Dr Aku Visala's Books

Naturalism, Theism and the Cognitive Study of Religion

Religion Explained?

By: Dr Aku Visala

Write a review Read reviews Take a Quiz Solve Book Puzzle

Naturalism, Theism and the Cognitive Study of Religion

Religion Explained?

By: Dr Aku Visala

This book provides a critical philosophical analysis of the claim that contemporary cognitive approaches to religion undermine theistic beliefs. Recent scientific work into the evolution and cognition of religion has been driven by and interpreted in terms of a certain kind of philosophical and methodological naturalism. The book argues that such naturalism is not necessary for the cognitive study of religion and develops an alternative philosophical and methodological framework. This alternative framework opens the cognitive study of religion to theological and philosophical considerations and clarifies its relationship to other approaches to religious phenomena. This unique contribution to discussions regarding the philosophical and theological implications of the cognitive study of religion summarizes the so far fragmentary discussion, exposes its underlying assumptions, and develops a novel framework for further discussion.

Average ratings

N/A

Write a review

Solve jigsaw puzzle

Age

Page Count

240

Publisher

Ashgate Publishing, Ltd.

Published Date

ISBN 10

1409481557

ISBN 13

9781409481553

Cyborg Selves

A Theological Anthropology of the Posthuman

By: Dr Jeanine Thweatt-Bates

Write a review Read reviews Take a Quiz Solve Book Puzzle

Cyborg Selves

A Theological Anthropology of the Posthuman

By: Dr Jeanine Thweatt-Bates

What is the 'posthuman'? Is becoming posthuman inevitable-something which will happen to us, or something we will do to ourselves? Why do some long for it, while others fearfully reject it? These questions underscore the fact that the posthuman is a name for the unknown future, and therefore, not a single idea but a jumble of competing visions - some of which may be exciting, some of which may be frightening, and which is which depends on who you are, and what you desire to be. This book aims to clarify current theological and philosophical dialogue on the posthuman by arguing that theologians must pay attention to which form of the posthuman they are engaging, and to demonstrate that a 'posthuman theology' is not only possible, but desirable, when the vision of the posthuman is one which coincides with a theological vision of the human.

Average ratings

N/A

Write a review

Solve jigsaw puzzle

Age

Page Count

368

Publisher

Ashgate Publishing, Ltd.

Published Date

ISBN 10

1409481832

ISBN 13

9781409481836

Beyond Fideism

Negotiable Religious Identities

By: Dr Olli-Pekka Vainio

Write a review Read reviews Take a Quiz Solve Book Puzzle

Beyond Fideism

Negotiable Religious Identities

By: Dr Olli-Pekka Vainio

After the postmodern turn, every tradition seeks the right to have their own rules of rational discourse. The crucial question is: are there ways to communicate between the traditions so that the traditions do not need to give up their identities in order to take part in conversation? Vainio examines the basic assumptions behind well known types of Christian theology and seeks ways in which they might interact with one other and with other non-Christian traditions without capitulation of their identities. Vainio claims that there are religious identities that can be negotiated and communicated, and that there are ecclesiastical doctrines which can be meaningfully discussed among churches. This book explores three key areas: analysis of the uses of 'fideism' within classical Christian theology; clarification of different types of theological method that seek to express the task of theology in contemporary setting; an explanation of the contours of religious identity and rationality which takes seriously both classical Christian identity and pluralistic contexts where most of the Christian communities dwell nowadays. The proposal for "negotiability" of Christian identity draws together ideas from, among others, virtue epistemology, reformed epistemology, communitarianism, and feminist sensibilities.

Average ratings

N/A

Write a review

Solve jigsaw puzzle

Age

Page Count

200

Publisher

Ashgate Publishing, Ltd.

Published Date

ISBN 10

1409481158

ISBN 13

9781409481157

Book's by Dr Aku Visala

Naturalism, Theism and the Cognitive Study of Religion

Naturalism, Theism and the Cognitive Study of Religion

Cyborg Selves

Cyborg Selves

Beyond Fideism

Beyond Fideism

Username

Password

Username

Password

Password again

Birthday

Email