2022 EPS Sessions at the Annual AAR & SBL Meeting – Evangelical Philosophical Society

The American Academy of Religion is delighted to have the Evangelical Philosophical Society hold its session in conjunction with the 2022 Society of Biblical Literature & American Academy of Religion Annual Meeting in Denver, CO! EPS sessions are part of the ‘Other Events’ programming of the conference, which allows scholarly dialogue and social and professional networking beyond the scope of SBL and AAR’s regular programming and are an invaluable part of the AAR/SBL Annual Meetings.

The EPS will host the following three sessions at the 2022 AAR & SBL Annual Meeting:

Discussion of Harold Netland’s book Religious Experience and the Knowledge of God

Friday, 6:00 PM – 8:30 PM (In Person)

Hyatt Regency Denver-Summit 26 (Fourth Level)

Harold Netland’s recent book, Religious Experience and the Knowledge of God: The Evidential Force of Divine Encounters (Baker Academic, 2022), explores epistemological issues related to religious experience in a setting of religious diversity. Drawing on work by Kai-Man Kwan, Richard Swinburne, Jennifer Lackey, and others, Netland develops a “critical-trust” approach and defends it against a number of objections. In particular, he considers the fact that divergent religious experiences “produce incompatible descriptions and claims.” Given that situation, “how can one be confident that the practices in which one participates actually produce veridical experiences and true beliefs” (226-27)? The panelists will have time to open up areas for critical discussion, followed by responses from Netland and a time for Q&A with the author and panelists.

Panelists

Harold Netland, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School
James Beilby, Bethel University
R. Douglas Geivett, Biola University
Dolores Morris, University of South Florida

New Perspectives on the Historical Adam

Saturday, 6:30 PM – 9:30 PM (In Person)

Convention Center-505 (Street Level)

There has been a renewed interest among theologians in the historicity of Adam and Eve. The debate raises a number of important and hotly contested theological, historical, and scientific questions. Three new books have garnered special attention: Joshua Swamidass, The Genealogical Adam and Eve; William Lane Craig, In Quest of the Historical Adam; and Andrew T. Loke, The Origin of Humanity and Evolution. Their models present different perspectives on various issues at the interface of science and theology. This panel will feature these authors presenting their respective models followed by audience discussion.

S. Joshua Swamidass, Washington University of St. Louis
William Lane Craig, Houston Baptist University and Talbot School of Theology
Andrew T. Loke, Hong Kong Baptist University

Ineffability as a Way of Life: Four Perspectives on Philosophy of Religion’s Enduring Enigma

Sunday, 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM (In Person)

Sheraton Downtown-Plaza Court 3 (Plaza Tower – Concourse Level – 1 level below Lobby)

David Mau, Colorado Christian University, Presiding

The horizons of Philosophy of Religion have narrowed since Kant’s epistemology demanded the bifurcation of the noumenal and phenomenal world; furthermore, Wittgenstein’s “linguistic turn” complicated metaphysics by denying its plausibility while retaining the possibility of the ineffable beyond language. In an age where revelation is often asked to provide phenomenological or epistemological proof consistent with reason, upon what basis can Christian believers or religious adherents meet these philosophical standards? To what extent are believers able to defend divine mystery and ineffability in a scientific age? Are their own religious experiences and faith able to be conveyed within language? Do the limits of our reason demand a sort of lived ineffability? The panel seeks to explore these and other questions within the frameworks of natural theology, apophaticism, phenomenology, aesthetics, and religious pluralism.

Panelists:

Doug Groothuis, Denver Seminary
Tim Knepper, Drake University

Before you register . . .
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Register for the Annual Meeting

There is no ‘EPS only’ pricing for the EPS sessions. AAR/SBL annual meeting registration permits you access to all the sessions, not just the EPS sessions.