Philosophy of Religion: The Basics

Samuel Lebens teaches philosophy at the University of Haifa. His previous books are Bertrand Russell and the Nature of Propositions (Routledge, 2017) and The Principles of Judaism (Oxford UP, 2020). His research interests span metaphysics, philosophy of fiction, philosophy of religion, and more. He is also an Orthodox Rabbi. His website is www.samlebens.com .

"This work serves as an excellent introduction to the philosophy of religion in the twenty-first century. Samuel Lebens masterfully presents a highly accessible discussion of emerging topics in the field, such as religious diversity and religious practices, as well as surveying classical topics, such as the problem of evil and the existence and nature of God. Readers of this book will discover how intriguing and thought-provoking the philosophy of religion is."Yujin Nagasawa, University of Birmingham"Lebens’ sophisticated yet informal treatment of his theme – both challenging and inviting – helps his audience to appreciate how disputed topics can be addressed rigorously and our understanding of them significantly clarified and improved. It also provides a fine example of how to proceed with mutual benefit even in the face of significant disagreement. That unfortunate and all-too-common assumption – that we just can’t make significant headway in thinking or arguing about matters religious – would be a nearly impossible lesson to take away after a careful reading of this book."Hud Hudson, Western Washington University

• Introduction, 1. What is Religion?, 2. Religious Language, 3. Arguments for the Existence of God (or something Godlike), 4. Arguments for Specific Religions, 5. Arguments Against God and Religious Belief, 6. On Religion and Ethics, 7. Religious Rituals and practices, 8. Religion, Pluralism, and the State