Concise Encyclopedia of the Philosophy of Religion Book

With over three hundred entries and subentries on everything from agnosticism to Zen philosophy, this authoritative encyclopedia from one of the world's most renowned theologians explores all the major themes in the philosophy of religion. Entries identify key thinkers, terms, arguments, and ideas. The volume also features a helpful chronology and an index of names.

This encyclopedia was shaped by years of student feedback. Anthony Thiselton asked students what themes, thinkers, and problems in philosophy of religion they found most stimulating and where they needed help, clarification, and explanation. The resulting volume will help other students navigate their studies with greater ease. It is also a handy reference for those seeking quick access to information on a particular person or concept.

Library Journal

Thiselton, a highly regarded teacher, theologian, researcher, and Anglican canon, has written several theological books and contributed to The Cambridge Companion to Biblical Interpretation. Previously published under the same title by Oxford in 2002, this one-volume A-to-Z is made up of 300-plus entries that define and describe diverse terms, people, and subjects related to world religions, placing special emphasis on their philosophical aspects. Articles run the gamut from "A Priori," "Karl Theodor Jaspers," and "Existentialism" to "Theodicy," "Freud," "Zen Philosophy," and "Zoroastrianism" and range in length from a couple of paragraphs ("Counterfactual") to several pages ("Teleological Argument for the Existence of God"). While the scope is international, there are more entries relevant to Western thought than to Eastern traditions. An index, cross references, and a chronology are included. Bottom Line Despite its Western perspective, this book is well worth the modest cost for most libraries, especially since the Oxford version is now out of print. There are a few other single-volume resources covering similar ground, including Geddes MacGregor's Dictionary of Religion and Philosophy and MacMillan's World Religions. Still, this is a timely, thrifty, and useful compendium that libraries not owning the Oxford edition should purchase; those that own the previous edition can pass as the two seem indistinguishable.-Denise Johnson, Bradley Univ. Lib., Peoria, IL Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.