Introductory Lectures on Religious Philosophy

Book excerpt: More than a series of lectures, this collection of dialogues addresses the following questions: Canone be religious in modern, predominantly secular environments? What social and psychological functions do religions serve? Can one truly learn to live religious philosophies in the modern era? Professor Sabzevary's intellectual dexterity is matched only by his clarity, not only into perennial philosophical questions but also the modern condition. Far from leaving religious concepts in the lofty confines of tradition, Professor Sabzevary speaks a religious language with a modern tongue, contrasting and ultimately reconciling ancient philosophy with modern life. These dialogues place religious philosophies within the practical and emotional difficulties of modernity, while moving in a profound depth that taps into the wellspring from which all religious philosophies draw their substance. Professor Sabzevary's intellectual dexterity is matched only by his clarity, not only into perennial religious questions but also the modern condition. Far from leaving religious concepts in the lofty confines of tradition, Professor Sabzevary speaks a religious language with a modern tongue. Rather than simply detailing the nuances of various religious philosophies, Dr. Sabzevary's dialogues place these nuances within the lives of his students, thus evoking a startling intimacy. More than an ecumenical discourse, these lectures move in a profound depth that cannot but tap into the wellspring from which all religious philosophies draw their substance.