
Separating the Theological Sheep from the Philosophical Goats
Author(s) -
Jonathan C. Rutledge
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
the journal of analytic theology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2330-2380
DOI - 10.12978/jat.2021-1.3540-39434630
Subject(s) - philosophy , epistemology , philosophical theology , analytic philosophy , contemporary philosophy , philosophy of religion , theology
Andrew Torrance has recently argued that we can distinguish analytic theology from analytic philosophy of religion if we understand theology as, fundamentally, a scientific enterprise. However, this distinction holds only if philosophy of religion is not itself a science in the sense intended by Torrance. I argue that philosophy of religion is a science in this sense, and so, that Torrance cannot distinguish theology from philosophy of religion in the way suggested. Nevertheless, I offer two alternative routes to the distinction based on the nature of the respective objects of study in theology and philosophy of religion. Thus, I demonstrate that there is a coherent model available to Torrance which preserves the distinction he seeks.