2010/01/20 by BENJAMIN S. CORDRY, Benjamin S. Cordry · 1 citation
Arts and Humanities · Social Sciences · #Theology and Philosophy of Evil #Religion and Society Interactions #Karl Barth and Christian Theology
paper · doi:10.1017/s0034412509990291
Abstract Andrew Eshleman has argued that atheists can believe in God by being fully engaged members of religious communities and using religious discourse in a non-realist way. He calls this position ‘fictionalism’ because the atheist takes up religion as a useful fiction. In this paper I critique fictionalism along two lines: that it is problematic to successfully be a fictionalist and that fictionalism is unjustified. Reflection on fictionalism will point to some wider problems with religious anti-realism.