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Title: Introduction to Philosophy: A Christian Perspective by Norman L. Geisler, Paul D. Feinberg ISBN: 0-8010-3818-9 Publisher: Baker Book House Pub. Date: June, 1987 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $26.99 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.67 (6 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: Not for itching ears
Comment: The reason to read this book is to become aware what philosophies and logic are consistent to teachings in the word of God and what is not. This work will better prepare the reader to comprehend Christian apologetic works. This book can equip the Christian in his quest to avoid the temptations of higher criticism. To anchor one's thought process to the word of God. This book should be read before one attempts to read Geisler's book on Christian Apologetics or another textbook on Christian Apologetics. I plan on reading Geisler's work on logic before rereading his apologetics work. This text does discuss methodology and logic sufficient to understand the rest of the text, but further understanding of logic may be needed to less difficulty comprehending the apologetics text.
For though by this time you ought to be teachers,you need some one to teach you again the first principles of God's word. You need milk, not solid food; (Hebrews 5:12 RSV)
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that
needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2:15 AV)
Part of the Christian walk is become mature in Christ in both the word and deed. Pure study will never bring the Christian into increasing maturity. The Holy Spirit works through the Christian's daily walk which includes prayer, study of God's word, and interaction between believers and nonbelievers. None the less part of the Christian walk is to seek stronger spiritual food- not just the food for babes in Christ. Earnestly seeking to stay steadfast to the word of God. This book presents nonbiblical philosophies and explains why it is not consistent with scripture.
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers,having itching ears; (2 Timothy 4:3 AV)
To discriminate between what is the teaching of God and what is not.
Rating: 4
Summary: Recommendations
Comment: For several superb works on Christian philosophy, I recommend the following. Search for them on the web (many free materials are available from these authors).
Gordon Clark (Trinity Foundation):
- An Introduction to Christian Philosophy
- A Christian View of Men and Things
- Religion, Reason, and Revelation
Vincent Cheung (Reformation Ministries International):
- Systematic Theology
- Ultimate Questions
- Presuppositional Confrontations
Rating: 5
Summary: Christianity and philosophy; friends, not enemies
Comment: Even though this book is written as a textbook, I found it very useful. The first chapter shows the reader what philosophy is about and its value. Of particular note, is the half page section titled, "The Christian Challenge." Here the authors state their position on the relationship between Christianity and philosophy:
"Christianity can stand up to the intellectual challenge mounted against it. The result of such a challenge should not be the loss of faith, but the priceless possession of a well-reasoned and mature faith." (page 22)
Before the authors embark on the specific fields of philosophy, a quick sketch is provided of some of the major fields (e.g. ethics, political philosophy, and logic) and the tools of philosophy. This discussion of logic and argumentation includes induction vs. deduction, the existential method, the phenomenological method and the analytic method.
Two of the most important chapters for the new philosopher are, "The Tools of Philosophy," and, "The Challenge of Philosophy." The Tools chapter is a discussion of how arguments are constructed and how to evaluate them. The Challenge chapter discusses the goals of philosophy and the role the philosophy plays for the Christian (including "The Biblical Basis for Christian Philosophy")
Following this are Parts that focus on the main branches of philosophy:
Epistemology (What is Knowledge? How can we know?)
Metaphysics (What is reality? Is man free? Does man survive death?)
Philosophy of Religion (Does God exist? The Problem of Evil)
Ethics (What is the right? Is the Right Universal? Do Moral Duties ever conflict?)
The authors general approach is to explain a view point, explain its supporting arguments and then the criticism that have been laid against it. Occasionally, the authors include an explicitly Christian viewpoint that incorporates all the previous views into one comprehensive whole.
The best example in the book of a Christian synthesis is the chapter entitled, "What is the Right?" In this chapter, the authors construct a Christian definition for the right, that is both philosophically sophisticated and true to the Bible. This discussion explains how the Christian definition depends on general revelation (i.e. natural law) and special revelation (i.e. the Bible).
Two other chapters stand out as well, "Does God exist?" and, "The Problem of Evil." In the, "Does God exist," chapter, the authors evaluate atheism (the view that God does not exist), agnosticism (the view that God's existence is unknown or unknowable) and theism (the view that God exists). Readers of Geisler's other works (notably Christian Apologetics and the Baker Encyclopedia of Christian Apologetics) will recognize Geisler's superb arguments. He puts all the arguments in a clear, precise form, which makes the arguments easier to analyze. The chapter concludes with the following heading, "We have sufficient reason to believe in God."
"The Problem of Evil," chapter follows the typical example of explaining the differing viewpoints and evaluating them but it also includes the precise, step-by-step formulation that makes complex arguments accessible. From both of these chapters, it is clear that the only real argument that atheism can muster against theism is the argument from evil. But, after reading this chapter and reading other excellent Christian philosophers like William Lane Craig, it becomes obvious that this objection has been refuted.
The authors include a glossary, which provides quick definitions for terms such as: Logic, non sequitur, theism, accident, antinomy, deontology etc... There is also an index.
My only serious criticism of the book is similar to what I wrote about Geisler's "Christian Apologetics." At the end of every chapter, the authors list, "Suggested Readings." However, these are almost always primary readings (e.g. Plato, Kant etc...) or from books that are out of print. It would be helpful if the authors had included more contemporary books. Lastly, the lack of an annotated bibliography is noted.
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Title: Come, Let Us Reason: An Introduction to Logical Thinking by Norman L. Geisler, Ronald M. Brooks ISBN: 0801038367 Publisher: Baker Book House Pub. Date: October, 1990 List Price(USD): $19.99 |
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Title: Philosophical Foundations for a Christian Worldview by J. P. Moreland, William Lane Craig ISBN: 0830826947 Publisher: Intervarsity Press Pub. Date: April, 2003 List Price(USD): $35.00 |
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Title: Christian Apologetics by Norman L. Geisler ISBN: 0801038227 Publisher: Baker Book House Pub. Date: March, 1988 List Price(USD): $21.99 |
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Title: Christian Ethics by Norman L. Geisler ISBN: 0801038324 Publisher: Baker Book House Pub. Date: August, 1989 List Price(USD): $21.99 |
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Title: Reasonable Faith: Christian Truth and Apologetics by William Lane Craig ISBN: 0891077642 Publisher: Crossway Books Pub. Date: July, 1994 List Price(USD): $24.00 |
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