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Philosophers typically assume that the appropriate way to reflect on God's existence is to consider whether God is needed as a hypothesis to explain generally accepted facts. In contrast, David Holley proposes that the question of belief should be raised within the practical context of deciding on a life-orienting story, a narrative that enables us to interpret the significance of our experiences and functions as a guide to how to live. Using insights from sociology and cognitive psychology to illuminate the nature of religious beliefs, Holley shows how removing religious questions from their larger practical context distorts our thinking about them.
Meaning and Mystery makes abundant use of illustrative material, including examples drawn from television shows such as
Joan of Arcadia, from films such as
Stranger Than Fiction, as well as from literature such as
Les Misérables,
Life of Pi,
Flatland, and Leo Tolstoy's
A Confession. Challenging the way philosophy has traditionally approached the question of God's existence, this book will be of interest to anyone who wants to think seriously about belief in God.
List of contents
Preface. Acknowledgments.
Introduction: Does Anyone Actually Believe in God?
1 Life-Orienting Stories.
2 God of the Philosophers.
3 Reasons for Believing in God.
4 Resistance and Receptivity.
5 Belief As a Practical Issue.
6 Anthropomorphism and Mystery.
7 Naturalistic Stories.
8 Theistic and Naturalistic Morality.
9 Meaning and the Limits of Meaning.
10 Conviction, Doubt, and Humility.
Suggestions for Further Reading.
Index.
About the author
David M. Holley is Professor of Philosophy and Chair of the Department of Philosophy and Religion at the University of Southern Mississippi. His previous book,
Self-Interest and Beyond (1999), develops an account of the proper use and limits of self-interested thinking. His articles on topics in philosophy of religion, ethics, and moral psychology have appeared in numerous professional journals.
Summary
Meaning and Mystery offers a challenge to the way Philosophy has traditionally approached the issue of belief in God as a theoretical problem, proposing instead a form of reflection more appropriate to the practical nature of the issue.
