Loving Wisdom

The writer of Proverbs exclaims, "Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding." Proverbs 4:7 (NIV) This urgent imperative motivates Loving Wisdom, the latest book from Christian apologist and philosopher Paul Copan. I have to say, this is probably not a book I would have tackled, but for the fact that Paul is a friend and fellow member of the church Shannon and I are a part of. We're also blessed to have him as one of our Sunday School teachers. Thankfully, I did tackle it, for it's a most rewarding book.

Loving Wisdom is a book that's difficult to summarize, and I gather that was intentional. In groundbeaking fashion, Paul has written an extraordinarily wide-ranging book that's exhaustive enough to serve as a textbook on many subjects within apologetics and philosophy of religion, but concise enough to serve as "a kind of launching pad" to further exploration. This is one of the densest books I've ever read -- dense in ideas not words! Paul can cover a remarkable amount of ground in a relatively few pages. Coming to it as a layman, I found it readable and accessible -- even when comprehension of difficult concepts proved elusive. Although a serious and scholarly treatment of serious topics, Loving Wisdom is never ponderous, mainly because Paul's writing is suffused with his good humor and trademark wit. What also comes through is his charitable and fair treatment of opposing viewpoints, which is in marked contrast to the attitudes that often characterize the "New Atheists" (and the old atheists).

So why should the average Christian believer be concerned with difficult questions and arguments raised by those who don't share our beliefs? Isn't it enough to fall back on bumper-sticker slogans? i.e. God said it, I believe it, that settles it! Why should Christians "do philosophy"? Paul writes:

Unfortunately, some Christians speak disparagingly about philosophy, as though it's always done in an anti-Christian manner. They may cite Paul's caution, "Knowledge makes arrogant, but love edifies" (1 Cor. 8:1), or his warning against "philosophy and empty deception" (Col. 2:8). They may claim to promote a Spirit-given knowledge that seems foolish to the "natural" person (1 Cor. 1-2). While such passages remind us that our thinking shouldn't be detached from God's self-revelation and his Spirit's workings, they hardly undermine the importance of defending our faith in the marketplace of ideas and of engaging in the discipline of philosophy as Christians. (p. 6)

Paul goes on to write that being "reasonably prepared to address important questions non-Christians typically ask" will make our Christian witness vastly more effective. In fact, "good reasons for believing the gospel are part of it's attractiveness." (p. 7) Yes, as fallen creatures our reason is limited, "but we are still endowed by God with the capacity to appreciate good reasons for belief. If Paul reasoned and sought to persuade others in the first century, why think that today God can't use good reasons for belief?" (p. 8)

Loving Wisdom is organized according to the flow of the Biblical narrative: God, Creation, Fall, Redemption and Re-creation (the "triune theodrama"). Difficult concepts and questions that Christian thinkers have been wrestling with for centuries are discussed. For example -- God's relation to time, the relationship between divine omniscience and human freedom, the problem of evil and the Incarnation. Even if one doesn't agree with all of Paul's assertions, they will be provoked (as I was) to think more deeply. And they'll be made to see that just because something can't be rationally explained, this doesn't make belief in it irrational. Writing on the Incarnation:

This doctrine, along with the other great things of the gospel, is glorious and not reducible to logical formulas. But this hardly implies the doctrine is illogical. (p. 155)

One of the strengths of the book is the compelling case Paul makes that the existence of a personal, creator God is by far the best explanation for many of the phenomena we observe. The case is boiled down in a nifty "God vs. Naturalism" chart on pp. 103-104 which is the centerpiece of my favorite chapter in the book "God-The Best Explanation". For instance: a phenomena we recognize/observe is that "the universe began to exist a finite time ago." This makes sense in a theistic context if "a powerful, previously existing God brought the universe into being without any preexisting material. (Here, something comes from something.)" -- but the naturalistic conclusion is that "the universe came into existence from nothing by nothing-or was, perhaps, self-caused. (Here, something comes from nothing.)" Or how about the even more foundational fact that "Personal beings exist." This isn't surprising if "God is a personal Being", but quite surprising if (as the naturalist believes) "the universe was produced by impersonal processes." Who's making the biggest leap of faith here? Which explanation fits the facts?

In closing, what should Christian philosophy look like?

Christian philosophers, lovers of God's wisdom, won't get lost in abstractions, but will attend to the implications of the divine-human interaction--namely, love for God and neighbor, trust, humility, charitability, perseverance, and a host of other virtues necessary for the task. (Preface ix)

If our philosophizing about God fills us with pride and self-sufficiency so that we lose touch with God and have no patience and grace toward others, then we are no longer lovers of wisdom. (p. 8)

Thanks for your example, Paul. May we all be lovers of God's wisdom!


Check out Paul's website.