Abstract

This essay is concerned with a cluster of related problems which arise for an understanding of religious belief. In my treatment of them I have confined myself to examples drawn almost entirely from the Christian religion. I have accepted this restriction more out of necessity than partiality. It is difficult enough for a European philosopher to avoid unintentionally caricaturing that religion. The risk of his misrepresenting religions which have little influence his own culture must be even greater. I have, however, tried to make a virtue out of this restriction by addressing myself to some issues which have been of particular concern to Christian thinkers in recent years. But I hope that the bearing of my treatment of them on religious belief in general will be apparent. For few of them are peculiar to the Christian religion.