Why Philosophy Matters for the Study of Religion—and Vice Versa

Nonfiction, Religion & Spirituality, Theology, Ethics, Philosophy
Cover of the book Why Philosophy Matters for the Study of Religion—and Vice Versa by Thomas A. Lewis, OUP Oxford
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Thomas A. Lewis ISBN: 9780191062162
Publisher: OUP Oxford Publication: December 17, 2015
Imprint: OUP Oxford Language: English
Author: Thomas A. Lewis
ISBN: 9780191062162
Publisher: OUP Oxford
Publication: December 17, 2015
Imprint: OUP Oxford
Language: English

Work in philosophy of religion is still strongly marked by an excessive focus on Christianity and, to a lesser extent, Judaism — almost to the exclusion of other religious traditions. Moreover, in many cases it has been confined to a narrow set of intellectual problems, without embedding these in their larger social, historical, and practical contexts. Why Philosophy Matters for the Study of Religion—and Vice Versa addresses this situation through a series of interventions intended to work against the gap that exists between much scholarship in philosophy of religion and important recent developments that speak to religious studies as a whole. This volume takes up what, in recent years, has often been seen as a fundamental reason for excluding religious ethics and philosophy of religion from religious studies: their explicit normativity. Against this presupposition, Thomas A. Lewis argues that normativity is pervasive—not unique to ethics and philosophy of religion—and therefore not a reason to exclude them from religious studies. Lewis bridges more philosophical and historical subfields by arguing for the importance of history to the philosophy of religion. He considers the future of religious ethics, explaining that the field as whole should learn from the methodological developments associated with recent work in comparative religious ethics and 'comparative religious ethics' should no longer be conceived as a distinct subfield. The concluding chapter engages broader, post-9/11 arguments about the importance of studying religion arguing, that prominent contemporary notions of 'religious literacy' actually hinder our ability to grasp religion's significance and impact in the world today.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

Work in philosophy of religion is still strongly marked by an excessive focus on Christianity and, to a lesser extent, Judaism — almost to the exclusion of other religious traditions. Moreover, in many cases it has been confined to a narrow set of intellectual problems, without embedding these in their larger social, historical, and practical contexts. Why Philosophy Matters for the Study of Religion—and Vice Versa addresses this situation through a series of interventions intended to work against the gap that exists between much scholarship in philosophy of religion and important recent developments that speak to religious studies as a whole. This volume takes up what, in recent years, has often been seen as a fundamental reason for excluding religious ethics and philosophy of religion from religious studies: their explicit normativity. Against this presupposition, Thomas A. Lewis argues that normativity is pervasive—not unique to ethics and philosophy of religion—and therefore not a reason to exclude them from religious studies. Lewis bridges more philosophical and historical subfields by arguing for the importance of history to the philosophy of religion. He considers the future of religious ethics, explaining that the field as whole should learn from the methodological developments associated with recent work in comparative religious ethics and 'comparative religious ethics' should no longer be conceived as a distinct subfield. The concluding chapter engages broader, post-9/11 arguments about the importance of studying religion arguing, that prominent contemporary notions of 'religious literacy' actually hinder our ability to grasp religion's significance and impact in the world today.

More books from OUP Oxford

Cover of the book Oxford Textbook of Infectious Disease Control by Thomas A. Lewis
Cover of the book Criminal Justice and Taxation by Thomas A. Lewis
Cover of the book Economic Theory of Bank Credit by Thomas A. Lewis
Cover of the book The Oxford Handbook of Early Christian Apocrypha by Thomas A. Lewis
Cover of the book Multiple Sclerosis by Thomas A. Lewis
Cover of the book Revelation by Thomas A. Lewis
Cover of the book Advanced Respiratory Critical Care by Thomas A. Lewis
Cover of the book Samuel Beckett and the Politics of Aftermath by Thomas A. Lewis
Cover of the book Between Anarchy and Society by Thomas A. Lewis
Cover of the book The Reader in the Book by Thomas A. Lewis
Cover of the book Law: A Very Short Introduction by Thomas A. Lewis
Cover of the book The Renaissance: A Very Short Introduction by Thomas A. Lewis
Cover of the book The Oxford Handbook of Martin Luther's Theology by Thomas A. Lewis
Cover of the book Modernism, Magazines, and the British avant-garde by Thomas A. Lewis
Cover of the book The Vision of Didymus the Blind by Thomas A. Lewis
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy