Philosophers of religion view religious beliefs from different perspectives. While some focus on God's essence, others concentrate on human nature. There are many different approaches to religious beliefs. Learn more about Thomistic and classical theists as well as Non-realists.
Humanity as a natural phenomenon
Biological insights influenced the study on human nature during the nineteenth century. These insights challenged traditional theological theories regarding human nature. They challenged the view of God creating humans directly. This created a debate on the nature of humanity's nature. Although some religious traditions were against the idea evolution, others believed that the explanation of human nature can be found in biological principles.
Non-realists
Non-realist philosophers are not of the belief that religion is based upon objective realities. They believe that religion is a psychological construct that humans have constructed. They see religion as a guideline for behavior, and they believe that human beings do not possess omnipotence.
Classical theists
The classical philosophy of theism posits the existence of a transcendent entity who is present in the world and is actively involved in it. This God is often referred to as an ideal model of moral perfection. It is usually thought in very personal terms.
Thomistic Theodicies
There are two dominant tendencies in the theodicy debate. First, there is the revival of philosophical theodicy among analytic philosophers of religion. This movement is marked in a shift from logical evil to evidence. Second, critics of theodicy have called the desire to do theodicy an ideological and irreligious endeavor.
Eleonore Stomp
Eleonore Stump is a contemporary scholar and philosopher of religion. She is currently the Robert J. Henle Professor of Philosophy at The University of St. Louis. Her writings focus on morality and religion. She is a Catholic philosopher, who supports the views of Thomas Aquinas.
Don Cupitt
An online resource center dedicated to Don Cupitt is being created as part of a new project. The resource centre was developed by academics at the universities of Chester, Chichester and will contain archival material, blog posts, videos, and lecturers. His controversial books were the first to bring Don Cupitt to attention in the 1980s. Most recently, his work has been featured in the BBC TV show Sea of Faith.