Christianity and Philosophy Reading List?
June 26, 2010
Next week I have the privilege of running a seminar at the Sydney University Evangelical Union’s Annual Conference on Christianity and philosophy. I’m calling the seminar, ‘If you are a Christian, how come you study philosophy?’ (The title was originally reaching for a G. A. Cohen pun, but I’m quite sure no one will get it).
Anyway, I am still working on the seminar and trying to read a lot of the literature that presents a number of different takes on the issue. Can anyone recommend any important articles, chapters, books, blog posts, pamphlets, treatises, epistles, papal bulls, apologies, summas, or polemics to read on the subject? Since I’ve never studied theology, I’m particularly interested in recommendations from that perspective…
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It’s not a reading… but John Frame’s lectures on the History of Philosophy and Christian thought are fantastic. They’re free at iTunesU.
Ditto to Lachlan’s thought.
Frame’s experience as a Christian who has four degrees in theology and philosophy, and his incredible simplicity in teaching, make him an excellent resource for beginners and experts alike. Not to mention that he’s coming from a reformed perspective much alike where we are. He’d be the first place I’d go. His books ‘Doctrine of the Knowledge of God’, ‘The Doctrine of God’, and ‘The Doctrine of the Christian Life’ are all excellent.
Also, R.C. Sproul’s ‘The Consequences of Ideas’ is an excellent introduction into philosophy from a theological perspective.
Hey Mark and Lachlan – many thanks for the suggestions. Will definitely follow up on this one, sounds very helpful.
Whenever I get a ghost of a chance, I recommend the book “Naming the Silences” by Stanley Hauerwas – his take on the “problem of suffering”. Stunning stuff.
Thanks Joel – I just had a quick read of the intro and it really hooked me. Sounds particularly relevant for your studies in medicine and future work.
hey, you mentioned “papal bulls” with tongue in cheek, but jp2 wrote an encyclical called “fides et ratio” which is about philosophy. actually, you probably know about this already, but here’s the link anyway
http://www.vatican.va/edocs/ENG0216/_INDEX.HTM
Hey Cam – Thanks! Believe it or not I have actually read parts of that document. Here’s proof!