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Rating: 
Summary: Christianity and philosophy; friends, not enemies
Review: 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. <I recommend this book for Christians who are studying philosophy at the university or college level and for Christians interested in knowing what philosophy is all about.
Rating: 
Summary: Recommendations
Review: 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:
Summary: Not for itching ears
Review: 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:
Summary: Not for itching ears
Review: 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: 
Summary: Traditional Bias Against Anything But "Western" Philosophy
Review: This book is a good introduction to Western Philosophy from a Christian perspective. That is if you are a Christian and only care about philosophers of the Western world.
Unfortunately, a good Introduction to Philosophy should include philosophers from other areas and times. The authors include a little on Maimonides. They also include a little on Hindu philosophy and even Sikhism. Otherwise, all philosophers are either Jewish/Christian Biblical figures or those from Greece, and Western Europe.
He even discusses mysticism. However, he neglects to mention Muslim philosophers. What about Averroes, Al-Ghazali, al-Arabi, Avicenna and other Muslim philosophers? Their contributions to philosophy exceed Maimonides. Their influence on early European philosophers of the medieval era is tremendous. They work in analyzing the Greek philosophers was heavily used by St. Thomas Aquinas and others. In the area of mysticism, there has been no mystical movement with the reach of Sufism.
This oversight of neglecting or being unaware of Islamic philosophy weakens the book.
Rating:
Summary: Good, Clear,Comprehensive Textbook
Review: This book is well organized. It lays out the options together with the pros and cons. It seems to cover the major areas and issues in phiosophy. It's written as a textbook for use in introductory courses in christian schools. I highly recommend it for any christian wanting a survey of the problems and issues in philosophy.
Rating:
Summary: One of My Least Favorite Giesler Books but Still Helpful
Review: You get some basic epistemology (theory of knowledge), metaphysics (nature of being), ethics, and philosophy of religion, but it is pretty dated and not related to very much you'd see in a university intro class. Still, it is good stuff to get you thinking. Part of it is that I just don't like intro to philosophy books period. Read philosophers themselves, not books about them. For intro to philosophy I'd recommend Lois Pojman's books or the Kreef, Purtill, and McDonald Anthology if you can find it, I think it's the best. Also, there's a great little book called _A Preface to Philosophy_ which I require for every philosophy class I teach. Don't get me wrong, this book isn't bad, just not so great. It does have a nice first chapter on philosophy itself. Of the other chapters the one on religion is OK, but you'd be better of getting some of his other books instead. The one on epistemology is the least good, since actual advances have been made in that area in recent decades. The chapter on metaphysics is by far the best and very fun to read.
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