Religion and Realism

This volume revisits the concepts of reality and realism with regard to their relation to religion and the religious real. Religion remains one of the most significant social forces and cultural constituencies, and it can even be said that religion and religious truths are becoming increasingly important in these so-called “post-secular” times, when the sphere of the (secular) social/political and the sphere of the religious have to be reconsidered. The relevancy of religious truths and the way they structure our understanding of “reality” overcomes the sphere of theology and particular religious practices. Religion, truth, and reality, and the way these concepts are approached and understood, continue to be vital for a broader cultural discourse as well, from philosophy and science to politics, mass media and show-business.

The book presents ten essays that offer methodologically diverse and intellectually challenging analyses of various aspects of the topics of Religion and Realism. The essays are based on papers presented at the international conference on Religion and Realism, which took place at the American University of Rome in 2014.