The Coherence of Theism

by Richard Swinburne

Overview

This book investigates what it means, and whether it is coherent, to say that there is a God. The author concludes that, despite philosophical objections, the claims which religious believers make about God are generally coherent; and that although some important claims are coherent only if the words by which they are expressed are being used in stretched or analogical senses, this is in fact the way in which theologians have usually claimed they are being used. This revised edition includes various minor corrections and clarifications.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780191519703
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	12/29/1977
Series:	Clarendon Library of Logic and Philosophy
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	376 KB

About the Author

Richard Swinburne, University of Oxford

Richard Swinburne has taught at many universities in the UK and in various foreign countries, and continues to give lectures abroad frequently since his retirement. From 1972 to 1984 he was Professor of Philosophy at the University of Keele, after which he was Professor of Philosophy of Religion in the University of Oxford. He has written many books and papers on many areas of philosophy, especially philosophy of religion, and is a Fellow of the British Academy.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
Part I. Religious Language
2. Conditions for Coherence--Logical Possibility
3. Conditions for Coherence--Metaphysical Possibility
4. The Words of Theology--(1) Words with Old and New Senses
5. The Words of Theology--(2) Medieval and Modern Accounts
6. Attitude Theories
Part II. A Contingent God
7. An Omnipresent Spirit
8. Free and Creator of the Universe
9. Omnipotent
10. Omniscient
Appendix on Omniscience in the Bible and Christian tradition
11. Perfectly Good and a Source of Moral Obligation
12. Eternal and Immutable
Part III. A Necessary God
13. God's Necessary Properties
14. A Necessary Being
15. Holy and Worthy of Worship
Additional Notes
Index

Editorial Reviews

"Swinburne's revised edition is indeed a pleasure.... It is also good to see that [the] Clarendon Press have produced a relatively cheap paperback, for which students will certainly be grateful."—Heythrop Journal

From the Publisher