The Routledge Companion to Philosophy of Religion

This comprehensive edited volume provides a systematic overview of contemporary philosophy of religion, bringing together leading scholars to examine both traditional and emerging questions in the field. The collection demonstrates the discipline's evolution beyond its historically Christian-centric focus to engage with diverse religious traditions and contemporary philosophical developments.

The volume's structure reflects philosophy of religion's expanding scope. Traditional topics receive rigorous treatment: contributors examine classical arguments for God's existence, including ontological, cosmological, and teleological arguments, while also addressing the problem of evil, divine attributes, and religious epistemology. These discussions incorporate recent philosophical innovations, showing how contemporary modal logic, probability theory, and epistemology have transformed classical debates. The treatment of divine attributes explores not only omnipotence, omniscience, and perfect goodness, but also emerging discussions about divine temporality, passibility, and God's relationship to abstract objects.

Significantly, the companion extends beyond Western theism to include substantial engagement with non-Christian traditions. Chapters on Jewish, Islamic, Hindu, and Buddhist philosophy of religion demonstrate how different theological frameworks generate distinct philosophical questions and approaches. This comparative dimension reveals how culturally specific many supposedly universal philosophical problems actually are, while also identifying genuinely cross-cultural philosophical concerns about ultimate reality, religious experience, and salvation.

The volume addresses philosophy of religion's intersection with other philosophical subdisciplines and contemporary issues. Contributors explore how religious questions relate to ethics, philosophy of science, philosophy of language, and political philosophy. Chapters on religious pluralism, feminist philosophy of religion, and religion's role in public life reflect the field's engagement with pressing contemporary concerns. The inclusion of both theistic and non-theistic perspectives throughout ensures balanced treatment of contested issues.

Methodologically, the companion showcases philosophy of religion's diversity, including analytic, continental, and comparative approaches. While maintaining philosophical rigor, contributors acknowledge the existential and practical dimensions of religious questions. The volume serves multiple audiences: advanced undergraduates encountering philosophy of religion systematically, graduate students requiring comprehensive reference material, and scholars seeking authoritative treatments of specific topics. By presenting philosophy of religion as a living discipline engaged with both perennial questions and contemporary challenges, this companion demonstrates the field's continued vitality and relevance to broader philosophical inquiry.