Transcending Fictionalism: God, Minimalism and Realism

Exploring alternative conceptions of the divine, Jessica Eastwood considers the ways of believing in God that are authentic and sincere, moving beyond traditional metaphysical structures that many find difficult to accept. In this study, she examines a unique branch of religious non-realism known as religious fictionalism, making the case for its ability to resonate on an intellectual and emotional level. Considering the extent to which fictionalism allows us to make sense of the role of religion in our spiritual lives, she presents its limitations on adhering to what might be an attractive contemporary model for philosophy of religion called ‘the humane turn’. Articulating an alternative conception of God that we can relate to in an intellectual, emotional and spiritual way, Eastwood sheds light on a minimalist form of religious realism, which preserves the reality of God without committing the theist to a host of additional religious beliefs.