Philosophy of Religion for a STEM Generation

1. Auflage 2025
ISBN: 978-1-394-31422-5
Verlag: John Wiley & Sons Inc

Buch, Englisch, 256 Seiten, Format (B × H): 229 mm x 151 mm, Gewicht: 376 g

A Fresh and Engaging Introduction to Philosophy of Religion for STEM Students

Philosophy of Religion for a STEM Generation applies a new cross-disciplinary approach to the age-old questions of religion and science. Written by philosopher and educator Peter S. Wenz, this innovative textbook combines the rigor of scientific reasoning with the depth of theological inquiry, creating a unique bridge between STEM students and philosophy of religion. Using humor, pop culture, and personal narratives, Wenz considers philosophical questions surrounding the existence of God, the nature of the universe, free will, the problem of evil, and other key philosophical arguments.

Fully integrating scientific theories and methods into discussions of traditional religious topics, the book not only considers the scientific worldview but also examines how science and theology can complement one another. Student-friendly chapters offer fascinating insights into how philosophical analysis and scientific evidence can converge while providing a balanced examination that makes complex ideas relatable and thought-provoking, without taking a stance on whether or not God actually exists.

Philosophy of Religion for a STEM Generation is ideal for students in undergraduate Philosophy of Religion or Philosophy of Science courses, as well as all students seeking to understand religion’s role in a scientific world and explore life’s biggest questions at the intersection of science, faith, and philosophy.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Wenz, Peter S.

Fachgebiete

• Geisteswissenschaften Philosophie Religionsphilosophie, Philosophische Theologie
• Geisteswissenschaften Philosophie Philosophie: Allgemeines, Methoden
• Geisteswissenschaften Religionswissenschaft Religionswissenschaft Allgemein Religionsphilosophie, Philosophische Theologie
• Geisteswissenschaften Philosophie Geschichte der Westlichen Philosophie

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Acknowledgments xi

Preface xiii

Introduction 1

I Didn’t Do It, Did You? 1

Preview of Chapters 8

Part 1 Ways of Knowing 13

1 How Do You Know? 15

Logic Isn’t Everything – The Limits of Coherence 15

The Ontological Argument 17

Foundationalism 20

Error Theories 21

The Crossword Puzzle Approach to Truth 24

The Crossword Approach in Science 26

2 How Can Evolution Explain Human Knowledge? 31

Evolution and Knowledge 31

Is Evolution Real? 35

God of the Gaps 37

Evolutionary Epistemology 40

Intelligent Design and the Accuracy of Human Knowledge 44

Virtual Reality and Conspiracy Theories 47

3 Can Faith Be Knowledge? 51

The Will to Believe 51

Theism and Verification 54

Faith as Metaphysics 55

Theistic Faith 58

Vindication of the Will to Believe 61

Part 2 Secular Substitutes for Theism 65

4 Was There a Beginning? 67

The Denial of a Beginning of Time 68

Does Time Pass? 68

The Denial of Time’s Passage Is Self-defeating 72

An Error Theory for the Denial of Time’s Passage 74

The Arrow of Time 76

Mathematical Infinity and the Beginning of Time 80

Could Time Have Had a Beginning? 83

Similar Weaknesses of Astrophysics and Theism 84

5 Is This a Designer Universe? 89

Scientific Recourse to Inexplicable Random Events 89

Did Something Emerge from Nothing? 95

Why Does Matter Exist Rather Than Pure Energy? 99

The Fine-tuning Argument 101

Many Common Events Are Equally Improbable 102

Our Universe May Be Only One Among Many 104

Fine-tuning May Not Be Necessary 106

An Inefficiency Argument Against Fine-tuning 107

A Futility Argument Against Fine-tuning 109

Summing Up About Creation 111

6 What Do You Have in Mind? 115

Introduction 115

Mind-Body Dualism 115

The Mind-Body Problem 117

Materialism: Behaviorism and Mind-Brain Identity 118

Scientism and the Elimination of Consciousness 123

Reductionism and Weak Emergence 127

Epiphenomenalism and Other Problems with Searle’s View 129

Machine Consciousness – Thinking Computers 130

The Strong Emergence of Consciousness 133

Panpsychism 136

Downward Causation 137

Brains as Radios – Minds as Radio Waves 139

Mysterions 140

What About Immortality? 140

7 Do We Have Freedom to Do Evil? 145

The Problem of Evil 145

Determinism and Free Will 148

Against Determinism 154

Randomness and Agent-centered Free Will 158

Part 3 The Case for and Against Theism 161

8 Does Morality Depend on God? 163

Is Morality from God Unchanging and Universal? 163

An Evolutionary Account of Morality 167

God as Guarantor of Morality 171

Does Theism Do More Good Than Harm? 173

9 Do Miracles Show that God Exists? 177

What Is a Miracle? 177

Medical Miracles and Prayers for Healing 180

Personal Benefits from Religious Participation 183

10 Do Special Experiences Show that God Exists? 187

Special and Personal Revelations 187

Mysticism 188

Verification After Death 192

Is Our Sense of God a Delusion? 193

Summing Up 197

11 Is God an Underachiever? 199

Introduction 199

Natural Evil and the Uniformity of Nature 200

The Free-Will Defense 201

Atheistic Gripes and Theistic Replies 204

Three Entries into the Cosmic Suggestion Box 206

What If God Isn’t Omnipotent? 213

Conclusion: Nobody Knows? 215

It’s Mostly a Tie 215

My Lingering Doubts about Theism 217

Notes 221

Bibliography 231

Index 237

Über Autor(innen)

PETER S. WENZ is Emeritus Professor of Philosophy and University Scholar at the University of Illinois Springfield. With over 50 years of teaching experience, he has authored ten books on environmental ethics, political philosophy, and the philosophy of religion. His academic work is widely respected for its depth and interdisciplinary approach, and he has contributed extensively to both philosophy and public discourse.