Reason and Worldviews - by Owen Anderson (Paperback)

About the Book

After the challenges of the Enlightenment from philosophers such as David Hume, contemporary philosophers of religion tend to think that proof is not possible and that at best humans have arguments for the probability or plausibility of belief in God. But, Christianity maintai...

Book Synopsis

After the challenges of the Enlightenment from philosophers such as David Hume, contemporary philosophers of religion tend to think that proof is not possible and that at best humans have arguments for the probability or plausibility of belief in God. But, Christianity maintains that humans should know God. This book explores attempts to respond to the Enlightenment challenges by thinkers at Princeton Theological like Benjamin Warfield. It considers Warfield's view of reason and knowledge of God, his debate with Abraham Kuyper, and the attempt to reconcile differences between these two by Cornelius Van Til. It also considers Reformed Epistemology, which has become popular in recent decades and is credited for a renewed interest in Christian philosophy.

Review Quotes

Anderson's book is an admirable history and discussion of the issues surrounding Reformed apologetics for the last 250 years. His analysis and evaluations are well worth considering by those on all sides of the controversies.

Dr. Owen Anderson has ably analyzed the epistemology of B.B. Warfield in contrast to that of Abraham Kuyper and Cornelius Van Til. He has done this in order to draw attention to the necessity of clarity and inexcusability if the claims of historic Christian theism are to be meaningfully understood. Any thoughtful Christian apologetic must therefore begin with showing the clarity of general revelation in order to establish the inexcusability of unbelief. In philosophy, this intellectual endeavor has been the domain of natural theology. Dr. Anderson's analysis of Warfield has therefore shown the necessity for the project of natural theology. Dr. Anderson's analysis of recent contributors to this dialogue is therefore both valuable and timely.

Owen Anderson has done a well-rounded job in [his book] by providing a clear understanding of the issue at hand when it comes to the field of apologetics....Anderson was fair in his assessment of each of the methods mentioned and offers some good insight as to how we can begin to think more in-depth regarding apologetics...This text isn't only for Reformed readers but will include very helpful insight for those outside the halls of Reformed Orthodoxy.

This book is written with a clarity and focus that is most welcome. Anyone working in Reformed circles or interested in the question of natural theology or those engaged in worldview analysis will find it very useful and challenging.

About the Author

Owen Anderson is Assistant Professor of Integrative Studies at Arizona State University.