In Religion in Modern Societies, Gunnar Skirbekk examines the challenging relationship between religion, science, and the state, and explores literature on religion in Western and Muslim-majority societies.
Through the lens of modernity theory and the perspective of philosophy of science, key issues are discussed, including freedom of expression and the interaction between religion and modern institutions. Chapters include:
• Science and Religion
• The Problem of Evil
• Freedom of Expression
• Multiculturalism and the Welfare State
• Religion as Social Integration
• Islam in a Historical Class Perspective
The topics discussed are universal issues which in principle hold relevance for all of us living in a modern science-based world and societies in crisis.
This volume is essential reading to those with an interest in philosophy of religion, religion and science, the work of Jürgen Habermas, the theory of modernization, and the politicization of religion.
Part 1. Science and Religion
Chapter 1. Eight points about science and religion in modern science-based societies in crisis
Chapter 2. To speak of God in light of the problem of evil
Part 2. Religion and the Constitutional State
Chapter 3. Freedom of expression and cartoons
Chapter 4. Offence, the limit of freedom of expression?
Part 3. Religion and modern institutions
Chapter 5. Multiculturalism and the welfare state?
Part 4. Religion in modern societies
Chapter 6. Religion as social integration: Jürgen Habermas
Chapter 7. Islam in a historical class perspective: Ahmet T. Kuru
Chapter 8. Religion in science-based and institutionally differentiated societies in crisis: Concluding Remarks
Info on previous work
Index
Biography
Gunnar Skirbekk is a professor of philosophy, now emeritus, at the Department of Philosophy and the Center for the Study of the Sciences and the Humanities, University of Bergen, Norway.
