Transcendence (Critical Realism: Interventions

by Margaret S. Archer

Atheism as a belief does not have to present intellectual credentials within academia. Yet to hold beliefs means giving reasons for doing so, ones which may be found wanting. Instead, atheism is the automatic default setting within the academic world.

Conversely, religious belief confronts a double standard. Religious believers are not permitted to make truth claims but are instead forced to present their beliefs as part of one language game amongst many. Religious truth claims are expected to satisfy empiricist criteria of evidence but when they fail, as they must, religious belief becomes subject to the hermeneutics of suspicion.

This book explores religious experience as a justifiable reason for religious belief. It uniquely demonstrates that the three pillars of critical realism - ontological intransitivity, epistemic relativity and judgemental rationality - can be applied to religion as to any other beliefs or theories.

The three authors are critical realists by philosophical position. They seek to establish a level playing field between religion and secular ideas, which has not existed in the academic world for some generations, in order for reasoned debate to be conducted.

Genres: Philosophy

194 pages, Paperback

First published June 15, 2004

About the author

Margaret Scotford Archer was an English sociologist, who spent most of her academic career at the University of Warwick.

Reviews

[Mike Wenzel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thought-provoking and encouraging book. A little bit above my philosophy reading level but what I did understand was great.

[Zainal Bagir · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good read in philosophy of religion. It tries to be in the middle way between naive realism and anti-realism, 'objectivism' and relativism, etc. Some chapters (like the one on Maters of Suspicion and inter-religious dialogue) are quite refreshing--it also shows what a new perspective can do to old issues. As such it is also a nice book to be used in philosophy of religion class. (I use it in my class; the book helps to show the contrasts produced by different perspectives--realist, anti-realist/constructionist and critical realist).