Philosophy of Religion

The following is a summary of each of the five parts of

Philosophy of Religion by Dr. D. Elton Trueblood. The author's entire approach to theology is as a Protestant theologian; however, as he points out: "Whatever the truth may be, it is certainly larger than our particular systems. It is for this reason that no religious thinker dare be limited by the dogmas of his own school" (XV).

This initial part is separated into five chapters: "The Necessity of Philosophy;" "Faith and Reason;" "The Possibility of Truth;" "The Mystery of Knowledge;" and "The Nature of Evidence."

"The Necessity of Philosophy" takes the position that the religious vitality of the 20th century cannot be ignored. Religion, in this age, cannot be abandoned to science, except in Russia. However, modern developments, unknown to Dr. Trueblood, are making this no longer the situation. Yet the vitality of religion is not answering all our questions, but adding to them. Trueblood observes: "What is amazing is that it has been possible, in spite of years of reverence for the very letter of scripture, to face the sacred writings with complete scientific honesty . . . " (4). There is no real conflict between science and religion. This book approaches philosophy from the viewpoint of the philosophy of religion. Truth is reached by examining many areas of thought.

"Faith and Reason" speaks of such subjects as the validation of belief. We must be concern

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"The Challenge of Freud;" and "The Challenge of Logical Positivism." "The Challenge of Dialectical Materialism" holds that no matter how effective the older philosophies of religion are, they are not sufficient for our era. These approaches do not have the answers to the right problems. MarxLeninism is a modern enemy of religion. It believes religion is in error because it turns our minds away from the real solutions. Scientific socialism is one form of an answer, and it is a substitute faith. Communism presents a materialistic answer to mankind's social problems. Trueblood states: "Its greatest weakness is not merely that it fails to face the evidence for the being of God, but it lacks the human corollaries of belief in God" (175). Also, Trueblood says: "We cannot do better than conclude with the dictum of Professor H. G. Wood: 'The Marxist philosophy cannot face a careful criticism'" (176. "The Challenge of Freud" points out: "The ordinary attack of psychologism does not say that belief in God is false; it says that belief in God can be explained" (177). Religion, according to Freud, is a projection of mankind's human needs and hopes. Gods are like 'wishbeings,' or personified wishes. Consequently, all religi

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