DRISHTI IAS Philosophy – Philosophy of Religion | Optional Course for Civil Services Examination

Comprehensive coverage of Philosophy of Religion for Philosophy Optional preparation
Introduces the nature, purpose and scope of Philosophy of Religion
Covers the Notion of God, including attributes and relation to man and the world
Includes major Proofs for the Existence of God and their Critique
Detailed discussion of the Problem of Evil from Indian and Western perspectives
Covers Soul, Immortality, Rebirth and Liberation
Includes Religious Knowledge through Reason, Revelation and Faith
Covers Religious Experience and Mysticism from Indian and Western perspectives
Includes Religion without God, Atheism, Humanism and Confucianism
Explores the relationship between Religion and Morality
Covers Religious Pluralism and the Problem of Absolute Truth
Includes Nature and Problems of Religious Language
Designed as an Optional Course for Civil Services Examination

The book is titled Philosophy – Philosophy of Religion and is structured as an Optional Course for Civil Services Examination preparation.

About this Book

Drishti IAS Philosophy – Philosophy of Religion is a focused study resource designed for aspirants preparing Philosophy as an Optional subject for the Civil Services Examination.

The book begins by explaining Philosophy of Religion as a rational, logical, comprehensive, evaluative and neutral inquiry into religious concepts, including God, Soul, Liberation, Mysticism and Religious Language.

It then explores the Notion of God, arguments for God’s existence, the Problem of Evil, immortality, rebirth and liberation, before moving into questions of religious knowledge, faith, revelation and experience.

The later sections cover Religion without God, Religion and Morality, Religious Pluralism and Religious Language, giving the book broad coverage of both classical and contemporary debates in Philosophy of Religion.

Key Areas Covered

Introduction to Philosophy of Religion
Purpose and Scope of Philosophy of Religion
Religion, Dharma, Theology & Religious Philosophy
Notion of God
Attributes of God
God’s Relationship with Man
God and World Relationship
Theories of Creation
Proofs for the Existence of God
Cosmological Argument
Teleological Argument
Moral Argument
Religious Experience Argument
Ontological Argument
Problem of Evil
Soul and Immortality
Rebirth
Liberation
Reason, Revelation and Faith
Religious Experience
Mysticism
Religion without God
Atheism
Humanism
Confucianism
Religion and Morality
Religious Pluralism
Problem of Absolute Truth
Religious Language

1. Introduction to Philosophy of Religion

Purpose to Study Philosophy of Religion • Philosophy as Second-Order Inquiry • Religion: Concept and Definition • Importance of Religion • Religion vs Dharma • Religion, Theology and Religious Philosophy

The book explains Philosophy of Religion as an inquiry that evaluates religious concepts in a rational, logical and neutral manner, neither simply accepting nor rejecting religious claims.

2. Notion of God

Attributes of God • Relationship to Man and World • Indian and Western Perspectives • Incarnation • God-Man Relationship • God-World Relationship • Theories of Creation

This section examines whether God is understood as personal, impersonal or naturalistic, and discusses metaphysical and moral attributes such as omnipotence, omniscience, omnipresence, benevolence and justice.

3. Proofs for the Existence of God and their Critique

Arguments for Existence of God • Importance of Proofs • Other Grounds for Accepting God’s Existence

The book classifies arguments into a posteriori and a priori approaches, covering cosmological, teleological, moral, religious-experience and ontological arguments.

4. Problem of Evil

Western Perspective • Thinkers on Evil • Justification of Evil • Indian Perspective

The chapter examines the classical tension between the claims that God is omnipotent, God is benevolent, and evil exists, along with Indian and Western perspectives on the issue.

5. Soul: Immortality, Rebirth and Liberation

Immortality • Arguments for Immortality • Types of Immortality • Liberation

The text compares views of the soul across traditions such as Jainism, Ramanuja, Carvaka and Nyaya-Vaishesika, along with questions of bondage and liberation.

6. Religious Knowledge – Reason, Revelation and Faith

Reason • Faith • Revelation

The chapter distinguishes religious knowledge from scientific knowledge and discusses its subjective, transcendental and faith-based character, including Ayer’s treatment of knowledge.

7. Religious Experience – Nature and Object

Religious Experience • Features • Need • Characteristics • Categories • Mysticism • Thinkers’ Views • Objects of Experience • Justification • Challenges • Interpretation

The book describes religious experience as personal, diverse and widely found across religious traditions, while also exploring its role in self-realisation, spiritual awakening and religious justification.

8. Religion without God

Indian & Western Concepts • Features of Religion without God • Atheism • Humanism • Confucianism

9. Religion and Morality

Types of Morality • Relation between Religion and Morality • Religious Morality • Independent Morality • Morality for an Atheist • Kant’s Ethics and Karma-Yoga

The chapter compares theistic and secular morality and examines whether morality depends on religion, is independent of it, or is interdependent with it.

10. Religious Pluralism and the Problem of Absolute Truth

Introduction • Interreligious Pluralism • Conditions for Religious Pluralism

The section discusses religious pluralism through soteriological, normative, epistemological, alethic and ethical dimensions.

11. Nature of Religious Language

Meaning of Religious Language • Theories Regarding Religious Language

The book examines how expressions about God and transcendental realities differ from ordinary language and addresses the philosophical problem of religious language or naming God.

Suitable For

Philosophy Optional • UPSC Philosophy Optional • Civil Services Examination • Philosophy of Religion • Religious Philosophy • Indian & Western Religious Thought • Metaphysics • Philosophy Optional Preparation