God and the Philosophers: The Reconciliation of Faith and Reason (Oxford Paperbacks)

Rating:
Summary: An awesome blend of philosophy of faith
Review: "Most of the philosophers in the history of Western Civilization have believed in God" editor Tom Morris writes in the introduction of this book, and so many of the American academic world's leading professional philosophers come forward to share their exciting journeys of faith and life in this exciting collection. Readers come to realize how many of these writers have not only clung to their faith in a very secular world, but have continued to examine and strengthen it after finding truth and reason in Christian theism. Many of the philosophers briefly describe how they find their positions of faith to be the most reasonable to the other alternatives(I say briefly because I know each one could turn their essay into an entire book). They also strongly examine the weaknesses associated with their beliefs(such as the problem of evil) by carefully examining those weaknesses and giving strong arguments towards those weaknesses. The philosophers also show how religious and spiritual faith is not simply based on reason(like demonstrating a mathematical formula's truth or demonstrating the strongest chemical reaction) but also a great life commitment. Each demonstrates how their faith challenges them to become a better person physically, ethically, spiritually, as well as intellectually. I recommend this book to all who want to better understand how religious faith and spirituality are not only compatible with intellectual endeavors, but also greatly enhance them.

Rating:
Summary: An awesome blend of philosophy of faith
Review: 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:
Summary: Somewhat Disappointing
Review: 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:
Summary: Not an Impossible Combination
Review: I thought this book was great. I really enjoyed reading the autobiographical accounts of how each philosopher came to have belief in God--and it was interesting to see the varied paths that were taken to reach that belief. I was enthralled by the section written by Peter van Inwagen. And I was pleasantly surprised by Michael J. Murray's essay. He offers a rational and intriguing argument on how to reconcile the existence of an omnibenevolent God with the presence of evil. It's barely mentioned, and is only one or two paragraphs long, but it's really interesting because it's not the usual expanation people give for that age-old question. If you're not familiar with his line of argument, it's worth buying the book just for that. This book also represents the views of a couple of Jewish philosophers, so that offers a bit of variety from the Evangelical Christian and Catholic philosophers. Overall, the essays provoke thought and provide encouragement to other people who believe in God and also value rationality.

Rating:
Summary: Mixed Bag
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: Disappointing
Review: Strange to say that this book was a deeper, more argumentative book than its companion "Philosophers Who Believe", which I also recommend highly. PWB contains the spiritual autobiographies of Evengelical Christians, and you would think they would have a lot to say in defense of their particular and usually exclusive faith. Yet though this book, "God and the Philosophers", contains the spiritual autobiographies of thinkers of many different faiths and religions, they are much more earnest in defending their faiths and making clear how they incorporate them into their work as professional thinkers. This book was probably the better of the two, though both are top-knotch. Read my review of the other at that site. The personal essays in this book are moving, sometimes combative, but always very personal and searching. Some of the authors appear to have thought this the occassion for offering arguments for their faith, for offering apologies; others that it was time to explore how they came to faith and how that faith plays a role in their lives as people and as thinkers. Once again, many of the essays are deeply inspiring, no matter what faith is being defended. One can hardly help but feel that God has been met, and met in many different places, on many different paths. This is encouraging and hopeful; and it calls us to keep exploring faith and to keep seeking God, to find ways to know and love him.

Rating:
Summary: Mixed Bag
Review: 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?