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The proper object of non-doxastic religion: why traditional religion should be preferred over Schellenberg's simple ultimism

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 May 2018

CARL-JOHAN PALMQVIST Open the ORCID record for CARL-JOHAN PALMQVIST [Opens in a new window]
CARL-JOHAN PALMQVIST*
Affiliation:
Department of Philosophy, University of Lund, Box 192, 221 00, Lund, Sweden
*
e-mail: carl-johan.palmqvist@fil.lu.se
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Abstract

Taking for granted the view that belief-less, ‘non-doxastic’, engagement with religion is possible, this article discusses the proper object of such religiosity. Its focus is the claim of J. L. Schellenberg that non-doxastic religion should be directed at ’simple ultimism’. I argue that ‘simple ultimism’ is too abstract to allow for alignment with religious reality. Traditional religion is a better choice since it commonly contains religious experience. As long as the veridicality of such experience remains an epistemic possibility, it should guide our non-doxastic commitment. Objections commonly raised against reliance on religious experience become irrelevant on a non-doxastic approach.

Type
Original Article
Information
Religious Studies , Volume 55 , Issue 4 , December 2019 , pp. 559 - 574
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2018 

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