INTRODUCTION 7closely related to the status of persons in a religion’s conception of
salvation or enlightenment. Faith typically involves belief or acceptance of
some propositions. In monotheism this is accompanied by trust in God. We
offer an account of a relationship between reason, or rational assessment,
and faith, or acceptance of a religious worldview.
Along the way other issues arise. For example, the existence and nature
of human freedom and the relationship between divine foreknowledge and
human freedom come up for consideration. Of course, not everything in
Philosophy of Religion is discussed here. A wide range of issues are
covered. The methods used in covering them apply to the other issues as
well.
As the reader will discover, there is an overall argument in what follows.
Each chapter makes its own contribution to that argument. “Philosophy”
refers to a long tradition of texts, ideas, arguments, and worldviews. It also
refers to the effort we make to assess the contents of these texts, ideas,
arguments, and worldviews. In philosophy, “old” is not to be equated with
“outdated” let alone with “false.” “New” is not to be equated with “better”
let alone with “true.” Neither can we assume that what is old is true. For
one thing, there are lots of claims that have been made for some time, and
some are incompatible with others. Further, lots of claims that have been
made for a long time are false.
Introducing someone to Philosophy, or increasing their acquaintance
with it, typically and properly involves exposing her to some of the ideas,
arguments, and worldviews philosophers (and others) have accepted. It also
involves engaging her in an effort to rationally assess these ideas,
arguments, and worldviews. The author’s view is that the best way to do
this is not simply to say “Here is this argument, here is that one, and
people disagree” but to offer a sustained assessment of competing claims
and arguments for those claims. Philosophy is best learned by informed
philosophizing. Informed philosophizing is best learned by observing
someone philosophizing and joining in the endeavor. The purpose of this
book is to provide material for the student who wants to learn what it is to
do philosophy as well as learning what it is that philosophers do.