Not all the religions discussed in Huston Smith’s book would be considered theistic, but all grew out of cultures that accepted supernaturalism as a given. Naturalism may have had roots in ancient Greece, but as a widespread philosophy, it is a relatively recent phenomenon, perhaps since the late 18th century Despite growing up in a Christian community, I rejected supernaturalism early on but continued to embrace theism, considering myself a theistic naturalist. But is this an oxymoron, a contradiction in terms? Am I trying to have my cake and eat it too? This argument is not lost on me.
My first question in the context of this course concerns process theology. Am I correct to view its panentheism as a form of theistic naturalism? Do most process philosophers and theologians reject supernaturalism?
My second question concerns the world’s great religions. Which of them are natively most accepting of naturalism? How many have transitioned to a more naturalistic worldview? And which are most stubbornly insistent on a supernatural worldview?
