A guide to Christian philosophy that engages with the biblical story As human beings, we all qualify as philosophers, and Paul Copan contends that we take a position of trust (faith) shaped by philosophical stances but also personal heart commitments (worldviews). In this thoroughly revised and expanded second edition of Loving Wisdom, Copan explores philosophy of religion from a distinctively evangelical Christian perspective--biblically grounded, informed by apologetics, and engaging with questions about universal human longings. Copan presents a distinctively and deliberately biblical philosophy of religion in Loving Wisdom, addressing a wide range of topics and questions as they arise in the metanarrative of scripture. He acknowledges the difficulties, mystery, and disagreements in "religion," while attempting to show how the Christian faith does a much more adequate job of responding to a wide range of challenges as well as addressing our deepest human yearnings. With discussion questions for each chapter and an accessible approach, Loving Wisdom is ideal for the classroom or small groups. Table of Contents PRELIMINARIES ON PHILOSOPHY AND FAITH 1. The Blessings of Philosophy 2. Philosophy and Scripture 3. Faith and Religion 4. Kings and Priests 5. The Need for God 6. Wired for God PART I: GOD 7. The Triune God 8. Talking about God 9. The Attributes of God (I): Perfection, Necessity, and Self-Sufficiency 10. The Attributes of God (II): God and Time, Omniscience, and Human Freedom 11. The Attributes of God (III): Omnipresence, Incorporeality, Beauty, Omnipotence 12. The Attributes of God (IV): Immutability, Impassibility, Simplicity (?), Humility 13. The God of Truth (I): Truth on the Decline 14. The God of Truth (II): The Inescapability of Truth PART II: CREATION 15. Moving Towards God 16. God--The Best Explanation (I): The Problems with Naturalism 17. God--The Best Explanation (II): The Naturalists Are Declaring the Glory of God 18. The Reasons for God (I): God as the Cause of the Universe 19. The Reasons for God (II): God as the Designer of the Universe 20. The Reasons for God (III): God as the Source of Goodness 21. Science, Nature, and God 22. Miracles PART III: FALL 23. The Problem of Evil (I): Introductory Matters 24. The Problem of Evil (II): Evils Logical and Probabilistic 25. The Problem of Evil (III): Evils Natural and Demonic 26. Primal Sin 27. Original Sin 28. Hell PART IV: REDEMPTION AND RE-CREATION 29. The Incarnation 30. The Cross of Christ 31. Jesus' Uniqueness and the Plurality of Religions 32. Body, Soul, and Immortality
A guide to Christian philosophy that engages with the biblical story As human beings, we all qualify as philosophers, and Paul Copan contends that we take a position of trust (faith) shaped by philosophical stances but also personal heart commitments (worldviews). In this thoroughly revised and expanded second edition of Loving Wisdom, Copan explores philosophy of religion from a distinctively evangelical Christian perspective--biblically grounded, informed by apologetics, and engaging with questions about universal human longings. Copan presents a distinctively and deliberately biblical philosophy of religion in Loving Wisdom, addressing a wide range of topics and questions as they arise in the metanarrative of scripture. He acknowledges the difficulties, mystery, and disagreements in "religion," while attempting to show how the Christian faith does a much more adequate job of responding to a wide range of challenges as well as addressing our deepest human yearnings. With discussion questions for each chapter and an accessible approach, Loving Wisdom is ideal for the classroom or small groups. Table of Contents PRELIMINARIES ON PHILOSOPHY AND FAITH 1. The Blessings of Philosophy 2. Philosophy and Scripture 3. Faith and Religion 4. Kings and Priests 5. The Need for God 6. Wired for God PART I: GOD 7. The Triune God 8. Talking about God 9. The Attributes of God (I): Perfection, Necessity, and Self-Sufficiency 10. The Attributes of God (II): God and Time, Omniscience, and Human Freedom 11. The Attributes of God (III): Omnipresence, Incorporeality, Beauty, Omnipotence 12. The Attributes of God (IV): Immutability, Impassibility, Simplicity (?), Humility 13. The God of Truth (I): Truth on the Decline 14. The God of Truth (II): The Inescapability of Truth PART II: CREATION 15. Moving Towards God 16. God--The Best Explanation (I): The Problems with Naturalism 17. God--The Best Explanation (II): The Naturalists Are Declaring the Glory of God 18. The Reasons for God (I): God as the Cause of the Universe 19. The Reasons for God (II): God as the Designer of the Universe 20. The Reasons for God (III): God as the Source of Goodness 21. Science, Nature, and God 22. Miracles PART III: FALL 23. The Problem of Evil (I): Introductory Matters 24. The Problem of Evil (II): Evils Logical and Probabilistic 25. The Problem of Evil (III): Evils Natural and Demonic 26. Primal Sin 27. Original Sin 28. Hell PART IV: REDEMPTION AND RE-CREATION 29. The Incarnation 30. The Cross of Christ 31. Jesus' Uniqueness and the Plurality of Religions 32. Body, Soul, and Immortality