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Title: Willing to Believe: The Controversy over Free Will by R. C. Sproul ISBN: 0-8010-6412-0 Publisher: Baker Book House Pub. Date: April, 2002 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $14.99 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.35 (17 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: Good Summary on Free Will Historical Thought
Comment: Sproul has put together a very even handed, well documented, heavily referenced book that deals with the church long debate over human free will. Though personally from the Reformed camp, Sproul does not use this book as a vehicle for the advocacy of Reformed thought, but dispassionately examines the free will musings of various prominent thinkers throughout church history who represent a good variety of opinion.
Sproul takes the reader from Augustine to Chafer and looks at a number of folks in between such as Pelagius, Arminius, Luther, Calvin, Edwards, and Finney. I felt that Sproul did a very good job of examining the views of each individual, and particularly in the cases of Finney and Chafer, showing that their views on free will didn't always reflect what they said their overall theology was. Very insightful writing here.
One of the things I got out of the book was the obscure nature of a number of nuances that surround this issue and separate folks along theological lines. I think readers who are not intimately familiar with these issues may find themselves a bit surprised by the often nuanced differences that have become such bitter points of contention between theological camps (monergistic versus synergistic soteriology is one example). I thought that Sproul did a good job of examining these views in a detailed way in order to lay bare the theological differences that speak for themselves. His extensive quotation of the above church thinkers on these issues allows the reader to see for him/herself what these thinkers wrote and thought.
Overall, I think this is a very informative book that serves to honestly treat the free will controversy in such a way that a layperson can better understand the controversy and be able to continue in their research with a solid basis of understanding. This book is a quality addition to the Christian's library.
Rating: 4
Summary: Great Introduction to the Will of Man
Comment: Sproul does a great job of tracing the beliefs of the will of man throughout Church History. He traces the debate from Augustine, Pelagius, Semi-Pelagians, Luther, Calvin, Arminius, Edwards, Finney and Chafer. I didn't really like the part on Augustine, Calvin and Luther because it was stuff that I already knew. But, it would be very good for someone studying this issue for the very first time. The part on Edwards was amazing. His analysis of Edwards compatabilism was incredible. Edwards believed that we were inclined to sin. He is the greatest Philosopher/Theologian to ever graze the American scene. I loved his critique of Charles Finney. The modern day church's admiration for him is sickening. He didn't believe in the substutitionary atonement (opting for the governmental theory of Grotius), lied about the Westminster Confession of Faith, was a staunch Pelagian, and is the father of the modern-day Emotionalistic Evangelism movement(which is anthropocentric and not theocentric). I also like his critique of Chafer. A lot of Dispensationalists try to claim to be "four-point" Calvinists. Sproul shows that they redefine terms, and are not historical "four-point" Calvinists (Amyraldians), but are "Pseudo-Calvinists." I give it four stars because of the information on Edwards, Finney, and Chafer. The reason I do not give it five starts is because I wish it would have been more in depth. But, this was written for the laymen. Overall, An excellent introduction to the different views of the will of man throughout Church History.
Rating: 5
Summary: Willing to Believe: A great book
Comment: This was an excellent book. R. C. Sproul, yet again demonstrates his awesome writing skills and historical knowledge over so called "free will." I really enjoyed the section on Martin Luther, and I was shocked and disturbed to read the views of Finney. The quotes, Sproul used from other sources were very appropriate and I found the side-bars containing information on where to find more information especially helpful.This is a must read for anyone who wants to understand the never-ending debate between Calvinists and Arminians on the subject of free will.
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Title: Chosen by God by R. C. Sproul ISBN: 0842313354 Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers Pub. Date: October, 1994 List Price(USD): $10.99 |
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Title: Essential Truths of the Christian Faith by R. C. Sproul ISBN: 0842320016 Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers Pub. Date: 01 February, 1998 List Price(USD): $12.99 |
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Title: The Holiness of God by R. C. Sproul ISBN: 0842339655 Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers Pub. Date: 01 July, 2000 List Price(USD): $12.99 |
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Title: Grace Unknown: The Heart of Reformed Theology by R. C. Sproul ISBN: 0801011213 Publisher: Baker Book House Pub. Date: March, 1997 List Price(USD): $19.99 |
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Title: The Bondage of the Will by Martin Luther, J. I. Packer, O. R. Johnston ISBN: 0800753429 Publisher: Fleming H Revell Co Pub. Date: April, 1990 List Price(USD): $16.99 |
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