Philosophy (Part 1)

It was only toward the middle of the twentieth century that the inhabitants of many European countries came, in general unpleasantly, to the realization that their fate could be influenced directly by intricate and abstruse books of philosophy. Their bread, their work, their private lives began to depend on this or that decision in disputes on principles to which, until then, they had never paid any attention. In their eyes, the philosopher had always been a sort of dreamer whose divigations had no effect on reality. The average human being, even if he had once been exposed to it, wrote philosophy off as utterly impractical and useless.”

So begins The Captive Mind, Czeslaw Milosz’s classic study of intellectual capitulation to Stalinism. Ideas have consequences, not only in Europe during the heyday of “dialectical materialism” but even in America, right here and now.

Among those practicing philosophy in the English-speaking world today, Mark Noll notes in The Scandal of the Evangelical Mind, a disproportionately high number are Christians (half of them, it seems, with Dutch names and present or past connections to Calvin College). In this special section (which features a couple of ringers from literature as well as an impressive cast of card-carrying philosophers), we can only begin to suggest the breadth and depth of what Noll rightly calls “the remarkable renewal of orthodox Protestant philosophy.” No scandal there–unless we fail to avail ourselves of these riches.

-JW

(First of three parts; click here to read Part 2)

Copyright(c) 1997 by Christianity Today, Inc/Books and Culture Magazine. May/June, Vol. 3, No. 3, Page 20

7B3lm7B320a7430

Our Latest

Public Theology Project

What Horror Stories Can (and Cannot) Tell Us About the World

We want meaning and resolution—and the kind of monster we can defeat.

The Russell Moore Show

Paul Kingsnorth on the Dark Powers Behind AI

Are we summoning demons through our machines?

Welcome to Youth Ministry! Time to Talk about Anime.

Japanese animation has become a media mainstay among Gen Z. You may not “get” it, but the zoomers at your church sure do.

Review

‘One Battle After Another’ Is No Way to Live

Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, the new film from Paul Thomas Anderson plays out the dangers of extremism.

Review

Tyler Perry Takes on ‘Ruth and Boaz’

In his new Netflix movie, Ruth is a singer, Boaz has an MBA, and the Tennessee wine flows freely.

To Black Worship Leaders, Gospel vs. Contemporary Worship Is a False Dichotomy

The discussion around Maverick City Music highlights how commercial success and congregational value are two different things.

Review

Needing Help Is Normal

Leah Libresco Sargeant’s doggedly pro-life feminist manifesto argues that dependence is inevitable.

Review

Don’t Give Dan Brown the Final Word on the Council of Nicaea

Bryan Litfin rescues popular audiences from common myths about the origins of Trinitarian doctrine.

Apple PodcastsDown ArrowDown ArrowDown Arrowarrow_left_altLeft ArrowLeft ArrowRight ArrowRight ArrowRight Arrowarrow_up_altUp ArrowUp ArrowAvailable at Amazoncaret-downCloseCloseEmailEmailExpandExpandExternalExternalFacebookfacebook-squareGiftGiftGooglegoogleGoogle KeephamburgerInstagraminstagram-squareLinkLinklinkedin-squareListenListenListenChristianity TodayCT Creative Studio Logologo_orgMegaphoneMenuMenupausePinterestPlayPlayPocketPodcastRSSRSSSaveSaveSaveSearchSearchsearchSpotifyStitcherTelegramTable of ContentsTable of Contentstwitter-squareWhatsAppXYouTubeYouTube