Ten Essential Texts in the Philosophy of Religion: Classics and Contemporary Issues [Paperback]

Steven M. Cahn (Editor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0195171004 | ISBN-13: 978-0195171006 | Publication Date: August 26, 2004

Offering a new approach to teaching the philosophy of religion, this anthology is organized around ten of the most widely read texts in the field. Presented in their entirety, these classics serve as a framework for a variety of accessible contemporary essays that are also included. The book's unique structure gives students the opportunity to study in depth complete historical works while also conveying a sense of how today's philosophers have explored related issues. Editor Steven M. Cahn has annotated each text to clarify all unfamiliar references. He has also provided introductions that contain biographical profiles of the authors and philosophical commentaries on their writings.
Ten Essential Texts in the Philosophy of Religion: Classics and Contemporary Issues may be supplemented by Questions about God: Today's Philosophers Ponder the Divine, a provocative collection of recent articles on the nature of God, edited by Steven M. Cahn and David Shatz (OUP, 2002).

Ten Essential Texts in the Philosophy of Religion includes the following unabridged classic works:

Euthyphro, Plato
The Consolation of Philosophy, Boethius
Proslogion, Anselm; On Behalf of the Fool, Gaunilo: and Reply to Gaunilo, Anselm
Summa Theologiae, Thomas Aquinas
Of Miracles, David Hume
Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion, David Hume
Concluding Unscientific Postscript, S�ren Kierkegaard
The Will to Believe, William James
The Varieties of Religious Experience, William James
Theology and Falsification, Antony Flew, R.M. Hare, and Basil Mitchell

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A good collection of classic texts in the philosophy of religion. The contemporary discussions help to bring out both the depth of the arguments and some problems inherent in them."--James M. Jacobs, Notre Dame Seminary

"After twenty-five years of teaching the philosophy of religion, I now have a text that covers what needs to be covered and is accessible to non-majors."--Donald Hatcher, Baker University

About the Author

Steven M. Cahn is at Graduate School and University Center, City University of New York.

Product Details

• Paperback: 528 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (August 26, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0195171004
• ISBN-13: 978-0195171006
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #95,775 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Steven M. Cahn a Professor of Philosophy at the City University of New York Graduate Center in New York City.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ten Essential Original Texts, July 15, 2008

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David Ross "Cook, Chemist, Nurse" (Rochester, NY USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Ten Essential Texts in the Philosophy of Religion: Classics and Contemporary Issues (Paperback)

This is a wonderful selection containing ten essential original texts in the philosophy of religion. It is organized into ten sections with the original essential texts generally followed by modern responses either directly to the texts or addressed to the important issues addressed by the texts. The first text is Plato's Euthyphro with a modern response "God and Moral Authority" by James Rachels. Similarly David Hume's argument against miracles (Of Miracles) is followed by Richard Swinburne's modern defense of miracles: (Miracles). As final example: Anselm's ontological argument for the existence of God is accompanied by Kant's key dispute of the ontological argument. Search inside the book (Table of Contents) if you want to see all the authors and article titles.

These are very well selected original texts and responses dealing with many key questions in the philosophy of religion. Much better to read them here than in a second hand recounting by someone else. They are accesible to college level readers and one need not be a philosophy major to understand the major points. Keep in mind that this is fairly dense stuff by its very nature however.

1 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Ten Essential Texts, October 5, 2005

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Courtney Cline - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Ten Essential Texts in the Philosophy of Religion: Classics and Contemporary Issues (Paperback)

The book was exactly as described and better. Great condition. It came sooner than I expected. Love the service! Thank you!