#61: Redeeming Philosophy: How Christian Scholars Changed The Conversation
College Faith
Why Philosophy Excluded Theology Mid-20th Century
Greg explains logical positivism's influence and why metaphysics and theological statements were once dismissed as meaningless.
In the mid-20th century, many in academia assumed that serious philosophy had little room for Christian belief. But in the past fifty-plus years, something remarkable has happened—a quiet revolution in the philosophy departments of leading universities. Christian philosophers have not only entered the conversation; they’ve shaped it, challenged prevailing assumptions, and earned a respected place in scholarly dialogue.
In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Greg Ganssle, author, philosopher, and Department Chair of Talbot School of Theology’s Philosophy Department.
We explore how the revival of Christian philosophy began, the thinkers who helped spark it, and what it means for students of faith navigating the intellectual climate of today’s colleges in all academic departments.
In this podcast we discuss:
- Why conversations about what is really real (including God) were off the table in the early 20th Century
- What happened in the 1960s to change this climate in our universities
- How these changes opened the door for Christian philosophy to re-enter the academic conversation
- The importance of intentionally uniting biblical truth and philosophical truth, and of forming community among Christian philosophers
- The methodology and strategy of Christian philosophers to renew their discipline for God’s glory
- How Christian philosophers earned respect for their perspectives
- The state of apologetics (applied philosophy) today and in the future
- How students in other majors can apply what we learn from the renaissance of Christian thought in philosophy
- What insight from philosophy has been most helpful to him personally in his walk with Christ
Resources mentioned during our conversation:
- The Society of Christian Philosophers (Journal: Faith and Philosophy)
- The Evangelical Philosophical Society (Journal: Philosophia Christi)
- Alvin Plantinga, God and Other Minds: A Study of the Rational Justification of Belief in God
- Rivendell Institute at Yale University
- Greg Ganssle, A Reasonable God: Engaging the New Face of Atheism
- Paul Gould, Cultural Apologetics: Renewing the Christian Voice, Conscience, and Imagination in a Disenchanted World
- Greg Ganssle, Our Deepest Desires: How the Christian Story Fulfills Human Aspirations
- Clifford Williams, Existential Reasons for Belief in God: A Defense of Desires and Emotions for Faith
- Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine
- College Faith podcasts on Community
- JP Moreland, The Recalcitrant Imago Dei: Human Persons and the Failure of Naturalism
- Stan Wallace, Have We Lost Our Minds? Neuroscience, Neurotheology, the Soul, and Human Flourishing
- Arthur Holmes, Contours of a World View
- Mark Noll, Jesus Christ and the Life of the Mind
- Closer To Truth (YouTube channel) – short interviews with Christian philosophers and others
- Tom Morris, ed., God And The Philosophers: The Reconciliation of Faith and Reason
- Kelly James Clark, ed., Philosophers who Believe: The Spiritual Journeys of 11 Leading Thinkers
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