"This book makes a fine contribution to the literature on the axiology of theism. [...] I recommend this book to everyone interested in contemporary philosophy of religion".

• Graham Oppy, Professor of Philosophy, Monash University, Australia

"[...] a sustained and fascinating defense of a view called anti-theism: the view that God's existence would make the world overall worse. Lougheed adeptly addresses the most serious objections to anti-theism and provides a compelling set of arguments for the view."

• Michael Almeida, Professor of Philosophy, University of Texas at San Antonio, USA

This book explores the value impact that theist and other worldviews have on our world and its inhabitants. Providing an extended defense of anti-theism - the view that God's existence would (or does) actually make the world worse in certain respects - Lougheed explores God's impact on a broad range of concepts including privacy, understanding, dignity, and sacrifice. The second half of the book is dedicated to the expansion of the current debate beyond monotheism and naturalism, providing an analysis of the axiological status of other worldviews such as pantheism, ultimism, and Buddhism. A lucid exploration of contemporary and relevant questions about the value impact of God's existence, this book is an invaluable resource for scholars interested in axiological questions in the philosophy of religion.

Autorentext

Kirk Lougheed is a Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Johannesburg, South Africa. He has published over 20 articles in the philosophy of religion and epistemology. He is editor of Four Views on the Axiology of Theism: What Difference Does God Make? (2020) and author of The Epistemic Benefits of Disagreement (2020).

Zusammenfassung

This book explores the value impact that theist and other worldviews have on our world and its inhabitants. Providing an extended defense of anti-theism - the view that God's existence would (or does) actually make the world worse in certain respects - Lougheed explores God's impact on a broad range of concepts including privacy, understanding, dignity, and sacrifice. The second half of the book is dedicated to the expansion of the current debate beyond monotheism and naturalism, providing an analysis of the axiological status of other worldviews such as pantheism, ultimism, and Buddhism.

A lucid exploration of contemporary and relevant questions about the value impact of God's existence, this book is an invaluable resource for scholars interested in axiological questions in the philosophy of religion.

Inhalt
Part 1: Setting the Stage.- Chapter 1: The Current Debate.- Chapter 2: The Meaningful Life Argument.- Part 2: Arguments for Anti-Theism.- Chapter 3: The Privacy Argument for Anti-Theism.- Chapter 4: The Autonomy and Dignity Arguments for Anti-Theism.- Chapter 5: The Sacrifice and Complete Understanding Arguments for Anti-Theism.- Chapter 6: The Axiological Status of God, Lesser-Gods, and Aliens. Why Atheist Worlds are Necessarily the Best.- Part 3: Beyond Monotheism.- Chapter 7: The Axiological Status of Schellenberg's Ultimism.- Chapter 8: The Axiology of Panentheism and Pantheism.- Chapter 9: The Axiology of Buddhism.- Chapter 10. Beyond Religion.