Religion after Science The Cultural Consequences of Religious Immaturity Cambridge Studies in Religion, Philosophy, and Society Series

In this provocative work, J. L. Schellenberg addresses those who, influenced by science, take a negative view of religion, thinking of it as outmoded if not decadent. He promotes the view that transcendently oriented religion is developmentally immature, showing the consilience of scientific thinking about deep time with his view. From this unique perspective, he responds to a number of influential cultural factors commonly thought to spell ill for religion, showing the changes - changes favorable to religion - that are now called for in how we understand them and their proper impact. Finally, he provides a defense for a new and attractive religious humanism that benefits from, rather than being hindered by, religious immaturity. In Schellenberg's view, religion can and should become a human project as monumental as science.

Prologue: the 10,000-year test; 1. Development and the divine; 2. The end is not near; 3. Big ambitions; 4. A poor record; 5. Verdict: immature not doomed; 6. A new path for science and religion; 7. The new agnosticism; 8. Naturalism tamed; 9. Agnostic religion?; 10. The new humanism; Epilogue: the religion project.

J. L. Schellenberg is Professor of Philosophy at Mount Saint Vincent University, Nova Scotia. His work was honored by a special issue of the Cambridge journal Religious Studies in 2013.