Perspectives and Positions in Contemporary Analytic Philosophy of Religion

This essay discusses two issues. The first is whether the ‘‘insider’s’’ or ‘‘outsider’s’’ perspective is more truth-conducive in the study of religion. I do not attempt to settle this very thorny question: I merely attempt to identify some aspects of what it might mean to be an insider with respect to one kind of investigation—the investigation into whether God exists. The second issue is how best to characterize certain philosophical positions on the axiology of ultimate reality. Here I argue that it can be useful to group together certain axiological positions under one heading, while leaving their details open to interpretation. For example, two philosophers might agree that God’s existence would—or does—make the world far better than it would otherwise be, even though they have incompatible notions of what constitutes ‘‘far’’ and ‘‘better.’’ In my view, it makes sense to call both thinkers pro-theists, despite their differences. In discussing these issues, I engage the work of Myron A. Penner and Paul Moser, both of whom published replies to an article of mine in the most recent issue of the Toronto Journal of Theology.