Advice to Christian Philosophers + Advice to Christian Apologists
There are times when I am studying and I wonder: Why am I doing this? What is a minister doing in a graduate program in philosophy?
I am much more interested in discipleship than in philosophical logic, yet I spend a lot more time thinking about the latter. I am much more interested in justification in terms of atonement before God than notions of epistemic justification, yet I spend a lot more time thinking about the latter. It’s not that I don’t love philosophy, I do. I just love ministry more.
When I have to get through some very difficult philosophical arguments, I feel that I’m just lacking in philosophical talent. I know I’m at a certain disadvantage b/c I got a late start. I had already graduated seminary and was working as a minister before pursuing a graduate degree in analytic philosophy. If top philosophers are NBA all-stars and good philosophers are NBA role players, I consider myself a CBA player at best. That is on a very very good day, I can ‘somewhat’ compete with the NBA players but for the most part I just don’t have the talent to ball with them. Yet God has a different calling for each person, and I have no doubt that my calling is tied both to ministry and philosophy. I value training and I’m convinced this is a part of my training. However, like any person running a difficult race – even those with a clear purpose – sometimes one can lose sight of the goal. We all need reminders that what we are doing is worthy and that it is not in vain. Here are two of those reminders for any Christian who is working in philosophy:
1) Advice to Christian Philosophers by Alvin Plantinga
http://www.leaderu.com/truth/1truth10.html
(I read this article nearly 15 years ago as an undergraduate, and to this day I still read it a few times a year. Alvin Plantinga has been my biggest philosophical influence. After reading everything he has published I finally met the man. Not only was I impressed by his razor sharp intellect, I was equally impressed by his gracious spirit.)
2) Advice to Christian Apologists by William Lane Craig
http://www.apologeticsnetwork.org/william-craig.htm
(I met William Lane Craig a few years ago at a conference, and he is just the type of scholar that I hope to become. He can go from explaining the resurrection of Christ to a high school student and then without missing a beat get into some really technical analytic philosophy. He too is an amazing intellect full of grace.)
oh, the state of my brain after foucault and derrida. great thoughts, but so impractical i think! those two are the only ones i can bear with at the moment. i am most definitely not a philosopher. i admire the mere thought that you’re studies focus on this, but yes, the appication is so much more enjoyable!
The Plantinga article was an inspiration. Haven’t read the Craig article yet. I just found out that he teaches Bible study here in Atlanta (Johnson Ferry Baptist Church, Marietta). It’s called “Defenders” and it’s focused primarily on (surprise surprise) apolegetics. That’s a heck of a commute if he teaches Bible study here every Sunday.
I’ve only heard back from one school so far (rejected by Emory). I’ll let you know once the other responses come in. Hope all is well.
Merry, these words you speak sound so similar to those you have spoken before, don’t you remember?: “I know it is to late to turn aside… If I were a great knight of Rohan, capable of great deeds … But I’m not, I’m just a hobbit … and I know I can’t save Middle Earth. I just want to help my friends, Frodo, Sam … Pippen. More than anything, I wish I could see them again.” Remember this well my little hobbit friend, you bow to no one!
i will save those articles for another day as i am suffering the consequences of procrastination. i am thinking that many people could only hope to be in the situation u are in. i am certain God will honor this time of “training” for himself greatly. cba player?! for me, it cramps my brain just trying to get through ur posts. =| it looks like i am the spectator on the other side of the fence watching all the ballers do their thing.
Joe I think I find the comments left by people to your posts even more humorous than the post itself. Its like me putting up 0101010101011111100001010101010100001010101010101010101010101010101010
And people getting all confused and apologetic about how they dont know what that is. I hope all is well over there in the desert
Kill dragon
cast ‘hold monster’
cast ‘prismatic spray’
quaff white potion
recite ‘recall’
Joong