The Rationality of Theism

by Paul Moser (Editor), Paul Moser (Editor)

This is a controversial collection of brand new papers by some outstanding philosophers and scholars. Its aim is to offer comprehensive theistic replies to the traditional arguments against the existence of God.

Genres: Philosophy, Religion

308 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

Reviews

[Jeremiah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven't read every last essay in this book, but everyone will be read. This book is a paragon of light in a dark philosophical world. For those who aren't aware, there has been nothing short of a revolution going on in Anglo-American philosophy over the last twenty-five years. Theists are beginning to storm the strongholds of American academia and are taking back the entire discipline of philosophy with the highest level of analytic philosophy to hit this country in over one hundred years, maybe ever. This book is a collection of essays by some of the top philsophical theists in the U.S. If you've heard of the old arguments like the Cosmological, Design, and Ontological then realize that all of the arguments in this book have been given a renewed and up-to-date overhaul. The authors have taken pains to renew the discussion about these lines of reasoning and have even revived, with intensity, many of the arguments that some thought were merely a historical artifact. Christians are waking up intellectually in this field and I can't wait to see what the future holds.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good up-to-date approach to many issues in the philosophy of religion (e.g., problem of religious language, arguments for God (natural theology), and the coherence of theism) from a contemporary, analytic perspective. Authors are all Arminian-leaning, so that affects some of the essays (negatively or positively, depending on your persuasion, I guess).

[Jeffrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Helpful introduction and essays into the philosophy of religion.

[Skepticism · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is essentially the little brother of 'The Blackwell Companion to Natural Theology'. It is both slightly broader in scope, and much more accessible, than the BCNT.


Like most compilations, I found it to be hit or miss. Some chapters are excellent, some are decent, and some are...well, skippable. I recommend at least reading the introduction and chapters 2 and 8. Chapter 6 is by William Lane Craig, and if you've read his work on the Kalam cosmological argument in other sources, this chapter is skippable. In the end, the book as a whole could have been a little better, as it doesn't make much mention of what I consider the strongest and most interesting arguments in philosophy of religion. But it's still a good overview if you find books like the BCNT too dense.

[Genni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent essays assessing what Plantinga would call the "evidence base" for theism.

Each essay provides a summary of the traditional argument for God, expands a bit on more modern versions, focuses on one or two prominent and representative criticisms, then provides a recap of why it is thought said argument succeeds over a materialistic or naturalistic worldview. Also provides two chapters on possible defeaters for theism (you can probably guess what they are).

Although the nature of essays, in general, prevents a thorough examination of each argument, a familiarity with apologetics and/or philosophical inquiry is needed, I think, before attempting this work.