Leading Christian philosophers demonstrate the contributions of philosophy to the theological task.

Truthfulness. Morality. Ethics. Christians face fundamental questions regarding deep issues and everyday problems: Are there situations in life where obedience to God's law is not the most practical solution? Is lying always wrong? Situation ethics attempts to answer questions like these by affirming that doing the loving thing is a higher priority than obedience to God's law. The author endeavors to show how disregard for divine law, though seemingly attractive, reasonable, and practical, is untenable. The book reveals how a situationalist follows a misguided ego rather than an objective standard. Whether we manipulate others to suit our own purposes, lie to avoid embarrassment, or commit a minor indiscretion, it's just a quick fix, something that only lasts for a season. Discover how the eye of faith adheres to God's directives, unblinded by sin's attractive glow; it contemplates a lifetime, it considers eternity.

During the sixteenth century, many Reformers echoed Erasmus's claim that the Scriptures were clear, could be understood by even the lowliest servant, and should be translated into the vernacular and placed in the hands of all people. People did not require the magisterium of the Roman Catholic Church to correctly interpret the meaning of the Scriptures. However, within a few short years, the leaders of the Magisterial Reformers, Martin Luther and Huldrych Zwingli, had created their own Protestant versions of the magisterium. This work traces how the doctrine of the clarity of Scripture found expression in the writings of Balthasar Hubmaier, admirer of Erasmus and Luther, and associate of Zwingli. As Hubmaier engaged in theological debate with opponents, onetime friends, and other Anabaptists, he sought to clarify his understanding of this critical reformation doctrine. Chronologically tracing the development of Hubmaier's hermeneutic as he interacted with Erasmus, Luther, Zwingli, and Hans Denck provides a useful means of more accurately understanding his place in the matrix of the sixteenth-century Reformations.

The Clarity of God's Existence examines the need for theistic proofs within historic Christianity, and the challenges to these since the Enlightenment. Historically (and scripturally), Christianity has maintained that unbelief is inexcusable. If failing to know God is a sin, the implication is that humans can and should know God. Humans should know God because his eternal power and divine nature are clearly revealed in the things that are made. And yet, Anderson argues, more time is spent on avoiding the need for clarity to establish inexcusability than on actually providing an argument or proof. Proofs that rely on Aristotle or Plato and that establish a Prime Mover or designer are thought to be sufficient. But the adequacy of these, not only to prove the God of theism, but also to prove anything at all, has been called into question by Enlightenment thinkers like David Hume. After considering the traditional proofs, and tracing the history of challenges to theistic proofs (from Hume to Kant and down to the twentieth century), Anderson argues that the standard methods of apologetics have failed to sufficiently respond. Classical Apologetics, Evidentialism, Presuppositionalism, Reformed Epistemology, and others fail to adequately answer the challenges of the Enlightenment. If this is the case, what is the outcome for Christianity? Anderson offers an explanation as to why traditional proofs have failed, and for what is necessary to offer a proof that not only responds to Hume and Kant but also establishes the clarity of God's existence. The traditional proofs failed precisely in not aiming at the clarity of God's existence, and they failed in this because of a faulty view of the goal of Christian life. If the blessed life is to be attained in a direct vision of God in heaven, then there is little to no reason to ask for more than the bare minimum required to get into heaven (justification). Furthermore, if the highest blessing is this direct vision, then the glory of God revealed in his work is considered as less important and even set aside. By way of contrast, if God's eternal power and divine nature are clearly revealed in his works, and the blessing comes in knowing God, then it is of the utmost importance for Christianity to demonstrate the clarity of God's existence.

The Sense of Mystery highlights what is clear and what retains the character of mystery in the traditional and Thomistic solution concerning the great problems pertaining to our knowledge in general, to our knowledge of God (whether naturally or supernaturally attained), and to questions pertaining to grace. St. Thomas has fear neither for logic nor for mystery. Indeed, logical lucidity leads him to see in nature those mysteries that speak in their own particular ways of the Creator. Likewise, this same lucidity aids him in putting into strong relief other secrets of a far superior order—those of grace and of the intimate life of God, which would remain unknown were it not for Divine Revelation.

One’s sets of beliefs have remarkable influence throughout the mind; both in general attitudes and in governing how the mind apprehends and comprehends the outside world. It is important to know these beliefs for what they are in order to assess and, if necessary, counterbalance their pervasive effects. They can both blind and hypersensitize. They are only imperfectly encapsulated. Much of the history of philosophy is a concern with distinguishing beliefs from reality. What can we know and how do we know it?Belief precedes perception and forms a framework for it. Here belief has a meaning beyond religion. We perceive only what we expect to see. We are by no means the objective observers we think we are. We superimpose our preconceptions on the sensory data, in spite of the fact that the sensory data are sometimes at odds with our preconceptions. We surrender only slowly to the sensory input. Such preconceptions are very useful. We see objects more quickly and clearly if we know what we are looking for. The downside of this way of seeing results in the persistence of unnatural beliefs, or the supernatural.I have not seen elsewhere the concept that monotheism is the natural precursor of the idea that the universe is governed by law, which is the necessary philosophical foundation of science. It is intriguing that the chronology and geography of philosophical development suggest an even wider-than-acknowledged Mosaic influence.Prayer is futile insofar as it is a petition. The granting of prayers would be self-contradictory.Seeking a purpose in life is futile. There is compelling logic that none can be found.Drop universalist longings. Open your eyes and your heart to the satisfaction of the incremental.

The rules to the game of life continue to shift. As teens and college students question, What will I do when I grow up? many adults without work now ponder, What will I do next? with scarce employment and an uncertain economic future. Answers to those questions and certainty become abundantly clear in Courageous Clarity. Denise Stillman helps us live a life with clear direction, meaningful and financially rewarding work, enriching relationships and a deeper purpose. Courageous Clarity is a very thought-provoking, souI-searching guide to leading ones life to achieve all that is desired, such as developing better businesses, stronger interpersonal connections and limitless happiness. In this easy-to-digest guide, Denise Stillman shows us how to adapt the strategic planning tactics she's given her clients and students to create the life we WANT versus the one we simply RECEIVE. Courageous Clarity is a way of life and described best by these four keys: Congruence live a life that is true to the real self Aspiration engage the human capacity to dream Intent begin with the end in mind Action discipline the self to build toward dreams Denise shows us how to unlock the four keys of Courageous Clarity within us because we must lead ourselves before we can lead others.

Embark on a transformative journey with 'In Search of Gospel Clarity', where I share my personal quest to uncover the divine inspiration within the gospel. Driven by an insatiable desire for clarity and understanding, I found my answers through the revolutionary techniques of systems thinking and artificial intelligence. This book is crafted for a broad audience, introducing cutting-edge methodologies that reveal deep insights hidden within scripture. Join me as we explore the intricate landscape of the gospel, unveiling the divine inspiration and purposeful patterns that illuminate our faith.

In Holy Clarity, Sarah Drummond explores the most basic reason leaders of religious organizations conduct evaluations: To find and create God-pleasing clarity regarding the organization's purpose and the impact of its activities. Leadership and evaluation are not separate disciplines, she argues. Effective leaders evaluate because they need to know what is happening in their organizations and how those activities are effecting change. Drummond first describes the way in which our postmodern culture makes clarity difficult to obtain. She then looks at holy clarity from a biblical and theological perspective and make the case that it is a spiritual discipline that can stand on its own theological merits. She presents four approaches to evaluation that can help a leader to guide a community toward greater clarity, both when evaluating or analyzing programs and when planning and starting programs. Finally, she considers the work of clarification as a faith practice, one that can make a pastor or layperson not just a better leader, but a better Christian who is more firmly grounded in God. Each chapter concludes with a fictional case study that provides a jumping-off point for discussion and helps bring her theory to life. Holy Clarity provides an accessible resource as an entry point for those who are eager to learn the best practices of this crucial discipline.

IS SCRIPTURE CLEAR? IF IT IS, WHY DO PORTIONS OF IT SEEM SO OBSCURE? IF IT ISN’T, WHY HAVE THEOLOGIANS SPENT SO MUCH TIME DEFENDING THE NOTION OF ITS CLARITY? AND MORE IMPORTANT, ARE CHRISTIANS ENGAGED IN A FUTILE EFFORT IN TRYING TO READ AND UNDERSTAND IT? JAMES CALLAHAN OFFERS VALUABLE INSIGHT INTO THE COMPLEX NOTION of biblical perspicuity. He sets the issues within the history of the church and traces how the Bible's clarity has been understood practically and theologically over time. With precision and care he clarifies the role of historical context, authorial intent and reader response in a constructive articulation of how we come to understand Scripture's meaning. Contemporary literary studies inform his discussion and suggest the importance of intertextuality and intratextuality in the reading of Scripture. Ultimately, Callahan argues, Scripture must be viewed as a privileged text within a privileged community. Nevertheless, it must be read, not arrogantly, but with humility under the searching glance of the God who caused it to be written.