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Faith and Reason: The Philosophy of Religion
Through the ages, mankind has pursued questions of faith in something beyond the world of ordinary experience. Is there a God? How can we explain the presence of evil? Do humans, or human souls, live on after death? Is there a hell? The following lectures examine these eternal questions and present the most compelling arguments for and against God's existence, the seeming conflicts between religion and science, and the different truth-claims of the world's most popular religions. By delving into the major characteristics of world religions, including Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism, mankind's association with the many different varieties of religious practice is brought to light. Above all, Faith and Reason: The Philosophy of Religion lays the groundwork for a rational approach to pursuing questions of faith - and at the same time provides a better understanding of religion's ongoing importance in the realm of human experience.
Audio CD
First published January 1, 2005
About the author
Peter Kreeft
175 books964 followersPeter Kreeft is a Catholic apologist, professor of philosophy at Boston College and The King's College, and author of over 45 books including
Fundamentals of the Faith
,
Everything you Ever Wanted to Know about Heaven
, and
Back to Virtue
. Some consider him the best Catholic philosopher currently residing in the United States. His ideas draw heavily from religious and philosophical tradition, especially Thomas Aquinas, Socrates, G. K. Chesterton and C. S. Lewis. Kreeft has writings on Socratic logic, the sea, Jesus Christ, the Summa Theologica, angels, Blaise Pascal, and Heaven, as well as his work on the Problem of Evil, for which he was interviewed by Lee Strobel in his bestseller,
The Case for Faith
.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
May 12, 2013
The book's scope and ambitious exceed what it can accomplish. The truth is, no single book can sufficiently cover this topic; it is simply too large. Having said that, this book can be particularly invaluable for an atheist that wants to understand the faith-based position and vice versa. By the end of this course/book, you will appreciate the intelligent position of both. Neither of the two position is simply stupid nor superior to the other. In reality, there are particularly good reasons to be in either camp. For example, you can reject God due to the "Problem of Evil", while you may accept God due to the "First cause" issue. Each is discussed in detail and both positions are refutable, debatable, and most importantly understandable!
If you want insight into a particular mindset and religion, this book may not interest you. A Muslim's perspective of the world is entirely different than a Buddhist's. To skim over either is not to fully appreciate any. If however, a high-level understanding is desired, almost like a stepping stone, then this book/course/audiobook can be invaluable.
If you want insight into a particular mindset and religion, this book may not interest you. A Muslim's perspective of the world is entirely different than a Buddhist's. To skim over either is not to fully appreciate any. If however, a high-level understanding is desired, almost like a stepping stone, then this book/course/audiobook can be invaluable.
January 25, 2014
I love the way Dr Kreeft methodically argues in favor and against all possible positions of varied views of faith. I like a sequential approach, and what lacked was my ability to follow it all--that is, see all the possible relations with what little reading I have done. Dr Kreeft quotes from many a philosopher, author, saint, and major historical and literary figure. In a last chapter he sets up a theoretical get-together with Buddha, Jesus, and Socrates, again comparing and contrasting. This material guides further understanding of philosophy and, for my fist time, comparative religion. That is the subject one of our atheistic grandchildren is studying in college. Now I understand her intellectual world a bit better!
April 4, 2011
I found it annoying that there are no conclusions made from this audio series. It basically looks at the philosophy of religion and atheism from all different angles and concludes that you can't conclude anything. Peter Kreeft also repeatedly makes extremely biased comments to back up his argumentation. For instance he says that most molecular biologist are theists because of the complexities in their field point to a creator, and the natural consequence of atheism is sadness. I don't know where he draws most of his data from, but clearly some of it is wrong. Having said this, I did appreciate the wide variety arguments presented in these lectures.
October 8, 2013
This was a fantastic book. It was very clear, concise, informative, honest, and fair. A rare find in religious dialogue today. The book gave an excellent overview of various views and arguments. Kreeft fairly discussed objections and disagreements to all arguments. Obviously this series is much to short to be exhaustive, but it did cover a vast range of topics in a simple and understandable way.
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https://www.facebook.com/Christianity...
October 3, 2018
Honestly, I didn’t understand almost any of it. Completely over my head. I don’t have a foundation in philosophy, which felt necessary. I’m sure it’s well researched and written, just say more complicated than I could understand.
June 30, 2011
I enjoyed listening to it. Kreeft is a Catholic Apologist. But in these lectures he is suppose to be giving several different views and arguments without bias, and for the most part he did a pretty good job at this. Uhh... and yet his beliefs do come out throughout the audiobook, just as an Atheist could not slipping his bias in if he were to teach the class. Another review mentions he never really comes to any conclusions. But we are dealing with philosophy and religion, which in the end comes down to opinions and faith. But still as Kreeft points out we should be logically consistent. Though no religious beliefs can be proven, many of their beliefs logically fit together and are reasonable. There is good evidences on both the Theistic side and the Atheistic side.
March 26, 2013
A decent, whirlwind introductory lecture series to the Phil of Religion. The author is, at times, a little too eager to keep his obviously preferred view as a "live option" that the critical engagement from both sides suffer. One also might walk away with the impression that as long as one can retreat into consistency one has a right to believe whatever (pulling quite a bit from James in this way) with little engagement critical of this troublesome presupposition for my taste. This series may be good for newbies, but it would need wide and broad supplemental study to cover its gaps.
August 29, 2012
Kreeft does an excellent job of making a rather dull subject interesting. He also does a wonderfully even handed treatment of all three major western religions and several eastern religions even though he is a Christian. His logical processes and solid information give you a great intellectual basis for evaluating truth claims. A definite must for anyone who wants to critically evaluate faith and religion.
October 1, 2012
This is a great course delving into the problem of philosophy and religion. Kreeft is a master of combining logic, reason, science, and faith to discuss the merits and demerits of these different subjects and how the relate to one another.
A very heavy course that requires a good bit of time to digest all that he teaches (something I did not do well).
A very heavy course that requires a good bit of time to digest all that he teaches (something I did not do well).
December 17, 2011
An excellent review of the arguments for and against religion. Kreeft is an excellent philosopher and author. I enjoy his writing very much. He provides ammunition against the poorly developed, continuous relativistic thinking that haunts too much of the world today.
November 3, 2011
For someone who is ankle deep in moral issues this lecture series is really great. I looks broadly at a number of really important moral thinkers. However, the more that I have studied Moral Philosophy, the more I realize how much the series is leaving out. That said, I highly recommend it.
December 17, 2008
Kreeft is a very monotone person, yet he is very informative and clearly constructs both sides to any argument. A++++
April 11, 2011
heavy on classical logic, a little tedious that way
July 22, 2012
Great!
September 29, 2014
Really interesting examination of the philosophy of religion.
July 27, 2020
Jul 2020. Rereading. Very good. Some questions remain inconclusive, but that is by design (aporia).
Aug 2017. Rereading. Excellent.
Jun 2016. I admire this teacher more than I once did.
Aug 2017. Rereading. Excellent.
Jun 2016. I admire this teacher more than I once did.
June 30, 2019
(NOTE: I'm stingy with stars. For me 2 stars means a good book or a B. 3 stars means a very good book or a B+. 4 stars means an outstanding book or an A {only about 5% of the books I read merit 4 stars}. 5 stars means an all time favorite or an A+ {Only one of 400 or 500 books rates this!).
To me Peter Kreeft is like a Catholic Norman Geisler. They both emphasize reason and logic and often clearly and accurately narrow things down to their most basic arguments. However sometimes I think they both come to wrong conclusions. For example, Kreeft is Roman Catholic and Geisler is almost Arminian. But 90% of the time they are very helpful in their analysis.
Here are a few quotes from this work:
“Socrates, Descartes, and Kant are the three thinkers who most importantly changed the meaning of the concept of reason, all narrowing it, in different ways, so we can distinguish four meanings of reason.
Before Socrates, reason meant everything that distinguished man from animals, including intuition, mystical experiences, and dreams. Socrates narrowed it to mean giving clear definitions and logical proofs.
Descartes narrowed it further to mean something more like the scientific method, even in philosophy: the act of calculating, reasoning, proving, rather than wisdom or understanding.
Finally, Kant psychologized reason. He said that our reason constructs or shapes the world rather than discovering it, so it can’t know things as they are in themselves; we can’t know objective reality by reason.
I will use reason in the way most people still use it: in the Socratic way. Mystical experience or dreams or intuition or myths will not count as reason, but only what is definable and provable. But we won’t narrow the term any more than that.” (9)
“Can reason define or prove everything, most things, only a few things, or no things that are believed by religious faith? And do faith and reason, religion and logic, contradict each other?
There is no one standard answer among Jewish, Christian, or Muslim philosophers to the question of how much of religious faith can be proved by reason. The most popular and traditional answer is this: not all of it, for then faith would not be necessary, and not none of it, for then philosophy of reli- gion would be impossible, but some of it.
What about the more important question: Are there any contradictions between faith and reason? No orthodox Jew, Christian, or Muslim can admit that there are any. Because if God created us in his image, and reason is part of that image, then when we use that instrument rightly we are being taught by God, and God never contradicts himself; therefore, there can never be any real contradictions between religious faith and reason. If there were, then reason would have disproved that part of religious faith, so an honest person would no longer believe it.” (10)
“Persons should be judged innocent till proved guilty, but ideas should be judged guilty till proved innocent, as long as you don’t limit proof to absolutely clear and certain proof.” (12)
Kreeft next discusses 20 arguments for atheism. (12-15)
'He then examines the problem of evil. His analysis is helpful but he concludes: “I began with a lot of clear logic, but have wandered into some extremely mysterious ideas. Evil began as a problem and ended as a mystery. Is that a problem? Does that make it less likely to be real? The more you look at any reality, the more mysterious it becomes. Throughout the twentieth century, we’ve been discovering that matter is much more mysterious than we used to think, ever since Einstein and quantum physics; why should man be less mysterious than matter? And why should God be less mysterious than man?
I will end with the best one-sentence answer I have seen to the problem of evil, which will probably strike you as either utterly incomprehensible or stunningly profound. A man once wrote: “Why do the righteous suffer? The answer to that question is not in the same world as the question, and there- fore if I could answer it, you would shrink from me in terror.” (21)
Kreeft next discusses 20 arguments for God’s existence. (23-33)
In chapter 6 he discusses religion and science.
In chapter 7 he considers the arguments against life after death.
In chapter 8 he examines 12 arguments for life after death.
In lecture 9 he considers different concepts of heaven.
In lecture 10 hell.
Lectures 11-12 test the different truth-claims of different religions.
In lecture 13 he asks “what would Socrates think”?
And in lecture 14 he discusses religions experience.
There are some things I’d argue with but most of this work is very helpful.
To me Peter Kreeft is like a Catholic Norman Geisler. They both emphasize reason and logic and often clearly and accurately narrow things down to their most basic arguments. However sometimes I think they both come to wrong conclusions. For example, Kreeft is Roman Catholic and Geisler is almost Arminian. But 90% of the time they are very helpful in their analysis.
Here are a few quotes from this work:
“Socrates, Descartes, and Kant are the three thinkers who most importantly changed the meaning of the concept of reason, all narrowing it, in different ways, so we can distinguish four meanings of reason.
Before Socrates, reason meant everything that distinguished man from animals, including intuition, mystical experiences, and dreams. Socrates narrowed it to mean giving clear definitions and logical proofs.
Descartes narrowed it further to mean something more like the scientific method, even in philosophy: the act of calculating, reasoning, proving, rather than wisdom or understanding.
Finally, Kant psychologized reason. He said that our reason constructs or shapes the world rather than discovering it, so it can’t know things as they are in themselves; we can’t know objective reality by reason.
I will use reason in the way most people still use it: in the Socratic way. Mystical experience or dreams or intuition or myths will not count as reason, but only what is definable and provable. But we won’t narrow the term any more than that.” (9)
“Can reason define or prove everything, most things, only a few things, or no things that are believed by religious faith? And do faith and reason, religion and logic, contradict each other?
There is no one standard answer among Jewish, Christian, or Muslim philosophers to the question of how much of religious faith can be proved by reason. The most popular and traditional answer is this: not all of it, for then faith would not be necessary, and not none of it, for then philosophy of reli- gion would be impossible, but some of it.
What about the more important question: Are there any contradictions between faith and reason? No orthodox Jew, Christian, or Muslim can admit that there are any. Because if God created us in his image, and reason is part of that image, then when we use that instrument rightly we are being taught by God, and God never contradicts himself; therefore, there can never be any real contradictions between religious faith and reason. If there were, then reason would have disproved that part of religious faith, so an honest person would no longer believe it.” (10)
“Persons should be judged innocent till proved guilty, but ideas should be judged guilty till proved innocent, as long as you don’t limit proof to absolutely clear and certain proof.” (12)
Kreeft next discusses 20 arguments for atheism. (12-15)
'He then examines the problem of evil. His analysis is helpful but he concludes: “I began with a lot of clear logic, but have wandered into some extremely mysterious ideas. Evil began as a problem and ended as a mystery. Is that a problem? Does that make it less likely to be real? The more you look at any reality, the more mysterious it becomes. Throughout the twentieth century, we’ve been discovering that matter is much more mysterious than we used to think, ever since Einstein and quantum physics; why should man be less mysterious than matter? And why should God be less mysterious than man?
I will end with the best one-sentence answer I have seen to the problem of evil, which will probably strike you as either utterly incomprehensible or stunningly profound. A man once wrote: “Why do the righteous suffer? The answer to that question is not in the same world as the question, and there- fore if I could answer it, you would shrink from me in terror.” (21)
Kreeft next discusses 20 arguments for God’s existence. (23-33)
In chapter 6 he discusses religion and science.
In chapter 7 he considers the arguments against life after death.
In chapter 8 he examines 12 arguments for life after death.
In lecture 9 he considers different concepts of heaven.
In lecture 10 hell.
Lectures 11-12 test the different truth-claims of different religions.
In lecture 13 he asks “what would Socrates think”?
And in lecture 14 he discusses religions experience.
There are some things I’d argue with but most of this work is very helpful.
November 19, 2018
Unfortunately, I have to admit that had this book not started with an honest discussion of the reasons why some people don’t believe in God, I probably would not have finished it. Kreeft is as accessible as possible given the exasperatingly detailed nature of philosophy and he is open about acknowledging his biases as a Christian. However, the biggest problem I had with his lectures centered on what he called evidence. Kreeft seemed as ready to use science and logic as evidence as he was ready to grant people’s near-death-experiences and past-lives memories as evidence for life after death and reincarnation. While he always states that the purpose of the lectures is not to arrive to a solution but to facilitate a discussion, it was annoying to say the least to see him address these quackeries with all seriousness. Overall, while I did feel like he was able to present the arguments that have dominated the philosophical discussion of religion, I also felt that he was too ready to call it a draw instead of supporting a conclusion one way or another.
July 8, 2017
Some Insights and Some Doubts
The problems faced by philosophy of religion and the diverses ways to approach them are presented in this course. The matter was well arranged but the various lectures could be better identified. Sometimes, listening to the course, one cannot distinguish them. Professor Kreeft exposition is clear and gives to the listener an overview of the most important questions of the field. The arguments each controversial question produced are exposed, giving the listener a way to develop further reflections. A course worth listening.
The problems faced by philosophy of religion and the diverses ways to approach them are presented in this course. The matter was well arranged but the various lectures could be better identified. Sometimes, listening to the course, one cannot distinguish them. Professor Kreeft exposition is clear and gives to the listener an overview of the most important questions of the field. The arguments each controversial question produced are exposed, giving the listener a way to develop further reflections. A course worth listening.
August 21, 2017
religion hold together, fact or fantasy, be open to be filled, vision of hell and forgiveness of Heaven, truth and goodness, be a good listener, arguments with terms premises reasoning process, near death similar as no fear purpose direction know life and only truth and love wisdom and compassion, seek the truth and you will find, true for you and not me is meaningless, know and love without limit, hell no wrath but on man’s part, Socrates virtue led to happiness gap want/have, unhappy lack of virtue or Buddha, dialogue in pursuit of truth is philosophy as Socrates.
March 10, 2021
Professor Peter Kreeft’s Modern Scholars audio lectures “Faith and Reason: the Philosophy of Religion” was released in 2005. His 14 lectures explore the many views about life after death, presence of God, religious and scientific thought, and the underlayment of comparative religious beliefs. The lectures require listeners to weigh carefully the many conflicting views of religious thought within the context of philosophical paradigms explored by great philosophers like Socrates, Plato, or Kierkegaard, to mention a few. The concluding lecture 14 was exceptional. (P)
April 16, 2021
Kreeft breaks down the arguments for theism, atheism, immortality, as well as for the existence of the soul, heaven, and hell. Morality and science, and their relationships with religion, are explored. Truth claims of certain religions are briefly discussed. These lectures are heavily philosophical and logical, if you apply your mind, you will be rewarded.
February 27, 2019
Engaging: ***
Story: ****
Prose: ***
So many ifs, so many suppositions. And years and years will come and people still will be wondering about this. On any case, this book offered me a buch of fresh ideas.
Story: ****
Prose: ***
So many ifs, so many suppositions. And years and years will come and people still will be wondering about this. On any case, this book offered me a buch of fresh ideas.
March 5, 2020
A very delightful read, certainly. Kreeft is an awesome writer and his style is very... loving, kind of. Reminds me a bit of C. S. Lewis.
I have enjoyed this volume immensely, though I understand how this is perhaps not what many people are looking for when they see "Philosophy of Religion".
I have enjoyed this volume immensely, though I understand how this is perhaps not what many people are looking for when they see "Philosophy of Religion".
September 28, 2020
Peter kreeft tries to put a fun contemporary spin on apologetics and logic but I still found it a bit dry. If you’re determined to power through it then this might be a good primer for you. I didn’t finish it in all transparency.
February 16, 2021
At least he is up front about his Christian bias, but he's significantly less logical that one might expect from someone who talks about logic so much. Also, sadly few references to famous philosophers of the past. In short, it's written at a grade 7-9 level.
June 5, 2021
“The basic Christian religious experience is being literally ‘loved to death’ by God”
Very well laid out arguments both for and against beliefs in the spiritual. Could get slightly tedious at times tho.
Very well laid out arguments both for and against beliefs in the spiritual. Could get slightly tedious at times tho.
June 6, 2021
Excellent introduction to the philosophy of religion from an objective point of view. He ties the course together in the last two lectures.
This is one where taking notes might help in developing your understanding.
This is one where taking notes might help in developing your understanding.
April 3, 2023
This book was very informative and philosophical
It’s a very broad view on atheism and religions
it asks a lot of questions and answers a lot of questions I found it very entertaining but also I lost interest in some chapters
Overall good
It’s a very broad view on atheism and religions
it asks a lot of questions and answers a lot of questions I found it very entertaining but also I lost interest in some chapters
Overall good
August 7, 2017
This was good. His Philosophy of Thomas Aquinas is better. I may re-rate this after a another listen.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews