This collection of articles, written by leading contemporary philosophers of religion, is presented in celebration of the 25th anniversary of the "International Journal for Philosophy of Religion". Following the introduction, in which the editor develops the changing philosophical context for the creation and development of the journal, articles by William Rowe, William Alston and Bowman Clarke focus on the concept of God. Rowe considers what conceptions of God may fit with the tradition of American naturalism. Alston argues that irrealism is subversive of the Christian conception of God, and Bowman Clarke analyzes two different process conceptions of God and their metaphysical frameworks. Next, Richard Swinburne argues that God can allow creatures to suffer evils so long as, on balance, the package of their lives is good. The next four essays are concerned with the role of philosophical reason in the analysis of religion. John Smith argues for a position in which philosophy and religion are understood to be complementary and Robert Scharlemann analyzes and expands upon Paul Tillich's understanding of philosophy of religion.David Burrell takes up the question of the relation between reason, faith and analogical language and Merold Westphal explores the postmodern critique of metaphysics and religion. The last two essays are concerned with the issue of religious pluralism. Philip Quinn analyzes John Hick's and William Alston's approach to religious diversity and argues for an approach which does not impugn the rationality of those who lean towards thicker religious phenomenologies and thinner theologies. Robert Neville argues for a new and comparative approach to the philosophy of religion which takes into account our increased knowledge of the major religious faiths. The book also includes a 25-year index of articles and reviews published in the "International Journal for Philosophy of Religion".
