Philosophies of Liturgy - (Expanding Philosophy of Religion) by J Aaron Simmons & Bruce Ellis Benson & Neal Deroo (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Mainstream philosophy of religion has primarily focused on the truth and justification of religious beliefs even though belief is only one small facet of religious life. This collection remedies this by taking practice and embodied action seriously as fundamental elements of any philosophy of religion.

Emerging and established voices across different philosophical traditions come together to consider religious actions, including public worship, from perspectives such as trauma and social ontology, sound and silence, and knowledge and hope. Embodied religious practice is viewed through the lens of liturgy, intrinsically connecting religious rituals to human existence to show clearly that, no matter where one finds oneself in terms of the so-called 'analytic-continental' divide, philosophy of religion must be concerned with more than just beliefs if it is to adequately deal with the subject matter of 'religion.'

The purpose of these studies is not to reject what has gone before but to expand the focus of philosophy of religion. This approach lays the groundwork for investigations into how beliefs are situated in our theological, moral, and social frameworks. For any philosophy of religion student or scholar interested in how thinking and living well are intimately related, this is a go-to resource. It takes seriously the importance of historical religious traditions and communities, opening the space for cross-cultural and interdisciplinary debates.

Review Quotes

[T]he book does a service not only to the topic of liturgy, but also to philosophy in general, showing that these two approaches benefit each other and readers when they are more in conversation with one another.
Reading Religion

A groundbreaking work, offering rich interdisciplinary insights into the performative and embedded practices of religious experience. An invaluable inquiry into the significance of neglected spiritual traditions and rituals.
Richard Kearney, Charles Seelig Professor in Philosophy, Boston College, USA

Participants in liturgies think of them as a privileged point of contact with the sacred. These essays offer a spirited, insightful and accessible approach to the question of how ritual action can bear this significance - and thereby they draw us into a deepened understanding of religion, and indeed of ourselves.
Mark Wynn, Nolloth Professor of the Philosophy of the Christian Religion, University of Oxford, UK

About the Author

J. Aaron Simmons is Professor of Philosophy at Furman University, USA.
Bruce Ellis Benson is Visiting Senior Research Fellow at the University of Vienna, Austria.
Neal DeRoo is Canada Research Chair in Phenomenology and Philosophy of Religion at The King's University, Canada.