Religion, Philosophy and Knowledge

Gregory W. Dawes is Associate Professor in Philosophy at the University of Otago, New Zealand. He completed his first graduate degree at the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome before returning to New Zealand to complete PhD degrees in both biblical studies and philosophy. His previous books include The Historical Jesus Question, Theism and Explanation, and Galileo and the Conflict between Religion and Science.

• INTRODUCTION.- 1. Religions, Philosophy, and Knowledge.- Part One: Religious Language and Thought.- 2. Religious Language.- 3. Modes of Thought.- 4. Theology / Dharmatology.- PART TWO: THE AIMS OF RELIGION.- 5. A Sacred Order.- 6. Individual Salvation.- 7. Knowledge and Skill.- 8. Embodied Knowledge.- PART THREE: MODES OF KNOWING.- MODE 1: INDICES, SYMBOLS, ICONS.- 9. Divination.- 10. Dreams and Visions.- MODE 2: KNOWLEDGE BY ACQUAINTANCE.- 11. Mysticism and Knowledge.- 12. Testing Mystical Knowledge.- 13. Self-Authentication.- MODE 3: DISCURSIVE REASON.- 14. Ontological Arguments.- 15. Cosmological Arguments.- 16. Teleological (Design) Arguments.- 17. The Role of Reason.- MODE 4: TESTIMONY (AUTHORITY).- 18. Possession and Prophecy.- 19. Revelation and Faith.- 20. Self-Authentication, Again.- Conclusion.- 21. Assessing Religious Beliefs.

“This book is all about that philosophy and the knowledge behind religion. … This book is a good book on basic religious philosophy. While not dealing with any one particular religion, it finds basic principles on what makes a religion.” (Justin Dilliplane, Resolved for Christ, resolvedfc.blogspot.de, January, 2018)