Faith and understanding : how does a believer articulate (and thus defend) his or her faith

Beginning with Augustine, philosophers and theologians have felt it necessary not only to cogently articulate the content of the Christian faith but also to defend philosophically the reasonableness of faith itself. Faith and Understanding is the first book-length study of the "faith seeking understanding" program and the central issues that arise from it—the relation between faith and reason, the claims of natural theology, and the pursuit of the vision of God. / In Part One Paul Helm provides a general discussion of these themes, seeking both to contextualize the debate and to engage with contemporary philosophical discussion of the relation between faith, reason, and understanding. / Part Two contains five case studies that illustrate the work of seminal figures in the tradition. They include treatments of Augustine on time and creation, Anselm on the ontological argument and the necessity of the atonement, Jonathan Edwards on the nature of personal identity, and John Calvin and the sensus divinitatis, focusing on the way in which Calvin has been appealed to by contemporary Reformed epistemology. / Providing a modern treatment of an abiding theme in the philosophy of religion, this book is a clearly written introduction to the subject.

Beginning with Augustine, philosophers and theologians have felt it necessary not only to cogently articulate the content of the Christian faith but also to defend philosophically the reasonableness of faith itself. Faith and Understanding is the first book-length study of the faith seeking understanding program and the central issues that arise from it—the relation between faith and reason, the claims of natural theology, and the pursuit of the vision of God.

In Part One Paul Helm provides a general discussion of these themes, seeking both to contextualize the debate and to engage with contemporary philosophical discussion of the relation between faith, reason, and understanding.

Part Two contains five case studies that illustrate the work of seminal figures in the tradition. They include treatments of Augustine on time and creation, Anselm on the ontological argument and the necessity of the atonement, Jonathan Edwards on the nature of personal identity, and John Calvin and the sensus divinitatis, focusing on the way in which Calvin has been appealed to by contemporary Reformed epistemology.

Providing a modern treatment of an abiding theme in the philosophy of religion, this book is a clearly written introduction to the subject.

"This is the first book-length philosophical treatment of the 'faith seeks understanding' project. An understanding of this project is crucial for an appreciation of one important aspect of Western philosophy, and of much significant contemporary philosophy of religion. According to this approach, philosophical argument is employed in the elucidation and clarification of religious doctrine. Reason is not opposed to faith, but harnessed in its service." "The book focuses on the exposition and critical appraisal of ideas and arguments rather than their historical provenance, discussing these in the light of contemporary developments, and so provides a modern treatment of an abiding theme in the philosophy of religion."--Jacket "Beginning with Augustine, philosophers and theologians have felt it necessary not only to cogently articulate the content of the Christian faith but also to defend philosophically the reasonableness of faith itself. Faith and Understanding is the first book-length study of the "faith seeking understanding" program and the central issues that arise from it - the relation between faith and reason, the claims of natural theology, and the pursuit of the vision of God."--BOOK JACKET Faith and Understanding is the first book-length study of the age-old effort to understand Christianity from both the sides of faith and reason, looking at the work done by such figures as Augustine, Anselm, John Calvin, and Jonathan Edwards. Paul Helm closely examines the stance, 'faith seeking understanding', looking at examples of philosophical work on one or other article of the Christian faith, or on some crucial underpinning of it.