Just the idea of this collection of essays is a wonderful one, and extremely valuable, for at least two reasons. 1) The motivating concept overarching these works is that of locating the proper role of apologetics. The value of this guiding principle could hardly be overstated, as seldom as it is broached among apologetic writers, who all too often leave tacit their background assumptions as to what, *precisely*, they take their arguments to be accomplishing. Michael Murray, in the opening essay, sets... more info
Naive and sophomoric:
Skimming through this book will reveal a number of articles with interesting titles, but only one of them, entitled "A Scientific Argument for the Existence of God" was studied by this reviewer, and hence only it will be reviewed here. It regards the notion of the "fine-tuning" of various physical parameters as being "proof" for the existence of God. The tone of the article is extremely sophomoric, and it exaggerates what is really known in modern physics. The author gives five examples of what he... more info
A Thought Provoking Collection of Articles:
I would certainly recommend this book to anyone interested in a philosophical approach to Christian beliefs. The chapters are (for the most part) very well written and most people will find new and thought-provoking ideas within its pages.
"Reason for the Hope Within" is not mainly trying to give reasons for the Christian faith. Instead, it appears to me, to be concerned primarily with the reasonableness of Christian beliefs. It is a defense, from a philosophical point of view, for the viability of... more info
Comprehensive collection of modern Christian apologetics.:
'Reason for the Hope Within' showcases contemporary papers in the philosophy of religion and philosophical theology by a clutch of up-and-coming Christian philosophers. The book's aim, in which it generally succeeds, is to introduce non-philosophers to the latest developments in Christian philosophy. The authors attended a conference to road-test their material in apologetics workshops for Christian leaders and laity. The care taken to make their collected material accessible means that this volume would... more info