New Work on Wittgenstein's Philosophy of Religion—Part 2

A special issue of Religions (ISSN 2077-1444). This special issue belongs to the section "Religions and Humanities/Philosophies".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 March 2027 | Viewed by 2474

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Department of Philosophy, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
Interests: AI; epistemology; language; mind; Socrates; Wittgenstein
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue aims to explore the continuing relevance and impact of Ludwig Wittgenstein’s philosophy of religion since, despite the extensive literature on Wittgenstein’s general philosophy, his contributions to the philosophy of religion remain underexamined and ripe for further exploration. Moreover, this Special Issue seeks to bring together new and innovative research that delves into Wittgenstein’s unique approach to religious language, practice, and belief.

Contributors are invited to examine topics such as Wittgenstein’s critique of traditional metaphysical approaches to religion, his concept of religious forms of life, and the implications of his thoughts on ritual and religious expression. We are particularly interested in papers that engage with Wittgenstein’s later works, including Philosophical Investigations and On Certainty, to uncover fresh insights into his religious thought.

This Special Issue will provide a platform for scholars to address how Wittgenstein’s ideas can illuminate contemporary debates in the philosophy of religion, including discussions on the nature of faith, the role of religious narratives, and the interplay between religion and ethics. By fostering a dialogue between Wittgenstein’s philosophy and current religious studies, we hope to advance a deeper understanding of both fields.

Submissions are welcomed from diverse philosophical perspectives, encouraging a rich and multifaceted exploration of Wittgenstein’s enduring influence on the philosophy of religion.

We request that prior to submitting a manuscript, interested authors initially submit their proposed title and an abstract of 100–200 words summarizing their intended contribution. Please send this to the Guest Editor or the Assistant Editor of Religions, Mrs. Kiki Zhang (kiki.zhang@mdpi.com). Abstracts will be reviewed by the Guest Editor to ensure that the proposed manuscript properly fits within the scope of the Special Issue. Full manuscripts will undergo a double-blind peer review process.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Sebastian Sunday Grève
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • Ludwig Wittgenstein
  • philosophy of religion
  • religious belief
  • religious language
  • religious point of view
  • ethics
  • faith
  • form of life
  • cognitivism
  • fideism
  • John Henry Newman
  • Kierkegaard
  • Tolstoy

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

19 pages, 263 KB  
Article
Quantum Reality as Life-Guiding: A Critical Analysis of the Existential Realist Interpretations of Quantum Mechanics
by Gorazd Andrejč
Religions 2026, 17(7), 779; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel17070779 - 29 Jun 2026
Viewed by 398
Abstract
This essay offers a critical reading of Karen Barad’s and Heinrich Päs’ interpretations of quantum mechanics, using a Categorial Differentiation approach to science and religion, which is inspired by Wittgenstein and van Fraassen. Barad and Päs are ontological realists, but their philosophies of [...] Read more.
This essay offers a critical reading of Karen Barad’s and Heinrich Päs’ interpretations of quantum mechanics, using a Categorial Differentiation approach to science and religion, which is inspired by Wittgenstein and van Fraassen. Barad and Päs are ontological realists, but their philosophies of quantum mechanics depart from what I call scientistic realist interpretations of quantum mechanics, which are mainstream in the analytic philosophy of physics. After an overview of the ontological turn in the philosophy of quantum mechanics and explaining the basic difference between scientistic and existential kinds of realism, I examine the central features of Barad’s agential realism and Päs’ quantum monism. The Categorial Differentiation approach, which offers a normative perspective on the relationship between science and religion, is introduced, and its relevance for the philosophy (and theology) of quantum mechanics is explained. I conclude the essay with a critical analysis of Barad’s and Päs’ interpretations from this Wittgensteinian perspective, focusing on the ways in which they relate the science of quantum mechanics with their respective existential–moral visions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Work on Wittgenstein's Philosophy of Religion—Part 2)
15 pages, 414 KB  
Article
In the Beginning Was the Redeeming Word: Tolstoy’s Spiritual Influence on the Genesis of Wittgenstein’s Tractatus
by Michael Beaney and Frank Burr
Religions 2026, 17(6), 730; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel17060730 - 18 Jun 2026
Viewed by 783
Abstract
This article discusses the influence of Leo Tolstoy on Ludwig Wittgenstein’s early philosophy. In particular, we elucidate the influence that Wittgenstein’s reading of Tolstoy’s Gospel in Brief had on the genesis of the Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus, in inspiration, structure, and content. Central to [...] Read more.
This article discusses the influence of Leo Tolstoy on Ludwig Wittgenstein’s early philosophy. In particular, we elucidate the influence that Wittgenstein’s reading of Tolstoy’s Gospel in Brief had on the genesis of the Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus, in inspiration, structure, and content. Central to our account is the idea of ‘the redeeming word (das erlösende Wort)’, which Wittgenstein sought in ‘liberating’ us from the problems of philosophy, liberation that had a deep spiritual and ethical purpose. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Work on Wittgenstein's Philosophy of Religion—Part 2)
18 pages, 231 KB  
Article
Invoking Wittgenstein in Defence of Religious Belief
by Stephen William Law
Religions 2026, 17(6), 643; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel17060643 - 26 May 2026
Viewed by 722
Abstract
This paper provides an overview of five defences of religious belief against criticisms offered by ‘modern atheists’ such as Richard Dawkins. All five defences maintain that the atheist’s criticisms are off target as a result of the atheist having failed properly to grasp [...] Read more.
This paper provides an overview of five defences of religious belief against criticisms offered by ‘modern atheists’ such as Richard Dawkins. All five defences maintain that the atheist’s criticisms are off target as a result of the atheist having failed properly to grasp how religious language is used. All five defences are linked with Wittgenstein. My interest here is not in whether any of the defences outlined are Wittgenstein’s (I take no position on that), but rather on whether any plausibly deliver the conclusion that the atheist’s criticisms are off target. The paper concludes that, as they stand, all five defences face significant objections. First, while some would deliver the conclusion that the ‘modern atheist’s’ criticisms are off target, their accounts of how religious language is used appear implausible. Second, the remaining defences, while offering more plausible accounts of how religious language is used, appear not to deliver the conclusion that the ‘modern atheist’s’ criticisms are off target. The paper also notes that those who claim atheist criticisms of religious belief are off target aren’t always clear about which defence (or defences) they are offering, be it one of the five defences outlined here or some other defence. By providing this map or overview, I aim to offer such defenders an opportunity to identify more clearly which defence they have in mind and why they believe it succeeds. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Work on Wittgenstein's Philosophy of Religion—Part 2)
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