From Booklist
Here are essays by 20 theistic philosophers (those that identify the ultimate spiritual reality as God), including one by Thomas Morris himself. The essayists write of their spiritual journeys, explaining how they personally see the relationship between the spiritual and the philosophical in their lives and/or show with their own stories how a person of faith can grapple with some of the problems and prospects of religious belief from a philosophical point of view. Their religious backgrounds vary; among the 20, 5 are Baptists, a Methodist, 2 Presbyterians, a Protestant-turned-Catholic, 2 Jews, and a Jew-turned-Christian. William P. Alston writes of his way back to the faith through an experience of God at work in the Christian community. Laura Garc{¡}ia writes about her conversion to Catholicism from her evangelical Protestant belief. All 20 tell how their faith is consonant with their profession, a union of faith and reason. These contemplative essays are erudite to be sure, but there is much to benefit the patient reader.
George Cohen
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From Kirkus Reviews
Twenty professional philosophers tell how they combine intellectual rigor with religious commitment. Although most of the great philosophers have believed in God, argues Morris (Philosophy/Notre Dame; The Logic of God Incarnate, not reviewed), many Americans today reckon that religion and reason are diametrically opposed. With this collection of essays, Morris assembles a cross section of scholars who effectively challenge this assumption. In brief chapters, the philosophers touch on themes such as their upbringing, conversion or religious development, and the ideas and thinkers who have most influenced them (Immanuel Kant, William James, and C.S. Lewis are among the most often mentioned). The general tone, however, is more personal than scholarly. We are treated to insights into the connection between spiritual life and the love of learning, as well as discussions of more obvious philosophical problems such as the nature of objectivity and the rational grounds required for religious assent. Eleanore Stump offers a moving account of how confrontation with the problem of evil can cause us to seek, rather than reject, God. Peter van Inwagen questions the basic assumptions of the Enlightenment, which he believes continue to distort our view of religion. David Shatz speaks of the dual program of Torah and secular studies at New York's Yeshiva University and of the intense relationship between religion and study in Orthodox Judaism. Morris lets his authors speak for themselves, without attempting to draw together what has been said. Although he provides a broad spectrum of Christian viewpoints, some readers will regret the absence of Islamic and Buddhist perspectives and of any discussion of the classical syntheses of faith and reason, such as that of St. Thomas Aquinas. The honesty and humanity with which these controversial themes are treated make for attractive reading. --
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--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
