Society and God: Culture and Creed from a Philosophical Standpoint
Where should God be in thinking about society, or society in thinking about God? This book shows how philosophy can help non-philosophers with these questions. It shows that intelligence is the product, not the source, of society and language, and the rationality of individuals is inevitably conditioned by the distinctive customs and beliefs of their societies. Addressing the idea that religion can impede the smooth running of society, it argues that the Western concept of religion is taken from Christianity and cannot usefully be extended to non-European cultures. But any society will be threatened by a sub-society with customs conflicting with those of the whole in which it exists, and Jews, Christians and Muslims have sometimes formed such sub-societies. Charlton proceeds to consider how our dependence upon society fits with traditional beliefs about creation, salvation and life after death, and offers a synthesis that is new without being unorthodox. He indicates where Christian customs concerning birth, death, sex and education conflict with those of secular liberalism and considers which culture, Christian or secular liberal, has the better chance of prevailing in a globalised world.
1136281511
Society and God: Culture and Creed from a Philosophical Standpoint
Where should God be in thinking about society, or society in thinking about God? This book shows how philosophy can help non-philosophers with these questions. It shows that intelligence is the product, not the source, of society and language, and the rationality of individuals is inevitably conditioned by the distinctive customs and beliefs of their societies. Addressing the idea that religion can impede the smooth running of society, it argues that the Western concept of religion is taken from Christianity and cannot usefully be extended to non-European cultures. But any society will be threatened by a sub-society with customs conflicting with those of the whole in which it exists, and Jews, Christians and Muslims have sometimes formed such sub-societies. Charlton proceeds to consider how our dependence upon society fits with traditional beliefs about creation, salvation and life after death, and offers a synthesis that is new without being unorthodox. He indicates where Christian customs concerning birth, death, sex and education conflict with those of secular liberalism and considers which culture, Christian or secular liberal, has the better chance of prevailing in a globalised world.
109.0 In Stock
Society and God: Culture and Creed from a Philosophical Standpoint

Society and God: Culture and Creed from a Philosophical Standpoint

by William Charlton
Society and God: Culture and Creed from a Philosophical Standpoint

Society and God: Culture and Creed from a Philosophical Standpoint

by William Charlton

Hardcover

$109.00 
  • SHIP THIS ITEM
    Ships in 6-10 days
  • PICK UP IN STORE

    Your local store may have stock of this item.

Related collections and offers


Overview

Where should God be in thinking about society, or society in thinking about God? This book shows how philosophy can help non-philosophers with these questions. It shows that intelligence is the product, not the source, of society and language, and the rationality of individuals is inevitably conditioned by the distinctive customs and beliefs of their societies. Addressing the idea that religion can impede the smooth running of society, it argues that the Western concept of religion is taken from Christianity and cannot usefully be extended to non-European cultures. But any society will be threatened by a sub-society with customs conflicting with those of the whole in which it exists, and Jews, Christians and Muslims have sometimes formed such sub-societies. Charlton proceeds to consider how our dependence upon society fits with traditional beliefs about creation, salvation and life after death, and offers a synthesis that is new without being unorthodox. He indicates where Christian customs concerning birth, death, sex and education conflict with those of secular liberalism and considers which culture, Christian or secular liberal, has the better chance of prevailing in a globalised world.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9780227177006
Publisher: James Clarke & Co
Publication date: 01/30/2020
Pages: 196
Product dimensions: 6.10(w) x 9.17(h) x (d)

About the Author

William Charlton studied Classics and Philosophy at Oxford, and taught Philosophy at the Universities of Trinity College, Dublin, Newcastle and Edinburgh. He has written books on metaphysics, philosophy of religion, philosophy of mind and aesthetics, and contributed volumes to the Clarendon Aristotle series and the Ancient Commentators series.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements vii

1 A Philosophical Standpoint 1

2 Does Society Exist? 9

3 Social Life, Egoism and Altruism 21

4 What Is Religion? 37

5 The Divine Virtue of Faith 48

6 Natural Science and Creation 59

7 Atomism and Holism in Soteriology 78

8 The Christian Soul 95

9 Life After Death 107

10 Questions of Life and Death 123

11 Sex and Natural Law 136

12 Education and Multiculturalism 158

Bibliography 179

Index

From the B&N Reads Blog

Customer Reviews