Philosophy of Religion Routledge宗教哲学劳特利奇.pptVIP

Philosophy of Religion Michael Lacewing enquiries@alevelphilosophy.co.uk Two central questions What does it mean to talk of, or believe in, God? Is talk about God talk about something that exists independently of us? Or a way of talking about life? Does ‘God exists’ state something that can be true or false? Or express an attitude? Does God exist? Can we answer this question by argument? THE NATURE OF RELIGIOUS BELIEF AND LANGUAGE Belief-that Standard analysis: content + attitude Content: what the person believes, given by a proposition E.g. ‘He believes that elephants are grey.’ Belief-that aims at truth: To believe that p is to believe that p is true. ‘I believe him’ = ‘I believe that what he says is true’ ‘I believe that he is trustworthy/sincere’ Belief in ‘I believe in God’ = ‘I believe that God exists’? ‘I believe in love’ Not belief-that (no truth claim), but faith, trust, commitment Religious belief Does belief in God presuppose belief that God exists? Yes: you can’t believe in a person if you think they don’t exist No: you don’t have believe that love exists (literally) to believe in love What is more basic in religious belief? Should belief-that be analysed as (really) belief-in or vice-versa? Does ‘God exists’ state a fact? Not tested against empirical experience Not purely intellectual Theism not acquired by argument or evidence Religious ‘belief’ is belief-in, an attitude or commitment, towards life, others, history, morality… a way of living. Objections Different religions can prescribe similar ways of life while arguing for different beliefs about God Orthodoxy (right belief) has been thought very important What supports or justifies the attitude if not beliefs about how things are? Perhaps religions distinguished by their stories But stories don’t justify commitments This approach makes religion too subjective Traditional belief ‘God exists’ is objectively true or false. ‘God’ refers to a being (in some sense) that exists independently of us, and