Debating Christian Religious Epistemology: An Introduction to Five Views on the Knowledge of God

by John M. DePoe, Tyler Dalton McNabb

Overview

What does it mean to believe in God? What passes as evidence for belief in God? What issues arise when considering the rationality of belief in God?

Debating Christian Religious Epistemology introduces core questions in the philosophy of religion by bringing five competing viewpoints on the knowledge of God into critical dialogue with one another.

Each chapter introduces an epistemic viewpoint, providing an overview of its main arguments and explaining why it justifies belief. The validity of that viewpoint is then explored and tested in a critical response from an expert in an opposing tradition. Featuring a wide range of different philosophical positions, traditions and methods, this introduction:

- Covers classical evidentialism, phenomenal conservatism, proper functionalism, covenantal epistemology and traditions-based perspectivalism
- Draws on MacIntyre's account of rationality and ideas from the Analytic and Conservatism traditions
- Addresses issues in social epistemology
- Considers the role of religious experience and religious texts

Packed with lively debates, this is an ideal starting point for anyone interested in understanding the major positions in contemporary religious epistemology and how religious concepts and practices relate to belief and knowledge.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781350062733
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	02/06/2020
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	264
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.10(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

John M. DePoe is Academic Dean of the Schools of Logic and Rhetoric at Kingdom Preparatory Academy, USA.

Tyler Dalton McNabb is Post-Doctoral Fellow at the University of Macau, Macau.

Table of Contents

Preface ix

Introduction to Religious Epistemology John M. DePoe Tyler Dalton McNabb 1

1 Classical Evidentialism John M. DePoe 15

Responses to John M. DePoe 34

Logan Paul Gage Blake McAllister 34

Tyler Dalton McNabb 39

K. Stott Oliphint 43

Erik Baldwin 47

Response to Critics John M. DePoe 52

2 Phenomenal Conservatism Logan Paul Gage Blake McAllister 61

Responses to Logan Paul Gage and Blake McAllister 82

John M. DePoe 82

Tyler Dalton McNabb 86

K. Scott Oliphint 89

Erik Baldwin 93

Response to Critics Logan Paul Gage Blake McAllister 98

3 Proper Functionalism Tyler Dalton McNabb 107

Response to Tyler Dalton McNabb 123

John M. DePoe 123

Logan Paul Gage and Blake McAllister 128

K. Scott Oliphint 133

Erik Baldwin 136

Response to Critics Tyler Dalton McNabb 141

4 Covenantal Epistemology K. Scott Oliphint 149

Response to K. Scott Oliphint 165

John M. DePoe 165

Logan Paul Gage and Blake McAllister 170

Tyler Dalton McNabb 175

Erik Baldwin 177

Response to Critics K. Scott Oliphint 182

5 Tradition-Based Perspectivalism Erik Baldwin 191

Response to Erik Baldwin 208

John M. DePoe 208

Logan Paul Gage and Blake McAllister 213

Tyler Dalton McNabb 217

K. Scott Oliphint 220

Response to Critics Erik Baldwin 225

Works Cited 235

List of Contributors 249

Index 251

Editorial Reviews

There is perhaps no issue more debatable, and yet simultaneously more fundamental, than the question of what is it to know God. Debating Religious Epistemology is both a fantastic introduction and a great model of charitable but spirited dialogue about this fascinating topic.” —Travis Dickinson, Associate Professor of Philosophy and Christian Apologetics, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, USA

“DePoe and McNabb succeed in doing what can be especially difficult; they have managed to produce something that is both clarifying and insightful. Their book will serve as a much-needed point of reference for those interested in discussions of religious epistemology. This highly accessible contribution will be beneficial for students and scholars, alike.” —Brett Coppenger, Assistant Professor of Philosophy, Tuskegee University, USA

““Many people-including Christians and scholars-are unaware that there is a growing treasure trove of philosophical explorations in Christian epistemology: the study of how one might know, or rationally believe, that Christianity is true. In an engaging debate format, this book provides up-to-date explanations and defences of some of the main views in contemporary Christian epistemology. A careful study of the book will be personally fruitful for Christians considering the rationality of their own beliefs and will also have apologetic value in response to those who think Christian belief is stupid and irrational.”” —Andrew Moon, Assistant Professor of Philosophy, Virginia Commonwealth University, USA

“Both in-depth and accessible, this book is a valuable resource for anyone interested in the epistemology of religion and its application to Christian belief.” —Kenneth Boyce, Associate Professor of Philosophy, University of Missouri, USA

From the Publisher