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Title: God and the Philosophers: The Reconciliation of Faith and Reason (Oxford Paperbacks) by Thomas V. Morris ISBN: 0-19-510119-7 Publisher: Oxford University Press Pub. Date: 01 January, 1996 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $17.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 3.17 (6 reviews)
Rating: 2
Summary: Somewhat Disappointing
Comment: I suppose I expected more from this book. After reading the introduction by editor Thomas Morris, I was expecting what he termed biographical essays "from the heart". Indeed there were several insightful essays from this slant discussing people's life experiences as they mingled reason and faith. Most of this book, however, was extremely disappointing to me. I found many authors drudging on regarding points that strayed very far from the stated "thesis" of the book and many of the essays were rehashings of the other essays in the book.
I really struggled to find the motivation to finish this book and that is quite a strong statement coming from me.
Rating: 3
Summary: Mixed Bag
Comment: This collection of essays is a mixed bag of good and not so good. Several of the authors obviously cling to Christianity because they grew up in it, have had a favourable experience with it and enjoy the sense of community that it brings. But these kinds of reasons could apply to any number of social organizations created by man.
I agree that one of the better essays is by Peter van Inwagen. I am troubled somewhat by his remark on p.37 "Nowadays I would say that I don't expect that the New Testament always gives an exact account of Jesus' words.......". (This comment was in reference to the Parousia (the second coming of Jesus)). So how exactly are we to know which words attributed to Jesus are authentic? If, on major points like this Sciprture is not demonstrably reliable then why believe any of it?
Rating: 3
Summary: Rationality of Belief in God
Comment: Is it rational to believe in God? Do faith and reason go together? Can philosophers believe in God? This collection of autobiographical essays answers these questions in the affirmative. The main collective argument of this book is that it is rational to believe in God. Philosophers need not fear belief in God. Indeed this book shows in contemporary form how philosophers have historically believed in God.
These essays are personal journeys as to how twenty modern philosophers have handled their religious beliefs in their field of study. There is a diversity of Evangelical, Catholic, Episcopalian, and Jewish philosophers. The essays are of varying degree in quality and content.
Here are a few highlights: Peter van Inwagen's essay entitled "Quam Dilecta" is probably one of the best in this collection. He argues that in recent times the deck is stacked against religious belief in academic circles. It has been commonly accepted that religion and philosophy do not mix and that they must be compartmentalized. However he proves this to be a false disjunction. They cannot and should not be separated. In fact they should be wed together.
Brian Leftow's "From Jerusalem to Athens" is probably the second best essay in the collection. He argues that he is a philosopher because he is first a Christian. Christian belief is a help to the intellectual life and it was Christianity, which brought him to philosophy. He shows that historically it has been commonplace for philosophers to base their philosophy on theistic belief. He seeks to return philosophy to its rightful place as being rooted in the Christian religion.
Given the diversity of contributors it makes for a mixed bag of essays. I believe the worst one (biblically speaking) was that of Marilyn McCord Adams. This significantly highlights the biblical injunction to be careful of hollow and deceptive philosophy (Colossians 2:8). Adams' essay is a negative warning to not acquiesce one's theology for the sake of philosophy. All too often as evidenced in this volume one has to give up key elements of the faith to be seen as respectable in the eyes of the university philosophy department (cf. Garcia giving up justification by faith alone and the doctrine of Scripture alone). For Adams emotion and feeling is often placed over God's divine revelation as disclosed in the Bible. She has faulted to the worldly wisdom, which God has made foolish (1 Corinthians 1:20).
One will be both encouraged and depressed as one reads through this volume. It is encouraging that many philosophers believe in God. Belief in God has become respectable and it is now seen as rational. Yet it is discouraging in that many are giving up central elements of the faith to make their beliefs respectable in the philosophy department. The God who is being believed in is not always the God of the Bible in his entire splendor and majesty. May we pray for more philosophers who are strongly committed to the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments. And may God be glorified in our philosophy.
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Title: Our Idea of God by Thomas V. Morris, Thomas, V. Morris ISBN: 1573831018 Publisher: Regent College Publishing Pub. Date: 01 January, 1997 List Price(USD): $21.95 |
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Title: Philosophers Who Believe: The Spiritual Journeys of 11 Leading Thinkers by Kelly James Clark ISBN: 0830815430 Publisher: InterVarsity Press Pub. Date: 01 November, 1997 List Price(USD): $19.00 |
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Title: Philosophy of Religion: The Big Questions (Philosophy, the Big Questions) by Eleonore Stump, Michael J. Murray ISBN: 0631206043 Publisher: Blackwell Publishers Pub. Date: 01 February, 1999 List Price(USD): $40.95 |
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Title: The Logic of God Incarnate by Thomas V. Morris ISBN: 1579106293 Publisher: Wipf & Stock Publishers Pub. Date: July, 2001 List Price(USD): $24.00 |
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Title: Philosophy of Religion: Selected Readings by William L. Rowe, William J. Wainwright, Robert Ferm ISBN: 0155036874 Publisher: Oxford University Press Pub. Date: 08 July, 1997 List Price(USD): $64.95 |
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