Religion Matters: Philosophy of Religion on Trial

Philosophy of Religion on Trial: A Problem of Epistemic Injustice

By: Zoe Longworth

I’m Zoe and I am a 26 year-old, fourth year PhD researcher at the Faculty of Religion, Culture and Society. I am originally from the UK but have been living in the Netherlands for almost 5 years. I moved here in 2020 to study my masters at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and fell in love with the Netherlands, especially Groningen! I hope to stay here permanently after my PhD.

Abstract

In this lecture, I talk about a key focus within my research: namely, how we can approach philosophy of religion in a more human-centered way? The traditional approach to philosophy, especially analytical philosophy, has often been driven by the ideal of objectivity. In essence, this has meant that the subjective, lived experiences of actual religious believers have been left behind. I argue that this is itself an epistemic injustice and an overlooked issue in philosophy of religion. In response to this, I offer some alternative ways of engaging with philosophy that do not disregard the lived experiences of religious believers. I also argue that, despite claims to the contrary, it is impossible for the philosopher to remain truly “objective”. I explore the implications of this inability and propose some ways of mitigating the issues it causes when philosophising about religion.

This event is part of the Religion, Culture and Society public lecture series 2024-2025.