September 13, 2016 – The new book Four Views on Christianity and Phi14329040_1081641191885800_1082609688_nlosophy with contributors Timothy McGrew, Graham Oppy, K. Scott Oliphint, and Paul Moser was released today!

The book examines the relationship between philosophy and Christianity and their 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:

  • K. Scott Oliphint—Covenant: Christianity Trumps Philosophy
  • Graham Oppy—Conflict: Philosophy Trumps Christianity
  • 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.

In a retrospect of the work, contributor Timothy McGrew writes:

Though the Bible offers us salutary warnings about the dangers of an overweening confidence in our own intellectual abilities or the scope of our knowledge, neither Scripture nor a sound systematic theology affords the slightest ground for despising reason itself. And this is as it should be. For without reason, we would be at a loss to adjudicate the competing claims of proposed revelations.

Even to talk of adjudicating such claims is to run afoul of some theological critics who object that it is blasphemous to speak of judging the Word of God when we should rather say that the Word judges us. But this is at best a mere play on words. When we are rightly persuaded that a revelation has come from God, we are indeed in no position to pass judgment on the Almighty. But we have both the right and the responsibility to examine carefully the credentials of a proposed revelation, lest we should embrace a clever fraud. Piety is a vital thing in its proper place and directed toward its proper object. But it is not a substitute for technique.

The intersection of the Christian faith and philosophy has never been more timely or relevant. You can purchase your copy of Four Views on Christianity and Philosophy here.