Religious Diversity Philosophical and Political Dimensions

Should we merely celebrate diversity in the sphere of religion? What of the social cohesion of a country? There is a constant tug between belief in religious truth and the need for respect for other religions. Religious Diversity: Philosophical and Political Dimensions examines how far a firm faith can allow for toleration of difference and respect the need for religious freedom. It elucidates the philosophical credentials of different approaches to truth in religion, ranging from a dogmatic fundamentalism to a pluralism that shades into relativism. Must we resort to a secularism that treats all religion as a personal and private matter, with nothing to contribute to discussions about the common good? How should law approach the issue of religious freedom? Introducing the relevance of central discussions in modern philosophy of religion, the book goes on to examine the political implications of increasing religious diversity in a democracy.

Introduction; 1. The challenge of religious diversity; 2. Do religions claim truth?; 3. Religious pluralism; 4. The roots of religious belief; 5. Does disagreement undermine theism?; 6. Education and religious diversity; 7. Truth and coercion; 8. Religious diversity and identity; 9. Religion as personal preference; 10. Freedom and religion.

Roger Trigg is an Emeritus Professor of Philosophy at the University of Warwick and a Senior Research Fellow at the Ian Ramsey Centre, University of Oxford. He is the past President of the European Society for Philosophy of Religion, as well as the British Society for Philosophy of Religion. He is the author of many books in philosophy, particularly in the philosophy of religion and the philosophy of science and social science, including Reason and Commitment (Cambridge, 1973), Religion in Public Life: Must Religion Be Privatized? (2007) and Equality, Freedom and Religion (2012). He has lectured widely in different countries, including Russia, on issues concerning religion in public life and religious freedom. He is currently an Associate Scholar at Georgetown University, Washington DC with the Religious Freedom Project at the Berkley Center. He is a member of the Center of Theological Inquiry of Princeton, New Jersey.