Philosophy and Theological Discourse (Claremont Studies in the Philosophy of Religion)

This book represents conversations between philosophers and theologians on several issues of current theological interest. God, the church, theological authority, atonement, the Holy Spirit, religious ethics, the problem of evil, and other topics are debated by top-notch theologians and philosophers of various theological and philosophical persuasions. Since contemporary philosophers and theologians seldom communicate professionally, this book represents a fascinating and highly unusual cross-disciplinary conversation. Front Matter....Pages i-xiv Front Matter....Pages 1-1 The Centrality of Theism for Christianity....Pages 3-21 The Invisibility of the Church in American Protestant Theology and the Issue of Catholic Reality....Pages 22-46 Tradition, Scripture and Religious Authority....Pages 47-72 Front Matter....Pages 73-73 Is the Doctrine of Atonement a Mistake?....Pages 75-101 The Holy Spirit and the Trinity....Pages 102-129 The Contextualization of God....Pages 130-148 Front Matter....Pages 149-149 Religious Ethics after Ethics after Babel: MacIntyre’s Tradition versus Stout’s Bricolage....Pages 151-172 Chalcedonian Christology: A Christian Solution to the Problem of Evil....Pages 173-203 The Place of Phronesis in the Methodology of Theology....Pages 204-228 Back Matter....Pages 229-232 The fact is frequently noted and bemoaned that contemporary philosophers and theologians seldom communicate with each other on any topic, and certainly not about theological issues. This book represents a fascinating and groundbreaking exception. Eighteen well-known philosophers and theologians, from various schools of thought and traditions, engagingly discuss important issues of current theological interest. Such topics as God, the church, scripture and tradition, the atonement, the Holy Spirit, contextualization, religious ethics and public policy issues, the problem of evil, and models of theological rationality - all are discussed in lively and informed ways. Scholars, students, and intelligent laypersons will all benefit from reading these essays.