Engaging Philosophies of Religion

How can philosophy of religion become more diverse in content and method? How can we take a multiplicity of stories into account and teach a truly inclusive philosophy of religion?

It is now openly acknowledged that if we do not change the underlying framework of the way we do philosophy of religion, we will always create subalterns. Here is an invitation to rethink Philosophy of Religion. Engaging with texts and thinkers from multiple traditions, this book offers 18 distinct approaches to doing Philosophy of Religion and presents an opportunity to change Philosophy of Religion at a fundamental level.

Drawing on religions and philosophies from across history and around the world, each chapter outlines a framework for approaching religion from a different standpoint: monotheism in Christianity, Qi in Daoism, embodiment in neuroscience, naturalism in the atheism debates, and non-territorialism in 19th-century debates on cartography.

Contributors identify the many philosophical systems that guide metaphysical and moral truths and adhere to the principle that traditions are not monolithic but diverse. They recognise that categories such as “indigenous religions” are political rather than descriptive in nature.

Innovative and forward-looking, this collection constructs a new method and terminology that promotes active interaction. It is essential reading for students and teachers looking for a new way of doing Philosophy of Religion.

Gereon Kopf is Professor of East Asian Religions and Philosophy of Religion at Luther College, USA. He is the Editor of the Journal of Buddhist Studies.

Purushottama Bilimoria Adjunct Lecturer at the California State University, USA and Principal Fellow of Historical and Philosophical Studies at The University of Melbourne, Australia. He is Senior Fellow Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies and Editor-in-Chief of Sophia, Journal of Philosophy of Religion.