journalist, broadcaster, teacher and author of several books. He is an honorary research fellow at Birkbeck, University of London and has degrees in physics, and theology and a PhD in philosophy. He was a priest in the Church of England, left a convinced atheist, though now takes religious and spiritual practice very seriously - a journey he has written about in his book How to be an Agnostic. Keep up with Mark Vernon on his website: www.markvernon.com. Other books in the All That Matters series: All That Matters - Interesting introductions to important issues Books on the following subjects are available from the All That Matters series: Muhammad, Water, Political Philosophy, Sustainability, Philosophy, Intelligence, Love, Russian Revolution, War, and Creativity.To find out more visit: www.allthatmattersbooks.com

This title presents an exploration of divine designations in the Hebrew Bible, New Testament and Qur'an, using comparative theology to ascertain if there is common language for interfaith dialogue. This book offers a welcome solution to the growing need for a common language in interfaith dialogue; particularly between the three Abrahamic faiths in our modern pluralistic society. The book suggests that the names given to God in the Hebrew Bible, the New Testament and the Qur'an, could be the very foundations and building blocks for a common language between the Jewish, Christian and Islamic faiths. On both a formal interfaith level, as well as between everyday followers of each doctrine, this book facilitates a more fruitful and universal understanding and respect of each sacred text; exploring both the commonalities and differences between the each theology and their individual receptions. In a practical application of the methodologies of comparative theology, Maire Byrne shows that the titles, names and epithets given to God in the sacred texts of Judaism, Christianity and Islam contribute towards similar images of God in each case, and elucidates the importance of this for providing a viable starting point for interfaith dialogue.

Some of the brightest scientific minds of our time, from Albert Einstein to Stephen Hawking, have made incredible insights into the earliest origins of the universe, but have failed to ultimately discover why there is something rather than nothing why we exist. In A Case for the Existence of God, Dean L. Overman examines the latest theories about the origins of the universe and explains why even the most sophisticated science can only take us so far. Ultimately we must make a leap of faith to understand the world, and Overman argues that a leap into theism provides the most satisfying conclusions. Overman explores fundamental questions about why our world exists and how it functions, using principles of logic, physics, and theology. In a time when religion and science are often portrayed as diametrically opposed, A Case for the Existence of God presents a refreshing view of the interplay between science and religion and makes a compelling case for the existence of God and his role in our world.

Kenny writes By profession I am a philosopher: and in the present century philosophers in this country have been keen to emphasise not only the difficulty of stating God's will on particular issues but the difficulty for human beings of saying anything intelligible at all about the nature of God. It is probably true to say that the majority of philosophers in this country in the last fifty years have been atheists of one kind or another. In his masterly introduction, Kenny explains the autobiographical background to this important new book. For some years, Kenny was a Roman Catholic priest, he lost his faith and resigned from the priesthood. This was something of a cause celebre and Kenny gave a full account of this development in his book The Path From Rome. But, as this book demonstrates, he has never been able to let go of God and he continues to struggle with the intellectual problems of theism and the possibility of believing in God, especially in an intellectual climate dominated by Logical Positivism. In this book Kenny revisits the Five Ways of Aquinas and argues that they are not so much proofs as definitions of God.; He is also in constant dialogue with Wittgenstein for, K