Is There a Need/Desire for Reformed Philosophers?

[VictorBravo]

It's a shame when people who are going into academia, which is often hostile to the Christian faith, don't receive support from their own. I can't see how withdrawing ourselves is the right option.

You take your salt where you go. I was pleasantly surprised that a jurisprudence class at the University of Washington School of Law (liberal, if you didn't know) was using Calvin's Institutes as one of the primary texts for historical legal thought.

 

[PuritanCovenanter]

I have a question. I know I am getting up in age but has not the Church usually had teachers of Philosophy that were Reformed? I am not negating the need for the same in this time but.....?

 

[Reformed Covenanter]

I have a question. I know I am getting up in age but has not the Church usually had teachers of Philosophy that were Reformed? I am not negating the need for the same in this time but.....?

James McCosh is one example of an ordained minister who became a professor of philosophy at a university. Most of the Irish Presbyterian ministers were well-trained in ancient and modern philosophy at either the University of Glasgow or (later) the Belfast Academical Institution.

 

[PuritanCovenanter]

What about Gordon Clark or Van Til? What about Bahnsan or however you spell his name? LOL What about the Schaeffer's? What about R. C. Sproul?

 

[Reformed Covenanter]

What about Gordon Clark or Van Til?

I regard them as philosophers, just not very good ones. ... Now runs for cover.

What about Bahnsan or however you spell his name? LOL

He, as with John Frame, was well-read in the history of philosophy. I have never read this PhD thesis, which might be useful.

What about the Schaeffer's?

Francis Schaeffer was more of a popular writer than an academic one.

What about R. C. Sproul?

I would count him as one owing to his contribution to Classical Apologetics. Again, he was very widely read in the history of philosophy. I should get around to reading his book, The Consequences of Ideas.

 

[Taylor]

I regard them as philosophers...

I'll take it. I've heard William Lane Craig say over and over again—with a fair amount of smugness, as I perceive it—say, "Cornelius Van Til was not a philosopher." Balderdash.

 

[PuritanCovenanter]

I think Bavinck might fit in the category also.

 

[davejonescue]

Wokeism is today's bogeyman. When I was applying for university it was probably something like "evolution". There isn't going to be a time when there isn't something unscriptural to be encountered in society or education or academia. Not everyone is cut out to study for a profession, and not everyone is cut out to do a PhD, but when people have the relevant gifts and opportunities, they should use these. The risk of compromising our faith is not at all restricted to those whose jobs require a professional qualification.

There is no question there is the risk of compromise in every profession; the question is cost vs potential loss. While some can deny the reality of a "woke" society; the truth is some fields are extremely more liberal, and given to such tendencies than others.

 

[VictorBravo]

There is no question there is the risk of compromise in every profession; the question is cost vs potential loss. While some can deny the reality of a "woke" society; the truth is some fields are extremely more liberal, and given to such tendencies than others.

I'll throw out something similar to what I've said before: it is how you define cost and benefit.

If one is looking at a PhD in philosophy as a money making option, the probability of it being beneficial vs the cost of doing it is very low. But if one has a burning calling to pursue philosophy, then one will do it.

Of course, it is best not to spend foolish sums to pursue such a course. But, one way or another, if one is called to pursue it, then one might as well get on with it.

 

[Charles Johnson]

Julián Marías's History of Philosophy is a good text, but he's a Roman Catholic. I'd rather read a good work on philosophy by a Roman Catholic than a bad one by a Reformed guy.

 

[RamistThomist]

What about Gordon Clark or Van Til? What about Bahnsan or however you spell his name? LOL What about the Schaeffer's? What about R. C. Sproul?

Clark was a great communicator but he had some truly bizarre ideas.

I'm not getting into the Van Til debate. Van Til had some interesting surveys of philosophical history, but....I'm just going to leave it there.

Bahnsen's surveys are fairly standard (since he used WT Jones's works). Take them for what they are worth. As to being a Reformed philosopher, he marginalized himself and his influence was fairly limited.

Schaeffer plagiarized much of Van Til and Rushdoony. He was pretty good with modern art and hippies. His survey of philosophy is factually wrong on so many counts.

Sproul was pretty good, actually. Now let's apply his philosophy to apologetics.

 

[RamistThomist]

I think Bavinck might fit in the category also.

His Prolegomena is good. The only drawback to Bavinck is he often relied on secondary sources which weren't always accurate.

 

[retroGRAD3]

I voted perhaps. I think it is essential we define our terms with precision and can talk about them intelligently. However, I do think there are far greater needs elsewhere in the church at this time, but maybe philosophy can aid in those needs as long as it is under scripture. The needs I speak about are things like most people calling themselves protestant have no idea what that means and realistically could switch to being a morman and they wouldn't think it makes any difference. When people think Beth Moore is a great theologian and don't even know who Francis Turretin is. Many churches are cancelling their services today. Then, if we want to make the circle smaller, most of those who call themselves reformed are celebrating Christmas today and are having a special Christmas service. I am taking about churches in the OPC and other conservative denominations, not the PCUSA. And not only that, but getting people to regularly show up on any Sunday is a chore and people don't even know what the RPW is. Philosophy can be good, but the need right now is for faithful pastors to shepherd their flock and teach them biblical Christianity. To make them understand why worship on Sunday needs to take priority and that the worship that takes place is done as God commands. If the only place where good theology exists is in the university's and not in the church then we have a big problem.

 

[RamistThomist]

Even though I believe James KA Smith has apostasized on biblical ethics, this is a pretty good series on what someone is up against.

So you want to go to grad school – James K. A. Smith

jameskasmith.com