Religion Within Reason - by Steven Cahn (Paperback)

About the Book

Why and how religion should be freed from a reliance on supernaturalism.

Book Synopsis

Most believers and critics associate religion with the existence of a deity. But is religion dependent on belief in the supernatural, or can it be freed from reliance on divinity? In Religion Within Reason, Steven M. Cahn argues that while supernaturalism is not reasonable, religious commitment may well be. Writing not as a theist but as one who finds much to admire in a religious life, he examines faith and reason, morality, miracles, heaven and hell, mystical experiences, religious diversity, and the problem of evil, using a variety of examples taken from philosophy, literature, and popular culture. Lucidly written in a nonpolemical spirit, Religion Within Reason offers an exciting new approach to the reconciliation of science and religion.

Review Quotes

A lively and lucid book. Even theists will acknowledge that Cahn has built a clever, accessible and formidable case.--David Shatz, Ronald P. Stanton University Professor of Philosophy, Ethics, and Religious Thought, Yeshiva University

Cahn's discussion engagingly examines each point from a commitment to the methods of scientific inquiry. We also receive something else: a thoughtful conception of how to live. Cahn engages us rationally and, in the process, inspires.--Peter Markie, Curators' Distinguished Teaching Professor, University of Missouri

In this highly accessible work, Steven Cahn, a leading philosopher of our generation, exposes--in brilliant and vivid ways--the irrationality of the classical defenses of theism. Notwithstanding the book's devastating takedown of religious faith, Cahn argues for the potential benefits of living a religious life and engaging in religious ritual. This work is a must-read for anyone struggling with whether religion can withstand the scrutiny of contemporary analytical philosophy. The ideas in this clever, colorful, and enjoyable book might very well change your life. I know it did mine.--Dov Weiss, Assistant Professor, Department of Religion, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

The book's primary contribution lies in its distinctive clarity and accessibility. Given all the attention lately to religious conviction and its (alleged) importance for morality, citizenship, patriotism, and civilization as such, there is need for this short, concise, but impactful book making the case against God's existence but allowing for the goodness of a religious life.--Robert Talisse, W. Alton Jones Professor and Chair of Philosophy at Vanderbilt University

About the Author

Steven M. Cahn is professor of philosophy at the City University of New York Graduate Center. He is the author or editor of more than fifty books, including Happiness and Goodness: Philosophical Reflection on Living Well (2015); Polishing Your Prose: How to Turn First Drafts Into Finished Work (2013); and From Student to Scholar: A Candid Guide to Becoming a Professor (2008), all published by Columbia University Press.