Meaning and Mystery offers a challenge to the way Philosophy
has traditionally approached the issue of belief in God as a
theoretical problem, proposing instead a form of reflection more
appropriate to the practical nature of the issue.
* Makes use of abundant illustrative material, from both
literature, such as Les Misérables, Edwin Abott’s
Flatland, Yann Martel’s Life of Pi and Leo
Tolstoy’s A Confession, and popular culture, such as
advertisements, the television series Joan of Arcadia and
the film Stranger Than Fiction
* Uses imaginative scenarios to offer explanations of central
concepts
* Incorporates theories on human thought and behavior in
exploring the formation of religious belief
* Written in a style that is accessible to readers with little
background knowledge of philosophy
Table of Content
Preface.
Acknowledgments.
Introduction: Does Anyone Actually Believe in God?
1 Life-Orienting Stories.
2 God of the Philosophers.
3 Reasons for Believing in God.
4 Resistance and Receptivity.
5 Belief As a Practical Issue.
6 Anthropomorphism and Mystery.
7 Naturalistic Stories.
8 Theistic and Naturalistic Morality.
9 Meaning and the Limits of Meaning.
10 Conviction, Doubt, and Humility.
Suggestions for Further Reading.
Index.
About the author
David M. Holley is Professor of Philosophy and Chair of the Department of Philosophy and Religion at the University of Southern Mississippi. His previous book, Self-Interest and Beyond (1999), develops an account of the proper use and limits of self-interested thinking. His articles on topics in philosophy of religion, ethics, and moral psychology have appeared in numerous professional journals.
More ebooks from the same author(s) / Editor
44,019 Ebooks in this category
