Religious Naturalism

For some people, religion concerns actualities and possibilities beyond or in addition to the world of natural processes, while naturalism confines possibilities and actualities in such a way as to rule out supernatural events and realms and beings. Thus, for such people, the phrase »religious naturalism« sounds oxymoronic. Construed in this way, religious naturalism is indeed an incoherent concept. But religious naturalism need not be thought of in this way, and it can be thought of in alternative ways that are deeply compelling, at least to some. The purpose of this essay is to explain one such understanding of religious naturalism, exhibiting the promise of the idea while distinguishing it from inadequate alternatives.