1st Edition
Challenging the New Atheism Pragmatic Confrontations in the Philosophy of Religion
1. The New Atheism: A Threefold Challenge
2. Contemporary Philosophy of Religion vs. The Threefold Challenge
3. Modern Origins of the Threefold Challenge
4. A Postmodern Approach to the Truth and Meaning Challenges
5. Challenging Meaning: Pragmatic Reflections on Metaphilosophical Issues
6. Integration and “More Than Pragmatist” Philosophy of Religion
Biography
Aaron Lawrence Breiter Pratt Shepherd is Assistant Teaching Professor of Philosophy at University of Massachusetts Lowell and an ordained Minister of Word and Sacrament in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Rev. Dr. Shepherd currently serves as pastor of Union Congregational Church (East Walpole, Massachusetts).
"This remarkable book supplies a metaphilosophical analysis of dominant trends in modern western religious thought, using certain ‘challenges’ posed by the New Atheists as an organizing rubric for the account. The upshot is a compelling case for the re-evaluation of philosophical pragmatism, especially Josiah Royce’s ‘more than pragmatist’ perspective, as the most promising option for philosophers to explore moving forward. It should prove to be of great interest to any contemporary reader concerned with the ‘meaning of faith.’" – Michael L. Raposa, Lehigh University, USA
"Shepherd contextualizes the challenge to religion by the New Atheists. This systematic inquiry holds together disparate styles from the breadth of philosophy of religion, from reformed epistemology to continental atheology. Pragmatism, and principally Royce, emerges as the most cogent approach to the puzzle of making sense of God and religion." – Roger Ward, Georgetown College, USA
