Table of Contents

Prologue: Deep Time Religion 1: Half a Revolution 2: First Among Unequals? 3: Evolutionary Skepticism 4: The New Pessimism 5: The New Optimism 6: Imagination is Key 7: The "Chief Objections" 8: Religion for Pioneers Epilogue: Darwin's Door and Hegel's Hinge

About the Author

J. L. Schellenberg (DPhil, Oxford) is Professor of Philosophy at Mount Saint Vincent University and Adjunct Professor in the Faculty of Graduate Studies at Dalhousie University. He is the author of the seminal Divine Hiddenness and Human Reason (Cornell University Press, 1993), which introduced the now well-known hiddenness argument for atheism, and of an acclaimed trilogy on the philosophy of religion: Prolegomena to a Philosophy of Religion, The Wisdom to Doubt: A Justification of Religious Skepticism, and The Will to Imagine: A Justification of Skeptical Religion (Cornell University Press, 2005; 2007; 2009). In 2013 the journal Religious Studies will publish a special issue dedicated to Schellenbergs philosophy of religion.

Reviews

One of the galling tendencies of religion's detractors is that they describe religion as primitive but instead of calling for more mature forms of religion they insist that religion is forever primitive and thus summarily dismiss it. Schellenberg rightly calls their bluff and does so on evolutionary grounds A stimulating contribution this slender and thought-provoking volume is well worth the read. * William J. Meyer, International Journal for Philosophy of Religion *
Schellenberg's emphasis on deep time and on an evolutionary perspective is important, and it does have implications for religious beliefs. . . . The book is accessible to the general reader. It deals with issues of 'spirituality' and 'religion' that are of both general and scholarly interest. And it would make a good text for college discussions of the nature of religious faith. * Keith Ward, Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews *
I enjoyed reading this a great deal. Its proposal is serious and well-reasoned, and I want to argue with the author, which is just about the highest recommendation I can give of a book. * Michael Ruse, Florida State University *
With his customary clarity, wit and originality, Schellenberg invites us to re-imagine religion's future possibilities and power within the realm of cultural evolution. This book cuts right through the tired contemporary stand-offs between church and secular science. * Sarah Coakley, University of Cambridge *
This clearly written book is a philosophical tour de force, as accessible as it is profound. * Paul Draper, Purdue University *
Evolutionary Religion is a very fine book. Its distinctive thesis and innovative arguments expand our understanding of religion, the philosophy of religion, and skepticism * Joshua C. Thurow, International Journal for the Study of Skepticism *