Teaching notes from LTCi Siliguri

1. Introduction to
Christian Philosophy
LTCi Course #703

2. What is
philosophy?
Whatever we conclude
philosophy is we shall be
doing some serious
thinking about it

3. Le Penseur!
…a bronze sculpture by Auguste
Rodin. The work shows a nude
male figure at about life-size
sitting on a rock with his chin
resting on one hand as though
deep in thought, and is often used
as an image to represent
philosophy. There are about 28
full size castings, in which the
figure is about 186 centimetres (73
in) high. Rodin first conceived the
figure as part of another work in
1880, but the familiar castings did
not appear until 1904

4. “Philosophy is generally regarded as
perhaps the most abstruse (difficult to
understand) and abstract of all subjects far
removed from the affairs of ordinary life…
but nearly all of us have some
philosophical views, whether we are aware
of them or not…although most people are
vague about what philosophy is, the term
frequently appears in their conversation.”!
Philosophy Made Simple

5. The word philosophy is
derived from the Greek terms
meaning “love of wisdom”!
A few examples of how it is
used:!
- an attitude towards certain
activities, a philosophy of
business!
- an encouragement to be
philosophical can mean to take
a long range, detached view of
things when encountering
certain immediate problems

6. - when facing disappointment
we suggest people should be
more philosophical (don’t be
too concerned about the
immediate events but put
them in perspective)!
- being philosophical is
evaluating or interpreting
what is important in life

7. - when facing disappointment
we suggest people should be
more philosophical (don’t be
too concerned about the
immediate events but put
them in perspective)!
- being philosophical is
evaluating or interpreting
what is important in life

8. Philosophy uses (many)
questions in its search for
answers. We enter the subject
wanting answers to the big
questions of life and then realise
that those questions lead us into
more questions and those into
more and…!
What’s the meaning of life, does
God exist, how should I live…all
result in more questions that
need to be answered in order to
answer the original questions

9. Philosophy uses (many)
questions in its search for
answers. We enter the subject
wanting answers to the big
questions of life and then realise
that those questions lead us into
more questions and those into
more and…!
What’s the meaning of life, does
God exist, how should I live…all
result in more questions that
need to be answered in order to
answer the original questions

10. This joke illustrates a problem with
philosophy:!
Raj comes home to find his wife and his
best friend, Manu, naked together in bed.
Just as Raj is about to open his mouth,
Manu jumps out of the bed and says,
“Before you say anything, old pal, what
are you going to believe, me or your eyes?”!
The question becomes: what
information about the world can we
believe and depend on, what can we
trust? (In this case is sight the best
way to gather information about the
world?)

11. Some classic philosophical questions
How do we know our
universe is real?!
Do we have free will?!
Does God exist?!
Is there life after death?!
Can we objectively know
anything?!
What is the best system
of morality?

12. Some classic philosophical questions
What is good / what is
evil?!
Are you morally
responsible for what you
think?!
What is time?!
Can we know truth
without evidence?

13. Some classic philosophical questions
What is love - can I
know true love?!
Is lying ever right?!
What is intelligence?!
When does life begin?!
What is consciousness?!
What makes you you?

14. What is philosophy?

15. What is philosophy?

16. Metaphysics - the nature of the world /
existence of Gods!
Logic - ways to think / argue!
Epistemology - what do we know / how
do we know!
Ethics - how do we tell right from wrong!
Political philosophy - what is the best
form of government!
Aesthetics - what is beauty

17. Metaphysics - the nature of the world /
existence of Gods!
Logic - ways to think / argue!
Epistemology - what do we know / how
do we know!
Ethics - how do we tell right from wrong!
Political philosophy - what is the best
form of government!
Aesthetics - what is beauty

18. Metaphysics - the nature of the world /
existence of Gods!
Logic - ways to think / argue!
Epistemology - what do we know / how
do we know!
Ethics - how do we tell right from wrong!
Political philosophy - what is the best
form of government!
Aesthetics - what is beauty

19. Metaphysics - the nature of the world /
existence of Gods!
Logic - ways to think / argue!
Epistemology - what do we know / how
do we know!
Ethics - how do we tell right from wrong!
Political philosophy - what is the best
form of government!
Aesthetics - what is beauty

20. Metaphysics - the nature of the world /
existence of Gods!
Logic - ways to think / argue!
Epistemology - what do we know / how
do we know!
Ethics - how do we tell right from wrong!
Political philosophy - what is the best
form of government!
Aesthetics - what is beauty

21. Metaphysics - the nature of the world /
existence of Gods!
Logic - ways to think / argue!
Epistemology - what do we know / how
do we know!
Ethics - how do we tell right from wrong!
Political philosophy - what is the best
form of government!
Aesthetics - what is beauty

22. Metaphysics - the nature of the world /
existence of Gods!
Logic - ways to think / argue!
Epistemology - what do we know / how
do we know!
Ethics - how do we tell right from wrong!
Political philosophy - what is the best
form of government!
Aesthetics - what is beauty

23. Metaphysics - the nature of the world /
existence of Gods!
Logic - ways to think / argue!
Epistemology - what do we know / how
do we know!
Ethics - how do we tell right from wrong!
Political philosophy - what is the best
form of government!
Aesthetics - what is beauty

24. Metaphysics - the nature of the world /
existence of Gods!
Logic - ways to think / argue!
Epistemology - what do we know / how
do we know!
Ethics - how do we tell right from wrong!
Political philosophy - what is the best
form of government!
Aesthetics - what is beauty

25. Philosophy as defined by philosophers
“Philosophy is the
successful love of
thinking.” !
John Armstrong

26. Philosophy as defined by philosophers
Philosophy is thinking
really hard about the
most important
questions and trying to
bring analytic clarity
both to the questions
and the answers.” !
Marilyn Adams

27. Critical thinking seems to
be important to
philosophers:!
“I don’t think it’s any one
thing, but I think generally
it involves being critical
and reflective about things
that most people take for
granted.”!
Allen Buchanan

28. And philosophers seem
keen to make sense of
things,!
“I think it’s thinking
fundamentally clearly and
well about the nature of
reality and our place in it,
so as to understand better
what goes on around us, and
what our contribution is to
that reality, and its effect on
us.” !
Barry Smith

29. And philosophers like to
ask about presuppositions
(things assumed before
starting a discussion etc.),!
“Philosophy is thinking as
clearly as possible about
the most fundamental
concepts that reach through
all the disciplines.” !
Anthony Kenny

30. phi·los·o·phy http://
www.thefreedictionary.com/philosophy !
1. Love and pursuit of wisdom by intellectual
means and moral self-discipline.!
2. Investigation of the nature, causes, or
principles of reality, knowledge, or values, based
on logical reasoning rather than empirical
methods.!
3. A system of thought based on or involving
such inquiry: the philosophy of Hume.!
4. The critical analysis of fundamental
assumptions or beliefs.

31. 5. The disciplines presented in university
curriculums of science and the liberal arts,
except medicine, law, and theology.!
6. The discipline comprising logic, ethics,
aesthetics, metaphysics, and epistemology.!
7. A set of ideas or beliefs relating to a
particular field or activity; an underlying
theory: an original philosophy of advertising.!
8. A system of values by which one lives: has an
unusual philosophy of life.

32. What about Christians and philosophy?
Everyone has a philosophy!
Andrew Wommack says that, “A
philosophy is simply the basic set of
beliefs, ideas and values that you
live by”!
So every piece of information, every
situation you face, is filtered through
your own philosophy - you see
things and make decisions based
upon your philosophy, it conditions
your approach to all of life's events

33. Wommack suggests even how you
see the glass on the right is a
philosophical statement. Is your
philosophy positive (it is half full)
or negative (it is half empty)?!
How do you face challenging
circumstances - are they problems
or opportunities?!
A “wrong” philosophy will lead
you to draw all sorts of wrong
conclusions, and make poor
decisions, about many aspects of
life

34. And philosophy is mentioned in the
Bible,!
Don’t let anyone capture you
with empty philosophies and
high-sounding nonsense that
come from human thinking and
from the spiritual powers[a] of
this world, rather than from
Christ.!
This comes after v.6 has told us
And now, just as you accepted
Christ Jesus as your Lord, you
must continue to follow him.

35. And philosophy is mentioned in the
Bible,!
Don’t let anyone capture you
with empty philosophies and
high-sounding nonsense that
come from human thinking and
from the spiritual powers[a] of
this world, rather than from
Christ.!
This comes after v.6 has told us
And now, just as you accepted
Christ Jesus as your Lord, you
must continue to follow him.

36. And philosophy is mentioned in the
Bible,!
Don’t let anyone capture you
with empty philosophies and
high-sounding nonsense that
come from human thinking and
from the spiritual powers[a] of
this world, rather than from
Christ.!
This comes after v.6 has told us
And now, just as you accepted
Christ Jesus as your Lord, you
must continue to follow him.

37. We live in an age when there is
greater exposure to the
philosophies of the world than
ever before: tv, mobile phones,
internet, print media, publishing,
ease of access by flight - all
provide greater and easier
opportunity for exposure to
different philosophies. This
creates pressure within us - in
keeping your spirit, heart and
mind steadfast in following God.

38. And this means different
Christian philosophies too how much of what you
think and believe is because
a missionary told you to
think it?

39. And this means different
Christian philosophies too how much of what you
think and believe is because
a missionary told you to
think it?

40. And this means different
Christian philosophies too how much of what you
think and believe is because
a missionary told you to
think it?

41. How did the devil attack Adam and
Eve?!
Through words he corrupted their
thoughts - he robbed them of all
God intended by making them
think in the wrong way. he still
does the same to believers today!!
Most people can recognise one
rogue thought - but when the
whole message is in small or large
measure corrupted then some of it
might start to make sense.

42. The traditions of men - doctrines,
opinions, habits, rituals - can lead us
away from God.!
these come from secular and religious
(within the church) sources - what the
govt. says, what advertising tells you,
what is said most often on tv…!
Jesus addressed the issue - Mk 7:10ff!

43. 10 For Moses said, “Honour your
father and mother,”[a] and, “Anyone
The traditions of men - doctrines, is
who curses their father or mother
opinions, to death.”[b] 11 can lead us
to be put habits, rituals - But you say
away from God.!
that if anyone declares that what
these come from secular and religious
might have been used to help their
(within the church) Corban (that is,the
father or mother is sources - what
govt. says, what advertising tells you,
devoted to God) – 12 then you no
what is let them do anything for their
longer said most often on tv…!
father or mother. 13 Thus Mk 7:10ff!
Jesus addressed the issue -you nullify
the word of God by your tradition
that you have handed down. And
you do many things like that.’

44. The traditions of men - doctrines,
opinions, habits, rituals - can lead us
away from God.!
these come from secular and religious
(within the church) sources - what the
govt. says, what advertising tells you,
what is said most often on tv…!
Jesus addressed the issue - Mk 7:10ff!

45. 77% of evangelical Millennials
disagree with the statement
“Having sex outside of marriage
is morally acceptable for an
unmarried person,” with 61%
disagreeing strongly. !
44 percent of unmarried
evangelicals ages 18-29 have had
sex, including 25 percent who
have had sex in the last three
months, according to a new
report by the National
Association of Evangelicals.

46. 55% who were unmarried but
have been sexually active in the
past three months still believed
that sex outside marriage is not
morally acceptable!
19 % felt strongly that their
behavior was morally acceptable.!
87% agreed strongly that the
church they attend teaches that
sex outside of marriage is wrong

47. Are there things you do, or accept in
church life without even thinking
about them?!
How do you practice the sabbath?
Do you take a day off each week?!
What about divorce? Are we
following the worlds lead!
What about leisure time. What is a
Christian view of leisure?!
what is your philosophy of work - is
it a gift of God, an opportunity or…!
What is the foundation for your
philosophies of life?