Customer Reviews

Reasons for Faith: Philosophy in the Service of Theology

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As an introduction to philosophy and theology this book is good. The problem is the author's quick read and dismissiveness toward key philosophical figures he is attempting ot use in presentation of his thesis. Space may dictate such treatment, but it comes accross as a method of dismissing the ideas without refuting them, especially in his treatment of some of the work of Alvin Plantinga.

Some areas of secular philosophy can bring up issues that seem to challenge Christian truth; theology in particular. Nonetheless professor K. Scott Oliphint (professor of Apologetics at Westminster Theological Seminary) not only defends Christian theology, he employs philosophy in service to theology. He discusses epistemology, metaphysics (aspects of ontology) ethics, apologetics, all under the authority of the theology revealed in scripture.

This is a fairly easy read aimed at intellectually-able high school graduates while he often quotes from Turretin as well as other relevant scholars.

Oliphint echoes previous scholars as he notes: "Given any fact or experience, it (TA) asks the question as to the presuppositions behind that fact, and which make it possible." Michael Butler adds that "only the Christian worldview provides the necessary preconditions for the intelligibility of human experience. That is, only the Christian view of God, creation, providence, revelation, and human nature can make sense of the world in which we live."
also see the presuppositional apologetic works: Apologetics to the Glory of God: An Introduction
and
Truth, Knowledge and the Reason for God: The Defense of the Rational Assurance of Christianity
and some of Bahnsen's works too.
Oliphint gives students, apologists, ministers, and philosophers a fine resource that advocates philosophy's servitude to theology. He is Reformed, presuppositional, and erudite. now that it is a few years old, you can get it a a good price.

Scott Oliphint has taken Christian Reformed thought and philosophy to a new level, building upon the foundations laid by those who went before him, namely Cornelius Van Til. His knowledge and expertise are clearly demonstrated throughout the pages of this work. Anyone interested in a truly Christian philosophy and apologetic will need to read this volume from Scott Oliphint.

K. Scott Oliphint's book 'Reasons (for Faith): Philosophy in the Service of Theology' (363 pp) is a difficult read. That and the fact that Scott is unaware that I don't know Latin, are my only two negatives.
--The book is broken up into 4 Parts and 16 chapters:
1. Introduction and Survey
2. Epistemology
3. Metaphysics
4. Implication and Application
--This is basically an addition to philosophy of religion. It serves as an 'offensive' apologetic, laying out the philosophy the Bible presents. This being the case, it is close to theology, but Oliphint is very conversant with the major philosophers. In the preface he writes, "Thus my goals are (1) to set forth a theological structure, for epistemology and metaphysics, that shows the relevance of Reformed thought, centrally set forth in Van Til's works, to current discussions in philosophy and philosophy of religion (natural theology); (2) to demonstrate that Reformed though has already broached virtually every discussion now in play in philosophy of religion; and (3) to interact with (at least some of) the main proponents in philosophy of religion.
--What was great about this book is that Oliphint is not your normal philosopher of religion. He is first and foremost a Reformed theologian. Scripture, not reason, is his ultimate commitment. Philosophy is the handmaid to Theology. Reason is ministerial, not magisterial (following Turretin). He argues for a dual metaphysic (creature/Creator), and a covenantal epistemology (Revelation). Parts of this book are tough to wade through. Maybe I should take some philosophy electives and come back to this one in a few years.

I wonder what reason Oliphint has for making Scripture his reason for belief? After all, 27 documents, written by humans, some anonymously, eventually became the "New Testament." Why does Oliphint think these are inspired Word of God? What reasons do Christians have for that assumption? If they say it is "revelation", then HOW and TO WHOM did God "reveal" that these 27 documents are inspired Scripture?
Difficult Q, and no answer so far.