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The Life of the Mind: A Christian Perspective
What purpose do purely intellectual pursuits have in the lives of Christians? Why should Christians study subjects that have little bearing on their future careers and ministry? In a style reminiscent of the work of Arthur Holmes and Harry Blamires, veteran professor of philosophy Clifford Williams addresses these issues and more in this succinct and accessible examination of the life of the mind. Christians cultivating the life of the mind actively pursue situations and discussions that require experimentation, reflection, and perseverance. They are interested in the acquisition of knowledge that is both unrelated and directly related to their faith. Williams answers common Christian objections to such activities, describes the virtues of the person who engages in the life of the mind, and asserts that the life of the mind is justifiably a Christian calling. The Life of the Mind, the newest addition to the RenewedMinds imprint, is directed toward college students contemplating the importance of college and intellectual activity in general, but it will be enjoyed by all committed to developing a Christian mind.
96 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2002
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About the author
Clifford Williams
41 books12 followersClifford Williams is Emeritus Professor of Philosophy at Trinity College in Deerfield, Illinois. His blog on death, suicide, and the meaning of life is at http://www.cliffordwilliams.net/thoughts
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
March 13, 2021
I finished this small book in an evening. It was phenomenal. The life of the mind and “practical” Christianity often get pitted against one another. Williams does a great job showing why learning is an intrinsic good, and how it can actually form us into people of virtue and character.
September 14, 2024
There was not any content particularly new. However, he presented things specifically for the Christian which was new and very useful. In particular, the very beginning of the book and the last chapter were great.
November 30, 2022
Some good ideas here but a fairly dry read
May 29, 2025
not too impressive
November 24, 2014
"Our danger has not been too much thinking, but not enough."
--Nathan Hatch
The epigraph to Williams book gives us the purpose of this book in a sentence: to make the argument for the importance of thinking and the life of the mind. Williams originally did this in pamphlet form, which has now been expanded into this still concise little book that gives us the contours of an argument for thinking.
He begins by describing why those who like to think do so: to understand the way things are, to bring coherence to one's beliefs, to grow in self-understanding, to apply serious thought to public issues, and to make sense and meaning of one's life. He then proceeds to argue that thinking well is intrinsically important including this syllogism:
1. What God made is good.
2. It is intrinsically good to know about what is good.
3. Consequently, it is intrinsically good to know what God has made.
He then goes on to delineate positive effects of thinking in terms of enhancing human flourishing, supporting our faith and training in goodness.
His next chapter was perhaps both the most interesting and also the place where I felt the most additional work needed to be done. In it he explores the tensions between the life of the mind and Christian faith under the categories of inquisitiveness, imagination, arrogance, and the neglect of evangelism, compassion, justice, and devotion. While acknowledging the realities of these pitfalls, I felt he did not go far enough in identifying their roots in both hubris and neglect of our hearts. Equally, I would have valued more exploration, beyond the acknowledgement of these tensions and the possibility of living within them, of how one does so. This seems to be critical to the flourishing of thinking Christians in contexts that often challenge faith.
Subsequent chapters explore the tensions between the life of the (Christian) mind and the culture we find ourselves in, the value of thinking in community, and a concluding chapter that describes the life of the mind in terms of living in the tension between hermit and explorer (fascinating images!).
While couched in Christian terms, many of the arguments Williams make for the life of the mind make sense for anyone who considers ideas and careful thinking important. At the same time the book is directed to a Christian college audience (under the imprint RenewedMinds, an imprint of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities). It seems that one of the things that might be helpful if this work is revised and expanded would be to address more explicitly what the life of the Christian mind has in common with the life of the mind more generally, and what distinguishes this mind. Mark Noll has done the latter quite helpfully in his Jesus Christ and the Life of the Mind.
In its present form, Williams has given us a helpful articulation of the intrinsic value of developing the life of the mind and some preliminary considerations of how one goes about this process. I could see this being very helpful to an undergraduate student considering a life of scholarship and equally to someone at mid-life asking questions about how one might move from simply an activist life of doing to going deeper in thinking about faith and the context of one's life.
--Nathan Hatch
The epigraph to Williams book gives us the purpose of this book in a sentence: to make the argument for the importance of thinking and the life of the mind. Williams originally did this in pamphlet form, which has now been expanded into this still concise little book that gives us the contours of an argument for thinking.
He begins by describing why those who like to think do so: to understand the way things are, to bring coherence to one's beliefs, to grow in self-understanding, to apply serious thought to public issues, and to make sense and meaning of one's life. He then proceeds to argue that thinking well is intrinsically important including this syllogism:
1. What God made is good.
2. It is intrinsically good to know about what is good.
3. Consequently, it is intrinsically good to know what God has made.
He then goes on to delineate positive effects of thinking in terms of enhancing human flourishing, supporting our faith and training in goodness.
His next chapter was perhaps both the most interesting and also the place where I felt the most additional work needed to be done. In it he explores the tensions between the life of the mind and Christian faith under the categories of inquisitiveness, imagination, arrogance, and the neglect of evangelism, compassion, justice, and devotion. While acknowledging the realities of these pitfalls, I felt he did not go far enough in identifying their roots in both hubris and neglect of our hearts. Equally, I would have valued more exploration, beyond the acknowledgement of these tensions and the possibility of living within them, of how one does so. This seems to be critical to the flourishing of thinking Christians in contexts that often challenge faith.
Subsequent chapters explore the tensions between the life of the (Christian) mind and the culture we find ourselves in, the value of thinking in community, and a concluding chapter that describes the life of the mind in terms of living in the tension between hermit and explorer (fascinating images!).
While couched in Christian terms, many of the arguments Williams make for the life of the mind make sense for anyone who considers ideas and careful thinking important. At the same time the book is directed to a Christian college audience (under the imprint RenewedMinds, an imprint of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities). It seems that one of the things that might be helpful if this work is revised and expanded would be to address more explicitly what the life of the Christian mind has in common with the life of the mind more generally, and what distinguishes this mind. Mark Noll has done the latter quite helpfully in his Jesus Christ and the Life of the Mind.
In its present form, Williams has given us a helpful articulation of the intrinsic value of developing the life of the mind and some preliminary considerations of how one goes about this process. I could see this being very helpful to an undergraduate student considering a life of scholarship and equally to someone at mid-life asking questions about how one might move from simply an activist life of doing to going deeper in thinking about faith and the context of one's life.
January 1, 2009
Williams makes a good case for Christians using their minds for learning and understanding what is "good" - all of God's creation. Seems to be written for college age urging them to enter of life of learning and understanding God and His creation.
Effects of (good) thinking - in support of faith
- Finding reasons for believing (evidence)
- Discovering the need for faith
- Uncovering false faith
Effects of (good) thinking - for training in goodness
- Taming the relentless ego
- Shaping priorities
- Acquiring habits and virtues
- Discovering the depths of grace
Effects of (good) thinking - in support of faith
- Finding reasons for believing (evidence)
- Discovering the need for faith
- Uncovering false faith
Effects of (good) thinking - for training in goodness
- Taming the relentless ego
- Shaping priorities
- Acquiring habits and virtues
- Discovering the depths of grace
February 22, 2015
This was a pretty decent book defending the pursuit of the intellectual and arguing for why the cultivation of the mind is important for Christians to do. It wasn't particularly spectacular or original, but did have some really good insights in arguing for why education and knowledge are intrinsically valuable, and even besides that, still gave a very good defense for his thesis. A well-done job by a thoughtful author.
Rating: 3.5-4 Stars. (Good)
Rating: 3.5-4 Stars. (Good)
February 9, 2013
I could hardly make it through this book. I had a difficult time ascertaining the point, it did not capture my attention, nor did it give me any new way of approaching anything.
August 20, 2011
Pretty dry and underdeveloped.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews