What are some good Christian philosophers with a strong Biblical backbone?

[christianlloydteegardin]

I have always struggled with the concept of philosophy being an intellectually arrogant pursuit. Then I got to thinking. What are some good Christian philosophers who use their gift of intelligence to further God's truth and wisdom?

 

[d taylor]

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Well this person is not a christian philosopher, but there is no one who expounds/teaches the Bible better than Zane Hodges.

 

[RDKirk]

I have always struggled with the concept of philosophy being an intellectually arrogant pursuit. Then I got to thinking. What are some good Christian philosophers who use their gift of intelligence to further God's truth and wisdom?

What does that mean? Someone who agrees with you?

 

[christianlloydteegardin]

What does that mean? Someone who agrees with you?

Less so agreeing with me than subscribing to an orthodox view of Christianity.

 

[linux.poet]

C.S. Lewis is a good choice. Mere Christianity is a good, Biblically sound, book.

 

[christianlloydteegardin]

C.S. Lewis is a good choice. Mere Christianity is a good, Biblically sound, book.

Lewis seems very solid.

 

[HARK!]

MOD HAT ON

MOD HAT OFF​

 

[christianlloydteegardin]

MOD HAT ON

MOD HAT OFF​

THX!

 

[2PhiloVoid]

I have always struggled with the concept of philosophy being an intellectually arrogant pursuit. Then I got to thinking. What are some good Christian philosophers who use their gift of intelligence to further God's truth and wisdom?

Welcome to CF, CLTG! It's not often we see a new member on CF who expresses an interest in philosophy. Is there a particular topic or subject in philosophy you're interested in? Or are you wanting to know if there are any Christian philosophers who fall more or less within the more traditional and/or evangelical side of things where analysis and opinion are concerned?

 

[christianlloydteegardin]

Welcome to CF, CLTG! It's not often we see a new member on CF who expresses an interest in philosophy. Is there a particular topic or subject in philosophy you're interested in? Or are you wanting to know if there are any Christian philosophers who fall more or less within the more traditional and/or evangelical side of things where analysis and opinion are concerned?

Traditional Protestant thought would be a pretty good pointer. Even fundamentalist if it's sane-minded. Been wondering if I'm a fundamentalist Christian. LOL.

 

[2PhiloVoid]

Traditional Protestant thought would be a pretty good pointer. Even fundamentalist if it's sane-minded. Been wondering if I'm a fundamentalist Christian. LOL.

Like what is found among a plethora of Christian theologians, you'll find a wide spectrum of Christian philosophers who are divided up among various denominations, as well as being diversified among a variety of fields of study. Unlike theologians who often treat with the contents of the Bible from beginning to end in the complexity of their thinking, philosophers often choose some special area of study which they individually feel needs to be addressed in a deeper or alternative fashion. Of course, there are some philosophers who are a combination of theologian and philosopher, or are philosophers of religion. C. Stephen Evans is one such person. There are others.

As you may know, Philosophy is a huge umbrella, housing a wide swath of categories and subfields, so rather than simply throwing out a name or two, it might help me to know if there is a specific area of interest you're wanting to engage. Not everything in Philosophy is helpful or needed, especially if there are topics you feel you might want to study to help you grow as a Christian.

 

[christianlloydteegardin]

Like what is found among a plethora of Christian theologians, you'll find a wide spectrum of Christian philosophers who are divided up among various denominations, as well as being diversified among a variety of fields of study. Unlike theologians who often treat with the contents of the Bible from beginning to end in the complexity of their thinking, philosophers often choose some special area of study which they individually feel needs to be addressed in a deeper or alternative fashion. Of course, there are some philosophers who are a combination of theologian and philosopher, or are philosophers of religion. Craig A. Evans is one such person. There are others.

As you may know, Philosophy is a huge umbrella, housing a wide swath of categories and subfields, so rather than simply throwing out a name or two, it might help me to know if there is a specific area of interest you're wanting to engage. Not everything in Philosophy is helpful or needed, especially if there are topics you feel you might want to study to help you grow as a Christian.

I am bizarrely fascinated with the flesh vs the spirit right now.

 

[2PhiloVoid]

I am bizarrely fascinated with the flesh vs the spirit right now.

On that topic, I wouldn't say that it's bizarre. We all have to deal with it, especially when we're single. And this is the Christian Philosophy & Ethics forum, after all.

So, is that the area of Philosophy you're wanting to find some Christian answers for? (I have to ask since there is such a thing as 'Philosophy of Sex,' even if among traditional/evangelical/conservative Christian theologians and philosophers, we can pretty much know the general direction the inquiry and analysis will take ............. )

 

[2PhiloVoid]

I am bizarrely fascinated with the flesh vs the spirit right now.

And on that note, it's time for me to take leave for the evening. But if you want, we can pick up tomorrow or some time this weekend.

Enjoy your time on CF!

 

[christianlloydteegardin]

On that topic, I wouldn't say that it's bizarre. We all have to deal with it, especially when we're single. And this is the Christian Philosophy & Ethics forum, after all.

So, is that the area of Philosophy you're wanting to find some Christian answers for? (I have to ask since there is such a thing as 'Philosophy of Sex,' even if among traditional/evangelical/conservative Christian theologians and philosophers, we can pretty much know the general direction the inquiry and analysis will take ............. )

I tend not to think deeply regarding carnal matters as it'd take me down a dark and desolate road.

Is there an area where I can talk about church architecture and how God sees it?

 

[Fervent]

Like what is found among a plethora of Christian theologians, you'll find a wide spectrum of Christian philosophers who are divided up among various denominations, as well as being diversified among a variety of fields of study. Unlike theologians who often treat with the contents of the Bible from beginning to end in the complexity of their thinking, philosophers often choose some special area of study which they individually feel needs to be addressed in a deeper or alternative fashion. Of course, there are some philosophers who are a combination of theologian and philosopher, or are philosophers of religion. C. Stephen Evans is one such person. There are others.

As you may know, Philosophy is a huge umbrella, housing a wide swath of categories and subfields, so rather than simply throwing out a name or two, it might help me to know if there is a specific area of interest you're wanting to engage. Not everything in Philosophy is helpful or needed, especially if there are topics you feel you might want to study to help you grow as a Christian.

Do you have any suggestions for philosophers working on epistemics, especially in the area of initial burdens? Principally Christian, but any recs you may have will be good.

 

[St_Worm2]

Hello @christianlloydteegardin, first off, welcome to CF

As far as Christian philosophers go, Kierkegaard comes to mind first, as well then, Francis Schaefer and Norm Geisler. Someone already mentioned C. S. Lewis above , and you may also want to consider looking a little bit further back, too (to Augustine & Aquinas and, of course, as a Protestant, to John Calvin).

I would also highly recommend R. C. Sproul (who earned doctorates in both theology and philosophy). For instance,

~The Consequences of Ideas: R.C. Sproul - Paperback, Book | Ligonier Ministries Store (book)​

~The Consequences of Ideas: R.C. Sproul - Download, Teaching Series | Ligonier Ministries Store (audio and video teaching series download)​

~Philosophy & Culture | Ligonier Ministries (a collection of teachings at Ligonier)​

God bless you!! (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24)

--David
p.s. - if you don't already know, www.ligonier.org and www.renewingyourmind.org are Dr. Sproul's two online sites, but they also include a number of other teachers, as well (who are referred to as "Ligonier teaching fellows").

 

[stevevw]

I have always struggled with the concept of philosophy being an intellectually arrogant pursuit. Then I got to thinking. What are some good Christian philosophers who use their gift of intelligence to further God's truth and wisdom?

I find Dr John Lennox pretty good at explaining biblical truth and applying them to real life. Many say C.S Lewis.

Weirdly enough I like Jordan Peterson's psychological explanations of the bible truths even though theres questions about his Christianity.

He mentions that all literature throughout time, the great philosophers and canons of western thought are all trying to get to the truth. But the bible was the original truth and first book that all truths stem from. The precondition for truth itself. Quite an expansive view but very true.

But choose wisely. You don't have to support the entire philsophy of any specific author. Just pull out what you think makes sense as per the bible. I think Peterson gives more an overview and perspective of Christian belief as a human enterprise. Which can help get different perspectives.

I think its important to know all perspectives so that it can show the bible and its truth in light of other ideas and philosophies. Like Peterson mentions that we can sample texts from the corpus of all texts to get different views on what truth is. Or what its all about.

But in doing so we begin to see a pattern that traces back to the bible which is the precondition of truth. Without it all other philsophy would not make sense.

 

[2PhiloVoid]

I tend not to think deeply regarding carnal matters as it'd take me down a dark and desolate road.

That's good to know. We'll avoid that road going down that road of discussion then.

Is there an area where I can talk about church architecture and how God sees it?

Yes, the Baptist forum section. (That's a bit of humor................please forbear with me.)

But seriously, church architecture isn't an area of either philosophy or theology that I've delved into heavily. However, although I've only read his essays pertaining to the study of Christian History, Murray Rae might be someone you'd find some interest in reading if church architecture and theology is 'your thing' at the moment. There are also some things Francis Schaeffer has written that, although perhaps briefly, pertain to church architecture. And I have a book by a Lutheran American History professor by the name of Jon Pahl, the title of which is, Shopping Malls and Other Sacred Spaces: Putting God in Place (2003).

But going back to Murray Rae, here's an article I found googling. It looks relevant, and being that he trained initially as an architect and later as a theologian and philosopher, I'm guessing he has some useful things to say [link provided below].

Rae, Murray. 2023. 'Architecture and Christian Theology', St Andrews Encyclopaedia of Theology. Edited by Brendan N. Wolfe et al. Architecture and Christian Theology​

 

[fhansen]

We're all philosophers and theologians to one degree or another, because the mind with it's faculty of reason is engaged the moment we begin to hear and contemplate revelation. With admitted limited knowledge I'd nonetheless suggest Augustine and Aquinas from the more distant past and Kierkegaard, Karl Barth, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and Hans Urs von Balthasar more recently.