The Naturalness of Belief

New Essays on Theism’s Rationality

Edited by Paul Copan and Charles Taliaferro - Contributions by Clifford Williams; Paul C. Vitz; Aku Visala; Charles Taliaferro; James S. Spiegel; Ronald Scott Smith; Graham Oppy; J.P. Moreland; Angus Menuge; Jonathan J. Loose; Jeremiah J. Johnston; Matthew Flannagan; Paul Copan; Justin L. Barrett and Robert Larmer

Despite its name, “naturalism” as a world-view turns out to be rather unnatural in its strict and more consistent form of materialism and determinism. This is why a number of naturalists opt for a broadened version that includes objective moral values, intrinsic human dignity, consciousness, beauty, personal agency, and the like. But in doing so, broad naturalism begins to look more like theism. As many strict naturalists recognize, broad naturalism must borrow from the metaphysical resources of a theistic world-view, in which such features are very natural, common sensical, and quite “at home” in a theistic framework.

The Naturalness of Belief begins with a naturalistic philosopher’s own perspective of naturalism and naturalness. The remaining chapters take a multifaceted approach in showing theism’s naturalness and greater explanatory power. They examine not only rational reasons for theism’s ability to account for consciousness, intentionality, beauty, human dignity, free will, rationality, and knowledge; they also look at common sensical, existential, psychological, and cultural reasons—in addition to the insights of the cognitive science of religion.

Lexington Books

Pages: 294 • Trim: 6¼ x 9½

978-1-4985-7990-2 • Hardback • November 2018 • $95.00 • (£73.00)

978-1-4985-7992-6 • Paperback • May 2021 • $39.99 • (£31.00)

978-1-4985-7991-9 • eBook • November 2018 • $38.00 • (£29.00)

Subjects: Philosophy / Religious, Philosophy / Movements / Rationalism, Religion / Essays, Religion / Philosophy

The Naturalness of Belief

New Essays on Theism’s Rationality

Hardback

Paperback

eBook

Summary

Despite its name, “naturalism” as a world-view turns out to be rather unnatural in its strict and more consistent form of materialism and determinism. This is why a number of naturalists opt for a broadened version that includes objective moral values, intrinsic human dignity, consciousness, beauty, personal agency, and the like. But in doing so, broad naturalism begins to look more like theism. As many strict naturalists recognize, broad naturalism must borrow from the metaphysical resources of a theistic world-view, in which such features are very natural, common sensical, and quite “at home” in a theistic framework.

The Naturalness of Belief begins with a naturalistic philosopher’s own perspective of naturalism and naturalness. The remaining chapters take a multifaceted approach in showing theism’s naturalness and greater explanatory power. They examine not only rational reasons for theism’s ability to account for consciousness, intentionality, beauty, human dignity, free will, rationality, and knowledge; they also look at common sensical, existential, psychological, and cultural reasons—in addition to the insights of the cognitive science of religion.

Details

Lexington Books

Pages: 294 • Trim: 6¼ x 9½

978-1-4985-7990-2 • Hardback • November 2018 • $95.00 • (£73.00)

978-1-4985-7992-6 • Paperback • May 2021 • $39.99 • (£31.00)

978-1-4985-7991-9 • eBook • November 2018 • $38.00 • (£29.00)

Subjects: Philosophy / Religious, Philosophy / Movements / Rationalism, Religion / Essays, Religion / Philosophy

Author

Paul Copan is professor and Pledger Family Chair of Philosophy and Ethics at Palm Beach Atlantic University.

Charles Taliaferro is professor of philosophy at St. Olaf College.

Table of Contents

Introduction

Part I: The Unnaturalness of Naturalism?

1. Naturalism and Naturalness: A Naturalist’s Perspective —Graham Oppy

Part II: Foundational Considerations

2. Is Naturalism Natural? —Charles Taliaferro

3. The Contraction and Expansion of Naturalism and the Theistic Challenge —Charles Taliaferro

4. Taking Philosophical Naturalism Seriously —R. Scott Smith

Part III: Theistic Belief, Science, and Naturalism

5. In What Sense Might Religion Be Natural? —Justin Barrett and Aku Visala

6. Science, Methodological Naturalism, and Question-Begging —Robert Larmer

Part IV: Axiology and Naturalism

7. Alienating Humanity: How Evolutionary Ethics Undermines Human Rights —Angus Menuge

8. Divine Commands, Duties, and Euthyphro: Theism and Naturalist Misunderstandings —Matthew Flannagan

9. Beauty: A Troubling Reality for the Scientific Naturalist —R. Douglas Geivett and James Spiegel

Part V: Naturalism and Existential Considerations

10. Existential Arguments for Theistic Belief —Clifford Williams

11. Psychological Factors Contributing to Atheism: Bad Father Relationships and Just Bad Relationships as in Autistic Spectrum Disorders —Paul C. Vitz

12. The Cultural Implications of Theism versus Naturalism —Paul Copan and Jeremiah J. Johnston

Part VI: Naturalism, Freedom, and Immortality

13. Theism, Robust Naturalism, and Robust Libertarian Free Will —J.P. Moreland

14. Naturalism, Theism, and Afterlife Beliefs —Jonathan Loose

Reviews

These fourteen original, cutting-edge essays are an admirable contribution to one of the most important questions of our time: is theism or naturalism the more natural, fitting worldview? For anyone interested in that question, this book is a must-read.
— Stephen T. Davis, Claremont McKenna College

This fine new book on naturalism and theism offers new perspectives on this debate from a wide-ranging set of perspectives, ranging from morality to aesthetics to psychology and philosophy of mind. The essays are first-rate, and the arguments presented are powerful. This book ought to unsettle those who take a naturalistic worldview as somehow just a "common sense" view that is supported by science. Naturalism turns out to be a profoundly unnatural view of reality.
— C. Stephen Evans, Baylor University and the University of St. Andrews

This fresh collection of essays on the naturalness of theistic belief is a philosophical feast. Crafted by leading thinkers tackling a plethora of related topics, this book engages with the most recent arguments and evidences from philosophy, physics, cognitive science, psychology, and other disciplines. It will be an invaluable resource for scholars, students, and anyone interested in grappling with the fundamental issue of whether belief in God is natural and reasonable.
— Chad Meister, Bethel College