Religion / Robert Cummings Neville.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Neville, Robert C., author.

Series:

Neville, Robert C. Philosophical theology ; v. 3.

Philosophical theology ; volume 3

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Religion--Philosophy.

Religion.

Religions.

Philosophical theology.

Physical Description:

xxv, 395 pages ; 24 cm.

Place of Publication:

Albany : State University of New York Press, [2015]

Summary:

Religion is the third and final volume in Robert Cummings Neville's systematic development of a new philosophical theology. Unfolding through Ms earlier volumes, Ultimatesl and Existence, and now in Religion, philosophical theology considers first-order questions generally treated by religious traditions through philosophical methods while reflecting Neville's long engagement with philosophy, theology, and Eastern and Western religious traditions. In this capstone to the trilogy, Neville provides a theory of religion and presents a sacred worldview to guide religious participation. His philosophical theory of value enlightens religions' approaches to ethics, spirituality, and religious institutional living and collaboration. With a detailed examination of plausibility conditions for sacred worldviews, the book concludes with an exploration of "religionless religion" for which institutions of religion are of penultimate value. Through the development of philosophical theology, Neville has built a unique, multidisciplinary, comparative, nonconfessional theological system, one that addresses concerns and provides tools for scientific and humanistic scholars of religion, postmodern thinkers, intellectuals from both secular and religious backgrounds, and those interested in the global state of religion today. Book jacket.

Contents:

I Theology for Whom? 1

II The Question of Truth in Popular Religion 5

III Explaining Religion 10

IV Understanding Religion 13

Part I Understanding Religion

Part I Preliminary Remarks 21

Chapter 1 Science and Culture 25

I Cognitive Science with Evolutionary Biology 25

II Social Science and Phenomenological Understandings of Religion 33

III Evolution and Semiotics 40

IV The Cultural Evolution of Religion 43

Chapter 2 Axial Age Religion 47

I The Axial Age Revolution 47

II The Tribal Underground of Axial Age Religion 53

III Religious Membership and Practice 56

IV Sacred Worldviews of Axial Age Religions 60

Chapter 3 Theology and the Religious Situation 65

I Confessional Theologies 65

II Interpreting between Transcendence and Intimacy 69

III Back-Reading History 72

IV The Religious Situation 75

Chapter 4 A Viable Sacred Canopy 79

I The Problem of Transcendent and Intimate Symbols 79

II Transcetident Concepts of Ultimacy 83

III The Critical Interpretation of Intimate Symbols of Ultimacy 88

IV The Religious Situation and the Axial Age 92

Part I Summary Implications 97

Part II Historical Religions

Part II Preliminary Remarks 103

Chapter 5 Abrahamic Religions 109

Prologue 109

I Form/value/Possibilities/Obligation 111

II Components/Groundedness/Wholeness 116

III Existential Location/Engagement/Love 119

IV Absolute Value-Identity 122

Chapter 6 Buddhism 127

Prologue 127

I Form/value/Possibilities/Obligation 131

II Components/Groundedness/Wholeness 133

III Existential Location/Engagement/Love 137

IV Absolute Value-Identity 139

Chapter 7 Hinduism 143

Prologue 143

I Form/Value/Possibilities/ Obligation 147

II Components/Groundedness/Wholeness 149

III Existential Location/Engagement/Love 152

IV Absolute Value-Identity 155

Chapter 8 Chinese Religion 159

Prologue 159

I Form/Value/Possibilities/Obligation 161

II Components/Groundedness/Wholeness 164

III Existential Location/Engagement/Love 166

IV Absolute Value-Identity 169

Part II Summary Implications 173

Part III Normative Religion

Part III Preliminary Remarks 179

Chapter 9 Value 181

I Differential Value in a Purposeless Cosmos 181

II The Formal Nature of Value 185

III The Actualization of Value: Future, Present, Past 191

IV Obligation, Responsibility, and Conjoint Action 194

Chapter 10 Religious Ethics 199

I The Religious Dimension of Ethics 199

II Religious Values 201

III Ritual Forms of Normative Action 210

IV Minimal Ethics, Freedom, and Life Abundant 212

Chapter 11 Spirituality 215

I Wisdom: A Spirituality of Form and Choice 217

II Discipline: A Spirituality of Groundedness and Comportment 219

III Desire: A Spirituality of Existential Location 222

IV Excellence: A Spirituality of Value-Identity 225

Chapter 12 Religious Companionship 231

I Semiotic Space 233

II Religious Community Defined 235

III Critical Belonging 238

IV Ultimate Belonging 242

Part III Summary Implications 245

Part IV Religionless Religion

Part IV Preliminary Remarks 249

Chapter 13 The Plausibility of Sacred Worldviews 253

I Consistency with Knowledge 254

II Appropriateness for Predicaments and Ecstatic Fulfillments 257

III Sustaining Intimacy and Transcendence in Symbols 261

IV Authority in Orientation 265

Chapter 14 The Implausibility of Sacred Worldviews 269

I Consistency and Science 269

II Appropriateness for a Global Society 273

III Transcendence and Intimacy in a Purposeless Cosmos 276

IV Authority, Fallibility, and Containment 279

Chapter 15 Imploding Worldviews and Ontological Predicaments 283

I Cosmological and Ontological Boundary Conditions 283

II Apophasis and Kataphasis 286

III The Desperation of Meaning-Making 290

IV Terror of the Infinite 293

Chapter 16 Ontological Salvation and Ecstatic Fulfillment 299

I The Dao Cannot Be Named 299

II "To action alone hast thou a right and never at all to its fruit" 302

III "Love your enemies" 304

IV This Is Not the Only Time or Place 306

Part IV Summary Implications 309.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9781438456997

1438456999

OCLC:

888400990