Sunday, March 9, 2014

Review - God Matters



God Matters
By
Peter and Charlotte VARDY
Pub. Date: 2013
By SCM Press
ISBN: 978-0334043928
Pages:  287
Genre: Nonfiction / Religion / Philosophy
Source:
received for review
Goodreads
Reading Challenge

Review:
At a time when religion tends to disappear from the public sphere, the authors invite here to put again God at the center of reflection on man, truth, and the world. Their book is intended for students in philosophy or theology and anyone taking the time to think. 


The emphasis is on an accurate use of terms (religion , faith, belief) and the different approach to every facet of this issue in Christian and even pre-Christian centuries. A lot examples are provided, from the great masters of Hindu, Muslim and Jewish wisdom for example, from Christian spirituality, philosophy (from the first philosophers to Alvin Plantinga in particular, often quoted), from psychology, science and the world of arts (literature, cinema). Many quotes, sometimes quite long, come from modern and contemporary Protestant authors. The approach, very clear, intends to be very systematic and objective. Even topics such as miracles and near-death experiences are discussed. Each chapter ends with an excellent summary. One limit to the book: as for the world of Christian liturgy, only the West is taken into account, and the Eastern Christian centuries are completely ignored.
This is a good general view of the subject if you need a refresher.


*Disclaimer - I received this book for review

Dr. Peter Vardy (born 1945) is a British academic, philosopher, theologian and author. Since 1999 he has held the post of Vice Principal at Heythrop College, London.
Vardy was originally a chartered accountant before becoming an academic. He holds a Masters Degree in Theology (with distinction) and a Ph.D (on ‘The Concept of Eternity’) from King's College London and has lectured in Philosophy of Religion at King's and also at the Institute of Education, London on their Masters Degree in Education programme.


3 comments:

  1. Great book! I have purchased it recently. I have been trying to find peace and comfort in my own life. Another book that I recently read and absolutely would recommend to anyone searching for answers is the book, "Held By The Hand Of God: Why Am I Alive" by author Joe Laws.http://heldbythehandofgod.com/ It reaffirms my belief that doing good in life, we will be rewarded in our afterlife.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That one looks really good, Robyn. I'm intrigued :}. Thanks for sharing this.

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