Skip to main content

Marilyn McCord Adams on the Mission of a Christian Philosopher


"Being a Christian philosopher is a distinctive kind of missionary work. The proximate goal is not the personal conversion of die-hard secularists for whom belief in God is not a live option. It is rather to expose and dislodge anti-religious prejudice and to foster understanding. Understanding philosophical problems involves appreciating the costs and benefits of alternative solutions. The theoretical map is not complete without Christian options. The role of the Christian philosopher is to develop Christian approaches in, say, ethics and metaphysics and philosophy of mind with such rigor and detail as to exhibit their coherence, explanatory power, and fruitfulness. The aim is to show that Christian theories are strong enough to be viable competitors in the theoretical market-place. Such work is a form of service to the Truth, and for that very reason is good for professional philosophy"

 Source: http://www.epsociety.org/userfiles/art-AdamsM%20(Christian%20Philosophy)_Edited.pdf

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Nazarenes and Evolution

I am not a Nazarene, but I received my undergraduate degree from a Nazarene college. There's something admirable about how the Nazarene Church as a denomination is responding to the theory of evolution. It should serve as a model for other evangelical denominations. http://www.exploringevolution.com/
Post a Comment
Read more

Nationalism and Idolatry

Last Sunday, a preacher asked the congregation to recite the “Pledge of Allegiance” in church. I find such a practice idolatrous. My allegiance to my country is not a part of my Christian obligation. As a Christian, my ultimate allegiance belongs to God alone. My allegiance to my country is part of my obligation as a citizen or resident of my country. My allegiance to my country is primarily motivated by my willingness to contractually participate in social cooperation for the establishment of peace, security, social stability, and justice for all members of the citizenry. A country is temporarily and contingently established for the organization and management of the contractual participations of the citizenry in social cooperation. Of course, I am willing to die for my country, when the values (such as peace, security, social stability, and justice) that are essential for the social cooperation of the citizenry are unjustifiably threatened. But that’s not a Christian obligation. That...
Post a Comment
Read more

Affordable Care Act

For clear and concise analyses and evaluations of the issue pertaining to the constitutionality of the "Affordable Care Act," see Jeffrey Toobin's comment: http://www.newyorker.com/talk/comment/2012/07/09/120709taco_talk_toobin
Post a Comment
Read more