Religious Experience and Religious Lives

In this book, Stepanenko stakes out a new position on the question of the evidential force of religious experience, After a careful exposition and analysis of the literature, in which he lays out a taxonomy of religious epistemologies, he stakes out and argues for his own position, according to which religious experiences can be part of a cumulative case for theism. He does it all with such care and precision that the book could be used in a wide variety of courses and seminars. But most important, all epistemologists of religion need to read it right now.

Walter Scott Stepanenko has given us a thorough and articulated argument for the justification, and--indeed--practicality of religious beliefs supported by religious experiences. This is an account that is detailed, scholarly, at many points convincing, and always written with an openness and honesty that is refreshing to read. On matters of faith the question, "Yes, but how can you know?" is too often put forward as a kind of self-congratulating defeater; here Stepanenko offers a series of possible answers, and does so with grace and humility.

Walter Stepanenko has provided a service to the analytic philosophy community. Religious Experience and Religious Lives offers an up to date defense of how religious belief can be rational for scientifically informed persons. Religious epistemologists will be especially interested in Stepanenko's balanced engagement with the cognitive science literature. Stepanenko's volume is a must read for those interested in contemporary religious epistemology.