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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.
Contents
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
