Questions About The Blackwell Companion to Natural Theology

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Jeffrey Romine I was about to write a review, but answering this question strikes me as a better option. Is it worth a read? This depends on how much effort you're w…moreI was about to write a review, but answering this question strikes me as a better option. Is it worth a read? This depends on how much effort you're willing to put into grasping its arguments. I’m reminded of Mortimer Adler who said that a literate citizenry reads for information, but an enlightened citizenry reads to learn, which was why I labored through this 600 plus page academic treatise. For a great YouTube discussion on the book, follow this link: https://youtu.be/BGMTUG3CUpo

Consider that there are some within Christianity who will never go so far as to wrestle over doctrine, yet they will accept what they are taught at face value. Others engage the Word and theology, nobly enough, to formulate their own convictions, loving the Lord with all their mind. Rare is the individual, however, who is able to add knowledge at the forefront of the state of the art, which is what this book has to offer.

Why I gave it four instead of the five stars it deserves: This rating is merely a reflection of my own misplaced expectations, not the book's credibility. I was wanting a deep presentation of the subject but found at times it became too esoteric, going further with probabilistic calculations than my interest was inclined to pursue. That said, the book well warrants the investment of one's effort to grasp what it has to say in its predominately less esoteric pages.

My opinion is that we tend to argue from our convictions and not to our convictions, so for me there was a lot of good backfill, filling in my understanding with better and more refined arguments, adding to what I already believe. This is biblical. Teachers and professors ought to teach unto understanding and leave the work of convincing to the witness of the Holy Spirit. If you are up for reading natural theology at an academic level, then this is a great book.(less)

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