Questions of Belief

This study in the philosophy of religion starts from the multiplicity of belief-systems, religious and secular. It is concerned essentially with two inter-related questions: Can there be any rational grounds for preference between such systems?; To what extent can the exponents of different systems understand, and learn from, each other? It considers the grounds for saying that the choice between systems has to be pre-rational (rather than irrational) and hence that we cannot demonstrate from a neutral standpoint that any one of them is right, or superior to another. It them examines the extent to which our chosen system determines what fields of experience or interest are open for us to explore. In particular it looks at what is involved in the adoption of theism - what different interpretations of theism are possible, and what is entailed about the possibility of relations between human and divine, for example, in prayer or in revelation. There is then a discussion of the idea that different religious traditions may explore different facets or areas of spirituality; and that given patience and good will, they may be seen as supplementing rather than necessarily opposing each other, and some measure at least of mutual understanding and mutual enlightenment is possible.Burke, T. E. is the author of 'Questions of Belief' with ISBN 9781856289887 and ISBN 1856289885.