Believing Philosophy
A Guide to Becoming a Christian Philosopher
- Philosophy
- Publisher: Zondervan Academic (Zondervan)
- Published: 2021
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Publisher's Description
Believing Philosophy introduces Christians to philosophy and the tools it provides believers, helping them understand, articulate, and defend their faith in an age of unbelief. Philosophy has been a part of Christianity since its earliest days, and theistic philosophy predates Christianity by thousands of years. But Christians today often don't realize or are skeptical of all that philosophy can offer them. In Part 1, author Dolores G. Morris explains why Christians should read and study philosophy. She begins with a historical overview of Christian philosophy from the church fathers to contemporary philosophers and then introduces the basic resources of philosophical reasoning: the role and aim of reason, distinctions between truth and reason and provability, and learning to read like a philosopher. These chapters address three foundational questions: What is philosophy? Why should a Christian study philosophy? How should a Christian study philosophy? In Part 2, Morris introduces students to philosophical arguments and questions relevant to Christians. She presents arguments by three key branches of philosophy: metaphysics, epistemology, and practical philosophy. Building on concepts introduced in Part 1, she explains what philosophical arguments are and how they ought to be evaluated from a philosophical and Christian perspective. The following chapters examine specific questions most pressing for Christians today: The problem of evil Rationality and faith Free will Skeptical theism The moral argument for the existence of God Reformed epistemology Each chapter introduces the problem, explains Christian responses, discusses the strengths and weaknesses of each response, and leaves the final verdict to the reader. Finally, each chapter concludes with a list of recommended further readings.
Endorsements (10)
“This terrific and engaging new introduction to philosophy will help Christian readers better understand philosophy and how to use it to explore and strengthen their faith. It can also help the philosophically inclined to better grasp the full nature of real Christian faith. It is wise and engaging to read, and it will spark great conversations for a very long time. It’s a superb introduction to many basic philosophical concepts and proceeds with a generosity of spirit that matches its care.”
“Christian apologetics” industry. This book is a welcome breath of fresh air. Clear and accessible yet rigorous and philosophically sensitive, Dolores Morris’s Believing Philosophy is the best introduction to Christian philosophical thinking for a broad, popular readership that I have encountered. Youth and adults, lay readers and experts will all find something of value here, and the book is a particularly helpful resource for people looking for serious yet highly readable treatment of the problem of suffering—the most important and pastorally difficult objection to Christian faith.”
“I am so glad that Dolores Morris wrote this book and so glad to have read it. The first part is a wonderful introduction to philosophy, much of which will be helpful to any introductory philosophy philosophy student. Morris’s treatment of complex philosophical questions of interest to Christians in the second part perfectly balances accessibility and nuance. She is especially insightful about the power and the limits of arguments. I will definitely read and discuss this book with Christian undergraduates, and I know that we will all benefit tremendously.”
“Dolores Morris’s accessible book on Christian philosophy is a wonderful gateway to understanding the relationship between faith and reason. Morris works through caricatures and misrepresentations about philosophy, and she presents important arguments and analyzes issues to show how philosophy under the lordship of Christ can be a vital, faith-shaping tool both for individual Christians and the overall well-being of the church.”
“Dolores Morris’s Believing Philosophy is an achievement and a lifeline. Deploying a rich array of argument, anecdote, and illustration, this outstanding book meets a vital but neglected need. Morris provides an accessible, trustworthy, and well-stocked outpost from which to explore and enjoy the wealth of Christian philosophical resources. She throws a ready lifeline to those who feel forced to choose between faith and intellectual integrity. Morris dismantles the myth that philosophy is a luxury for those with spare time for pointless speculation about unanswerable questions. She shows that philosophy, far from being irrelevant or hostile to faith, can be good—even invaluable—for one’s faith. For all those who seek a more mindful faith: take up and read!”
“Believing Philosophy is a gift to the church. Dr. Morris exhorts Christians to pursue wisdom as part of their discipleship into Christlikeness. She argues compellingly that philosophy provides one avenue for that pursuit. Incredibly accessible, this work introduces the reader to the resources of philosophy (logic, argumentation, clarity, and charity) and then models how to apply those resources to the problem of evil. Believing Philosophy is a must-read for Christians who want to have tools to think more deeply about their faith and to engage charitably in the face of disagreements.”
“Dr. Morris does so many things so well in this book. Christians who love philosophy, as well as those who are unsure or even skeptical about its value, should read Believing Philosophy. The practical guidance, sustained look at the problem of evil, and rare combination of boldness and humility will be useful to anyone in search of wisdom.”
“Christians should work to understand what they believe and why they believe it. This quest for understanding does not mean that Christians must replace their faith with reason. On the contrary, a well-reasoned faith pursues wisdom with the confidence that comes from knowing that God himself is the source of wisdom.” With these incisive and challenging words philosopher Dolores Morris opens up a new and hopeful invitation for Christians to reconsider their avoidance of philosophy and to develop instead a cogent, reasonable basis for our faith. I appreciate that the very subject can be intimidating to many, but Morris has succeeded where many have failed. She writes not only as a Christian and as a philosopher but also significantly as a wise instructor. Beginning with the essentials she builds a case for this essential discipline while providing the tools needed to develop philosophical muscles. This is a needed work and one I will be commending to many. Christ, the “Wisdom of God,” is glorified when his people learn to love the Lord with our minds, renewed in the truth that Jesus himself came to bear witness to. Get this book. Read it. Work with it. Share it.”
“evenhanded treatment of one of the most powerful objections to Christian faith—the problem of suffering. She also makes the case that objective moral values are better explained on a Christian worldview than on a secular one. Her writing is accessible and compelling, and she instructs her readers in the tools of philosophical reasoning that are invaluable for any serious engagement with life’s hardest questions. Most importantly, Morris does all this by modeling the virtues of thought and character that I want to develop in myself and help form in my students—intellectual honesty and deep respect for those with whom she reasons.”
“Believing Philosophy is the antidote for those who think reason and Christian belief are at odds. The book provides a clear, rigorous, and engaging invitation invitation to thinking about God, suffering, objective values, and other critical, challenging topics. Many recent popular books treat religion as a superstitious intellectual wasteland. Christian apologetics books often tell readers what they should believe about topics related to Christianity. Believing Philosophy instead shows readers how to reason carefully and rigorously, and it demonstrates the intellectual integrity of Christian faith. Students, lay Christians, and atheists alike will benefit enormously from the valuable, accessible volume.”
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