Should Theologians Answer the Question "Is Religion Natural?": Panel Contribution on the 2024 Boyle Lecture

In his 2024 Boyle Lecture, David Fergusson takes up the question "is religion natural?" In response, this panel contribution provides four reasons why theologians should be hesitant to offer answers to this question. Debates on the naturalness of religion are (1) frustrated by intractable...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Leidenhag, Joanna (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
Check availability: HBZ Gateway
Interlibrary Loan:Interlibrary Loan for the Fachinformationsdienste (Specialized Information Services in Germany)
Published: 2024
In: Zygon
Year: 2024, Volume: 59, Issue: 4, Pages: 1177–81
Further subjects:B Naturalness
B Autism
B Boyle
B natural
B Religion
B cognitive science of religion
B neurodivergence
B Fergusson
Online Access: Volltext (kostenfrei)
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Summary:In his 2024 Boyle Lecture, David Fergusson takes up the question "is religion natural?" In response, this panel contribution provides four reasons why theologians should be hesitant to offer answers to this question. Debates on the naturalness of religion are (1) frustrated by intractable disagreements about the definition of key terms, (2) a trap for theologians, (3) often exclusionary to autistic people, and (4) serve no practical purpose. I conclude by conceding that Fergusson’s unique combination of deep theological reflection and concrete predictions for the church relieves many of these worries.
ISSN:1467-9744
Contains:Enthalten in: Zygon
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.16995/zygon.17086