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Philosophy of Religion for a STEM Generation
Peter S. Wenz (Author)
9781394314225, Wiley
Paperback / softback, published 28 March 2025
256 pages
22.9 x 15.2 x 1.4 cm, 0.454 kg
A Fresh and Engaging Introduction to Philosophy of Religion for STEM Students Philosophy of Religion for a STEM Generation applies a new cross-disciplinary approach to the age-old questions of religion and science. Written by philosopher and educator Peter S. Wenz, this innovative textbook combines the rigor of scientific reasoning with the depth of theological inquiry, creating a unique bridge between STEM students and philosophy of religion. Using humor, pop culture, and personal narratives, Wenz considers philosophical questions surrounding the existence of God, the nature of the universe, free will, the problem of evil, and other key philosophical arguments. Fully integrating scientific theories and methods into discussions of traditional religious topics, the book not only considers the scientific worldview but also examines how science and theology can complement one another. Student-friendly chapters offer fascinating insights into how philosophical analysis and scientific evidence can converge while providing a balanced examination that makes complex ideas relatable and thought-provoking, without taking a stance on whether or not God actually exists. Philosophy of Religion for a STEM Generation is ideal for students in undergraduate Philosophy of Religion or Philosophy of Science courses, as well as all students seeking to understand religion’s role in a scientific world and explore life’s biggest questions at the intersection of science, faith, and philosophy.
Acknowledgments xi Preface xiii Introduction 1 I Didn’t Do It, Did You? 1 Preview of Chapters 8 Part 1 Ways of Knowing 13 1 How Do You Know? 15 Logic Isn’t Everything – The Limits of Coherence 15 The Ontological Argument 17 Foundationalism 20 Error Theories 21 The Crossword Puzzle Approach to Truth 24 The Crossword Approach in Science 26 2 How Can Evolution Explain Human Knowledge? 31 Evolution and Knowledge 31 Is Evolution Real? 35 God of the Gaps 37 Evolutionary Epistemology 40 Intelligent Design and the Accuracy of Human Knowledge 44 Virtual Reality and Conspiracy Theories 47 3 Can Faith Be Knowledge? 51 The Will to Believe 51 Theism and Verification 54 Faith as Metaphysics 55 Theistic Faith 58 Vindication of the Will to Believe 61 Part 2 Secular Substitutes for Theism 65 4 Was There a Beginning? 67 The Denial of a Beginning of Time 68 Does Time Pass? 68 The Denial of Time’s Passage Is Self-defeating 72 An Error Theory for the Denial of Time’s Passage 74 The Arrow of Time 76 Mathematical Infinity and the Beginning of Time 80 Could Time Have Had a Beginning? 83 Similar Weaknesses of Astrophysics and Theism 84 5 Is This a Designer Universe? 89 Scientific Recourse to Inexplicable Random Events 89 Did Something Emerge from Nothing? 95 Why Does Matter Exist Rather Than Pure Energy? 99 The Fine-tuning Argument 101 Many Common Events Are Equally Improbable 102 Our Universe May Be Only One Among Many 104 Fine-tuning May Not Be Necessary 106 An Inefficiency Argument Against Fine-tuning 107 A Futility Argument Against Fine-tuning 109 Summing Up About Creation 111 6 What Do You Have in Mind? 115 Introduction 115 Mind-Body Dualism 115 The Mind-Body Problem 117 Materialism: Behaviorism and Mind-Brain Identity 118 Scientism and the Elimination of Consciousness 123 Reductionism and Weak Emergence 127 Epiphenomenalism and Other Problems with Searle’s View 129 Machine Consciousness – Thinking Computers 130 The Strong Emergence of Consciousness 133 Panpsychism 136 Downward Causation 137 Brains as Radios – Minds as Radio Waves 139 Mysterions 140 What About Immortality? 140 7 Do We Have Freedom to Do Evil? 145 The Problem of Evil 145 Determinism and Free Will 148 Against Determinism 154 Randomness and Agent-centered Free Will 158 Part 3 The Case for and Against Theism 161 8 Does Morality Depend on God? 163 Is Morality from God Unchanging and Universal? 163 An Evolutionary Account of Morality 167 God as Guarantor of Morality 171 Does Theism Do More Good Than Harm? 173 9 Do Miracles Show that God Exists? 177 What Is a Miracle? 177 Medical Miracles and Prayers for Healing 180 Personal Benefits from Religious Participation 183 10 Do Special Experiences Show that God Exists? 187 Special and Personal Revelations 187 Mysticism 188 Verification After Death 192 Is Our Sense of God a Delusion? 193 Summing Up 197 11 Is God an Underachiever? 199 Introduction 199 Natural Evil and the Uniformity of Nature 200 The Free-Will Defense 201 Atheistic Gripes and Theistic Replies 204 Three Entries into the Cosmic Suggestion Box 206 What If God Isn’t Omnipotent? 213 Conclusion: Nobody Knows? 215 It’s Mostly a Tie 215 My Lingering Doubts about Theism 217 Notes 221 Bibliography 231 Index 237
Subject Areas: Philosophy [HP]
