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Revelation: From Metaphor to Analogy Hardcover – Aug 26 2007

by Richard Swinburne (Author)

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The great religions often claim that their books or creeds contain truths revealed by God. How could we know that they do? In the second edition of Revelation, renowned philosopher of religion Richard Swinburne addresses this central question. But since the books of great religions often contain much poetry and parable, Swinburne begins by investigating how eternal truth can be conveyed in unfamiliar genres, by analogy and metaphor, within false presuppositions about science and history. In the final part of the book, Swinburne then applies the results of Parts I and II to assessing the evidence that the teaching of the Christian Church constitutes a revelation from God. In the course of his philosophical exploration, Swinburne considers how the church which Jesus founded is to be identified today and presents a sustained discussion of which passages in the Bible should be understood literally and which should be understood metaphorically. This is a fuller and entirely rewritten second edition of Revelation, the most notable new feature of which is a long chapter examining whether traditional Christian claims about personal morality (divorce, homosexuality, abortion, etc.) can be regarded as revealed truths. A formal appendix shows how the structure of evidence supporting the Christian revelation can be articulated in terms of the probability calculus (and shows that Plantinga's well-known argument from 'dwindling probabilities' against probabilistic arguments of this kind is not cogent).

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Product details

Hardcover: 384 pages
Publisher: Oxford University Press; Second Edition edition (Aug. 26 2007)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0199212465
ISBN-13: 978-0199212460
Product Dimensions: 21.6 x 2.8 x 14.2 cm
Shipping Weight: 567 g
Average Customer Review: Be the first to review this item
Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #4,355,658 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #6565 in Books > Politics & Social Sciences > Philosophy > Philosophy of Religion
- #7554 in Books > Politics & Social Sciences > Philosophy > Religious
- #13443 in Books > Textbooks > Humanities > Religious Studies > Christianity

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Review

`Review from previous edition This book succeeds very well in mapping the major issues involved in establishing the credibility of central Christian claims about divine revelation. ... In an admirable fashion Swinburne clearly distinguishes revelation from biblical inspiration, highlights the role of the Church in establishing the canon, and insists on the indispensable place of credal and doctrinal texts in biblical interpretation. ... This book would be a first-rate text for graduate (and superior undergraduate) students concerned with major issues of revelation. For that reason alone I was very glad to see it issued simultaneously in hardback and paperback.' Heythrop Journal

`The issue is pursued with the clarity and philosophical precision for which Swinburne's work is rightly renowned ... The case that Swinburne argues is a careful, logical one.' Journal of Theological Studies

`Written to the highest academic standards ... should be included in libraries catering for postgraduate courses in the philosophy of religion.' Theological Book Review

`Swinburne has once again produced an outstanding work in philosophy of religion.' The Philosophical Review

`Historically rich but theologically controversial book.' Faith and Philosophy

About the Author

Richard Swinburne is a Fellow of the British Academy and Emeritus Nolloth Professor of the Philosophy of the Christian Religion at the University of Oxford.

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Amazon.com: 3 reviews

Amazon Customer

A locus classicus for philosophy of Christian Religion

October 8, 2011 - Published on Amazon.com

Verified Purchase

This book is excellent for exploring new ways of understanding the Bible. I find the argument that humans should expect a revelation from God a bit weak, but find the depth and erudition of the book to more than compensate.

3 people found this helpful.

Ryan Mullins

Difficult but good.

February 1, 2009 - Published on Amazon.com

In this work Swinburne seeks to build off of his previous arguments for the existence of God and posits that God, if He exists, has good reason to reveal Himself. Swinburne is not content with just this task. He also examines issues in the philosophy of language, the history of Biblical interpretation, and the like in order to develop a criteria for judging whether or not a particular alleged revelation is in fact a revelation from God.

Like most of Swinburne's writings, this book is dense, thorough, and rigorous. It is certainly not for the beginner in theology or philosophy. At times it can be difficult reading, but it will make you a better thinker.

8 people found this helpful.

Gary Chartier

Excellent

March 3, 2009 - Published on Amazon.com

I heartily agree with the posted excerpt from the critique appearing in Theological Book Review.

4 people found this helpful.

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Revelation: From Metaphor to Analogy Hardcover – Aug 26 2007

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