Four Views on Christianity and Philosophy

Gould and Davis have put together a grand-slam home run! I predict that this will be one of the very best in the Counterpoints series. The introduction and conclusion by Gould and Davis are helpful, informative, and very interesting. And, wow, did they pick great representatives of each view or what? Oppy is, in my view, the top philosophical atheist writing today. And McGrew and Moser are not only household names in the field but top representatives of very important and distinctive views. And Oliphint is among a very small handful of top Reformed apologists. But what is really shocking about this treasure is that these high-level thinkers have managed to write chapters that are understandable to a nonspecialist. Christian philosophy is on the rise, and believers need to think through its role in Christianity. This book is the place to start that journey. -- J. P. Moreland, Distinguished Professor of Philosophy, Talbot School of Theology, Biola University Drs. Paul Gould and Richard Davis have put together a "must-have" book on a topic of critical importance to the Christian community. Far from little-known scholars, their lineup of participants includes some of the most well-known and well-respected philosophers in the field. Four Views on Christianity and Philosophy will serve as an engaging text for courses at the college, university, or seminary levels. It is smoothly written, easily understood, and features a spectacular clash of ideas from philosophers of diverse perspectives. Students will love it. This volume ranks among the very best of Zondervan's wide array of Counterpoints books. -- Gary Habermas, Distinguished Research Professor; Chair of Philosophy, Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary Gould and Davis have performed a great service. They have orchestrated an important and much-needed conversation on the relationship between the Christian faith and philosophy, and they have selected as dialogue partners truly excellent representatives of the respective "four views." This volume will serve as a superb resource for years to come. -- Paul Copan, Pledger Family Chair of Philosophy and Ethics, Palm Beach Atlantic University in West Palm Beach, Fl Despite the resurgence of Christian philosophy during the past several decades, many Christians, as well as others, are dubious that there is any sort of positive relationship between Christianity and philosophy. In this volume, four accomplished practitioners of philosophy with very different views of how it relates to Christianity debate this fundamental question. This is a valuable resource for persons on all sides of this fascinating and vital issue. -- Jerry L. Walls, Scholar in Residence and Professor of Philosophy, Houston Baptist University In addition to learning about different views relating philosophy to Christianity, readers will see how these distinctive approaches are put into practice with the dynamic interaction from the four principal contributors. Both newcomers and seasoned scholars will find many ideas in this book worthy of serious thought and reflection. -- John M. DePoe, Associate Professor of Philosophy, Marywood University Each contributor addresses the nature and methods of philosophy, the nature of Christian commitment, the relationship between faith and reason, and the value and extent of evidence for and against the Christian worldview. Ideal for classroom use or personal study, for anyone interested in answering Tertullian's famous question, this book is the place to start. -- Steven B. Cowan, Associate Professor of Philosophy and Religion, Lincoln Memorial University I'm a big fan of the Counterpoints series by Zondervan. And this is one of my favorites. The expert will find insight and clarification, and the novice will learn the scope of the debate. All will walk away with an appreciation of how important it is to wrestle with the relationship between philosophy and Christianity. -- Sean McDowell, Assistant Professor of Apologetics, Biola University, and author of A New Kind of Apologist.

In Four Views on Christianity and Philosophy contributors argue four positions: that philosophy and the Christian faith are in conflict, that Christian beliefs trump philosophical claims, that philosophy confirms the beliefs of Christianity, and finally, that philosophy must be reconceived under the Christian faith.

Philosophy and Christianity make truth claims about many of the same things. They both claim to provide answers to the deep questions of life. But how are they related to one another?

Four Views on Christianity and Philosophy introduces readers to four predominant views on the relationship between philosophy and the Christian faith and their implications for life. Each author identifies the propositional relation between philosophy and Christianity along with a section devoted to the implications for living a life devoted to the pursuit of wisdom.

The contributors and views include:

• Graham Oppy--Conflict: Philosophy Trumps Christianity
• K. Scott Oliphint--Covenant: Christianity Trumps Philosophy
• Timothy McGrew--Convergence: Philosophy Confirms Christianity
• Paul Moser--Conformation: Philosophy Reconceived Under Christianity

General editors Paul M. Gould and Richard Davis explain the background to the discussion and provide some historical background in the introduction, as well as helpful summaries of each position in the conclusion. In the reader-friendly Counterpoints format, this book helps readers to reflect on the strengths and weaknesses of each view and draw informed conclusions in this much-debated topic.