Philosophy of Religion: An Anthology

This comprehensive anthology assembles classical and contemporary texts addressing fundamental questions in the philosophy of religion, providing students and scholars with essential readings on arguments for and against the existence of God. Pojman structures the volume to present competing perspectives on each major topic, allowing readers to engage with the strongest formulations of both theistic and atheistic positions.

The collection opens with traditional arguments for God's existence, featuring historical texts from Anselm, Aquinas, and Paley alongside modern reformulations and critiques. For the cosmological argument, Pojman includes both classical versions from medieval philosophy and contemporary debates about the principle of sufficient reason and the possibility of actual infinites. The ontological argument section traces developments from Anselm through Descartes to Plantinga's modal version, paired with objections from Gaunilo, Kant, and recent critics. Design argument selections range from Paley's watchmaker analogy to modern fine-tuning arguments, balanced by Humean skepticism and evolutionary explanations.

Pojman devotes substantial space to the problem of evil, recognizing it as perhaps the most formidable challenge to theism. The anthology presents both logical and evidential formulations of the problem, including contributions from Mackie and Rowe, alongside theodicies from Augustine, Hick, and Plantinga's free will defense. This balanced treatment allows readers to assess whether successful theodicies can reconcile omnipotent benevolence with observed suffering.

The volume's final sections examine epistemological issues surrounding religious belief. Selections on faith and reason include Pascal's wager, James on the will to believe, and Clifford's evidentialist critique, while contemporary debates feature reformed epistemology and the rationality of belief without evidence. Pojman includes readings on religious experience, miracles, and the relationship between science and religion, acknowledging the broader cultural context of these philosophical disputes.

By presenting opposing viewpoints on each topic without editorial bias, Pojman enables readers to evaluate arguments on their merits. The anthology's analytical approach emphasizes clarity of argumentation over confessional commitments, making it valuable for both believers and skeptics seeking rigorous philosophical engagement with religious questions. This pedagogical neutrality, combined with the breadth of perspectives represented, establishes the volume as an essential resource for courses in philosophy of religion and for anyone seeking to understand the rational foundations of debates about God's existence and nature.