Should Christians study philosophy?
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- Опубликовано: 23 фев 2020
- Logic and critical reasoning are important elements of our thinking, especially when it comes to thinking about our faith. From one of our Ask R.C. events, R.C. Sproul discusses several benefits of studying philosophy.
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Should Christians study philosophy?
#AskLigonier
I believe Origen said that Christianity was the fulfillment of philosophy. Reading philosophy, whether I agree with it or not has only strengthened my faith.
"A little philosophy incline a man to Athiesm: more philosophy brings him closer to God." Sir Francis Bacon
@@thecarlitosshow7687 To do that which is good is to fulfill God's will. To do that which is evil is the destruction of that which is good. To love God is to keep his commandments. To hate God is disobey his commandments. To work good is to obey God's law. To work evil is for one to do what is right in his own eyes. The beginning of evil is in covetoussness of that which belongs to the God and the glory of God. The motive that drives one to justify the work evil is pride, which is self righteousness, self idolatry. Society is built on a universal standard, God's law. It is destroyed by evil. Destroyed by man doing what is right in his own eyes. Love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, soul, and strength and love thy neighbor as thyself. Thy kingdom come. The will be done on earth as it is in heaven. I pray that all may come to know Father YHWH in heaven, Jesus Christ the Messiah; Yeshua the son of God, and also that they believe in Christ and receive the holy spirit so that he will guide you to help you choose to do that which is good and give all the glory to him. Read his commandments and follow his word and fulfill his will. These things I say unto you and pray these words in Jesus' name, so be it. Amen.
The Virginia Patriot I really loved that :) Amen 🙏. Your whole message resonated with me! I have a problem with Pride and evil.
@@jamesherbert1628 This is great and this is also why I think christians should study philosophy, which is "the study of the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality, and existence." As the Bible is not silent on any of these topics so we should seek to understand the basic philosophical teachings of it so that we can properly refute teachings that come from philosophical ideas contrary to the ones taught by scripture. Also understanding the laws of logic is a great way to defend the philosophy provided by the Bible as so often the secular world will attack that because they know most christians don't really have a philosophical knowledge of what the Bible says and so the christian can be made to contradict themselves when their own philosophy is contrary to biblical philosophy.
@@bat-stranger3067 recently I preach to my friend then he ask me recommend me a philosophy book The Big Questions. I just started reading it today. All human have the same big questions which came out from deepest part of our being which means we are hungry for something, the questions should lead us to God but overusing our mind to drill the questions without accepting God but allow our thinking to distract us to coming direct to God is a kind of distraction, do you agree? Do you have suggestion on how I can share gospel to this friend ? And book / video recommendation?
We need more Christian philosophers because belief in God is relegated to irrationality these days. If you want to be a force to be reckoned with, get into philosophy of religion; especially if it means you construct philosophical arguments and explain how central teachings are coherent like the soul, afterlife, religious experiences in scripture, miracles, ethics, key doctrine with physics, etc.
@RaymondSaint I mean, we have the Bible, but I understand what you're asking
@RaymondSaint I recommend that you read a few Introductions to philosophy first, and then a book or two on critical thinking. Though I’m very young still, I recommend books like Thomas Nagel’s ‘What Does It All Mean?’ and Simon Blackburn’s ‘Think: A Compelling introduction to Philosophy’. Btw, some parts in these books can be quite mind-bending at moments, and also objections to God’s existence are often inserted in these books. So I recommend you also get yourself a few books on Christian Apologetics as well. Books like On Guard by William Lane Craig, or Tactics by Greg Koukl, as well as The Case For Christ by Lee Strobel and The Case For The Historical Resurrection of Jesus by Gary Habermas and Licona.
That's what I always thought, nowadays christians have to equip themselves with some of philosophical knowledge to fend ourselves from irreligious people who think atheism is linked to rationality when that isn't the case.
Philosophy is really cool. Thanks be to our brother R.C. Sproul. Glory be to Jesus Christ.
The better question is: Can Christians study Philosophy? Answer: Yes.
Should they?: Yes, and study basic Logic, too, but keep the Gospel and Jesus Christ first place. Amen
Logic and natural reasoning are the devil's whores... Martin Luther
@@clarkkent3730 i love your answer! Hey your Super Man. Super answer.
@Jason Shoots Without faith it is impossible to please God... Hebrews 11 nkjv
@Jason Shoots the religious Pharisees used the Bible as logic and Jesus Christ told them that they were "....of their father the devil, and the lusts of their father they wanted to do... He was a murderer from the beginning and Abode not in the truth because there's no truth in him... When he speaks, he speaks from his own resources for he is a liar and the father of all lies"... John chapter 8 verse 44 nkjv
@Jason Shoots Jesus Christ told the religious Pharisees that they searched the scriptures for in them they thought they had eternal life but it was they which testified of Christ yet they wouldn't come to Christ they might have life....john chapter 5 nkjv
Philosophy by definition is the study or search for the truth... Jesus Christ is the way and the truth and the life
quoting
Chris Adkins
" Those are some very interesting philosophical statements you just made. Interestingly enough, if you want to argue with me - you’ll be using reasoning (which is what philosophy is) to do so. Your view of philosophy is self-defeating."
aka the search/love for wisdom. Bible is the perfect book for this
@Christian Kachare If Jesus Christ is the truth, which he is and I full heartedly
believe it. Then whether you study philosophy or not, you will find him if your heart is not hardened to him.
@Christian Kachare How can you evangelize
to devout atheists who want to know how God logically exists without philosophy?
@Christian Kachare I do keep the Lords commandments, and you do realize the Bible is philosophical right? I believe every word of God, and I don’t twist scripture. But, there is more to learn about God than the Bible, and I believe you can learn more with the gift of the Holy Spirit and discernment.
Very grateful for the encouragement from this as I enter a degree in philosophy of humanities. Heard a lot of similar warnings, and this is a very coherent answer!
Simeon du Toit wishing you all the best in your educational studies. May The Holy Sprite guide your mind and heart. Peace!
@@michaelnola7945 thanks! :)
Unsolicited advice: Maintain a discerning spirit totally grounded in the word of God. That there is a barren waste land in some philosophical thought is absolutley true. I once pursued a MA in humanities. Inherent to the humanities is obviously the great concern for the centrality of human beings. Needless to say, there is not much of God to be found in the humanities. Stay in the word as u endeavour toward ur degree.
It's cool Simeon. I'm a Christian, and I edit a philosophy magazine
@@grantbartley483 wow ...
Yes. As we are called to defend our faith, given to us by God; the basic philosophies of man are what they are; there is little new under our sun. To understand the views man has taken of himself and how reality is perceived by unregenerate and regenerate man; allows us to better verbalize, teach, combat and bring forward the Truths in God's Word. It allows us to better tailor information to suit the person we are speaking with. The true convincing is only a work of God's grace.
When you come to Christ as your Lord and study philosophy afterwards, then it can be incredibly helpful. On the other hand, it can be dangerous and carry you away when you already have become a philosopher before you get to know Christ.
Helpful, thank you.
Philosophy is the maiden of religion.
Can I get an AMEN?
Thank you.
praise the Lord and God bless you all glory be to the HOLY TRINITY forever and ever amen
The Cognitive aspects of Human psychology is scary. Yet so interesting
Jesus was a philosopher by all definitions of the word. Whether or not you believe in his divinity- during his life christ was a philosopher and teacher, his ideas changed the coarse of history.
Thank you for this. I’m a philosophy student and it’s so fulfilling to know Jesus is a philosopher
Anybody heard of RZIM?
Great to know
It's becoming a meme now that R.C. can't do a sermon/lesson without mentioning Augustine😂
Joking aside, this was a very important message, and I love that R.C. encouraged the study of philosophy. I'm taking my intro to philosophy course in college now!
Being a Christian... How can I pass my philosophy class with an A without denying the one and only savior Jesus Christ...most of my class mates if not all are either atheists or agnostic...(including my teacher) I go to a public school and this is one of my requirements for my major. If someone can give me with tips, it would be very helpful! :(
God bless🌻
I'm not a philosophy student but I'm a Christian that read quite wide, I'll not lie that reading wide made me question my faith, my faith is on the foundation that God raised up Christ from the dead.
I'm also inquisitive, the thing is at first it might seem that you will be inclined to loss your faith but the more you study the more it leads back to God. I'll just say that you should build yourself in the knowledge of god's word, prayer always and fellowship with people of your faith will help a lot then I'll also say that you should take the philosophy class very seriously even more than the atheist and finally find a meeting ground between the Christian faith and philosophy where you study philosophy from a Christian worldview.
Wishing you all the best in school
Balance godless philosophy with biblical philosophy, christian philosophers and secular philosophers. it is the mark of an educated mind to entertain a thought without necessarily accepting it, you can read secular philosophy but you are not compelled to accept them. Recognize that their is a "Christian Philosophy" and "Christian Philosophers", learn from them also so you do not have to fall into dilemma of being a Christian and study philosophy.
Set it firmly in your heart that no MATTER WHAT you hear or arr taught YOU WILL CHOOSE TO BELIEVE THE SCRIPTURES even when you dont understand it,even when what you believe does not make sense..They will try to show you how their side of the argument actually makes sense in humans eyes..but just know as believers we will not understand all things but are reauired to believe all things in the word of God AS LITTLE CHILDREN
@@oluwatuase_Tommy Agreed. And as Christians are typically sheltered from those things, they're all the more powerful when you finally learn about them. But like you I realised that all those philosophies were essentially trying to approximate God.
Understand it isn't about human bias, you don't have to loose anything by it, the pope has a masters in philosophy.
Can someone send this to James White? 💀
Isn’t there a difference between sola scriptura & nuda scriptura?
Brother Voddie has ALOT to say about Philosophy lol.
I respect Voddie’s good work toward furthering the gospel but I’m completely unaware of his opinion on the importance of philosophy. It sounds like he has a strong one-What is it?
The more I read philosophy, the more convinced I am that the whole of humanity is reaching out and attempting to claw meaning from a life that was made to find meaning through God and God alone. Augustine has it right when he said we were made for God, and our hearts are restless until they find peace in Him.
Philosophy has only confirmed to me the truths of biblical Christianity, not drawn me away from it.
Yes, some Christians should study philosophy if they have the aptitude, time, and opportunity to do so, and if they can do so in a God glorifying manner. But not all Christians should study philosophy since they may have other priorities in life or at least in this season of life.
I imagine that goes for almost any other subject of study too, by the way. For example, should a Christian study physics and cosmology or anatomy and physiology? Yes, some should, if they have the aptitude, time, and opportunity, and if they can do so for the glory of God. But not all Christians should necessarily study physics and cosmology or anatomy and physiology. There's no one size fits all rules about this.
Without studying philosophy
You can never better your arguments to win souls for Christ
GOOOOOOD
Lotta fucking good it does
My friend is deep in philosophy and not open to christ, can someone suggest me a book that can help him to open up?
Imo I feel that On the incarnation by st athanasius would be a good start as it introduces and addresses concepts that would otherwise seem illogical to an atheist. saint athanasius was the sole leader of the fight against Arianism beliefs and people have said that this book is the second most important to the Bible.
@@gr6vity15 thank you I’ll have a look
You can encourage him to listen to Frank Turek on RUclips. Many of his questions will be answered if he is open.
@@jesseadebayo4746 thank you!
Erasmus is a good one, another is Emile Durkheim but he's sociology.
Your friend should see that there's highly respected philosophers who don't have to hide there faith and how there faith influenced them.
The pope has a masters in philosophy. If he can do it you can too.
I wonder what he would have said about critical race theory?
Well, I think he would have deplored it. A theory that makes all white people to be evil while putting minorities on a pedestal is not only wrong, but it goes against the fact that we are all evil.
People don't understand philosophy and it's embarrassing. People are acting like if you hear the secret words of a philosopher that you'll suddenly be damned. It's at caricature levels.
To do that which is good is to fulfill God's will. To do that which is evil is the destruction of that which is good. To love God is to keep his commandments. To hate God is disobey his commandments. To work good is to obey God's law. To work evil is for one to do what is right in his own eyes. The beginning of evil is in covetoussness of that which belongs to the God and the glory of God. The motive that drives one to justify the work evil is pride, which is self righteousness, self idolatry. Society is built on a universal standard, God's law. It is destroyed by evil. Destroyed by man doing what is right in his own eyes. Love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, soul, and strength and love thy neighbor as thyself. Thy kingdom come. The will be done on earth as it is in heaven. I pray that all may come to know Father YHWH in heaven, Jesus Christ the Messiah; Yeshua the son of God, and also that they believe in Christ and receive the holy spirit so that he will guide you to help you choose to do that which is good and give all the glory to him. Read his commandments and follow his word and fulfill his will. These things I say unto you and pray these words in Jesus' name, so be it. Amen.
In other words, Do not 'beware of philosophy and vain deceit', because it's not all a 'barren wasteland'...it makes you think that some of it may be 'christianized'...hmmm
Good point, exposes R.C. very problematic.
@@kenkelble358
Don't get me wrong...I've gleaned a lot from RCSproul, yet I must believe 'every word' of God, whether brethren which seem strong are wiser than Scripture, or just 'selfwilled' in their own preferences. 'All Scripture' is profitable' if we heed every warning verse also. I trust Scripture Alone, because men usually cannot see pride in themselves (Ps.149:4).
The Scriptures don’t warn us against philosophy without distinction. Only that which is “godless”. We wouldn’t have the doctrine of the Trinity so clearly articulated were it not for the Early Church’s understanding of philosophy.
Hmmm....like good.. like a good burger.? Philosoohy is a tool, NOT a theology, as you probably suppose. One cannot discount philosophy while putting your own philosophy against it, as Stephen Hawking tried to do.
@Ken: and your philosophy against R.C "philosophy" is?
Paul the Apostle inspired by the Holy Spirit preached against philosophy in Colossians chapter 2
He did no such thing.
@@Yesica1993 Philosophy by definition literally means the "search for Truth"... Jesus Christ "is" the truth... Is philosophy and idol to you? Have you committed idolatry with philosophy?
Paul the Apostle said he counted everything outside of Jesus Christ as dung and refuse and worthless... Paul said he left all, and was dead to the world, and crucified with Christ, including philosophy, that he might gain Christ... Are you willing to do the same?
@@Yesica1993 Colossians 2 New King James Version (NKJV)
(Not Philosophy but Christ)
"For I want you to know what a great conflict[a] I have for you and those in Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh, 2 that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, [b]both of the Father and of Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
4 Now this I say lest anyone should deceive you with persuasive words. 5 For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing [c]to see your good order and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.
6 As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, 7 rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding [d]in it with thanksgiving.
8 Beware lest anyone [e]cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. 9 For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead [f]bodily; 10 and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all [g]principality and power.
Not Legalism but Christ
11 In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body [h]of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12 buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. 13 And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, 14 having wiped out the [i]handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. 15 Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.
16 So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a [j]festival or a new moon or sabbaths, 17 which are a shadow of things to come, but the [k]substance is of Christ. 18 Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has [l]not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, 19 and not holding fast to the Head, from whom all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase that is from God.
20 [m]Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations- 21 “Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle,” 22 which all concern things which perish with the using-according to the commandments and doctrines of men? 23 These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and [n]neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh."
@@clarkkent3730 would it not help to know philosophy in order to better defend the gospel?
@@bearman631 “The gospel is like a lion. You don’t have to defend a lion. All you have to do is let the lion loose, and the lion will defend itself.” ― Charles Spurgeon
Nothing wrong for Christians to learn Philosophy...
Coincidentally, we live in a godless world.
Yes we can study philosophy to understand logic/reasoning etc, or even to be able to engage with worldly philosophical ideas.
But I’d strongly advise against studying philosophy for its own sake. Much of philosophy is patently human, and will lead away from Christ. (Like the teachings of spiritual formation, Dallas Willard, catholic mystics etc).
Richard Rohr would be a good example of the dangers of getting too involved in philosophy.
I find if i begin to reason with too much of the world, i begin to lose God in the bigger picture and i myself become the center. It's interesting to contemplate ideas but it's more important to keep you eyes to God's Word and study that over all.
What is spiritual formation? I know charismatics talk about it a lot. I met a professor of it and didn't get to talk to her much about it.
What’s with Dallas Willard
Yes, not wise outside of Christian circles. A good Christian teacher I think would make it very beneficial.
Isa 55:8,9 "My thoughts says the Lord are not like yours. And my ways are different to your ways. As high as the heavens are above the earth so my ways and thoughts are above yours". Its a great shame that men chose "men's thoughts" ( ie greek philosophy e.t.c) above "God's thoughts and adopted creeds & beliefs contrary to the word of God!
The scriptures already teach philosophy, which may be added to
Why does God want to make people to send them to hell? He doesn't even need air to live but wants to create people He knows are going to hell? If He doesn't want to do it then He doesn't have to.
@zonefighter1 if Adam and Eve chose to sin then God isn't Sovereign. There is no in between. God is Omniscient, Omnipotent, and Omnipresent. He determines the end from the beginning. He is never surprised. R.C. himself admits there has never beeb one vibration of one molecule in creation that God has not been in control of (Col.1:17). He most certainly knew who He elected before the foundation of the world (Eph. 1), which means He knew He was creating the unelect as well. You cannot get around His Sovereignty or else you're saying Adam was God when he sinned.
@@MaryLamb Why did He allow us to choose then? How is that convenient if He doesn't want to be rejected? Why would a perfect loving creator do this?
Dictatorship
@ZoneFighter1 If he created them sinless, how can we be sinners? Adam and Eve were born sinless, therefore, what happened after their birth was determined by external conditions and has nothing to do with us?
Being aware of vein human philosophy and taking part in it are two completely and totally different things... We are aware of sin but that does not mean we take part in it
That’s a very interesting philosophical statement you just made. Interestingly enough, if you want to argue with me - you’ll be using reasoning (which is what philosophy is) to do so. Your view of philosophy is self-defeating.
@@chrisa-95 it is a spiritual statement regarding truth, not philosophical....
"he who has ears to hear, let him hear"....Jesus Christ...matthew chapter 11 nkjv
"the words that i speak, they are spirit and they are life"....Jesus Christ...John chapter 6v63 nkjv
@@chrisa-95 Philosophy by definition is the search for truth...
Jesus Christ "IS" the truth...Christ "is" the way and "is" the only eternal life... no one comes to God except thru Jesus Christ... John Chapter 14 verse 6 nkjv (amp)
@@chrisa-95 you are projecting! The reasoner usually projects his own reasoning onto others and believes that they only have The Faculty that they have which is natural reasoning... Unbeknownst to them there is a spiritual aspect of eternal life through faith which exists underneath and Beyond Transcendent to Natural understanding...
"natural reasoning is the devils whore"....martin luther
@@chrisa-95 "And a servant of the Lord must not argue or quarrel or strive, but must be gentle to all peoples, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, (if) God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will."....2nd timothy chapter 2 nkjv
Through the power of imagination, he converted to Jesus.
Why does the bible prohibit philosophy there is no such thing as good philosophy
Because it is stupid and vain philosophy we don't need to know about.