Logic and the Way of Jesus: How to Think Critically and Christianly
Overview
Logic and the Way of Jesus argues that Christians have failed to engage the culture deeply because they have failed to emphasize and value a Christian intellect. In part one, Dickinson recaptures the need for a Christian worldview, highlighting the use of reason, logic, and evidence to develop and defend Christian beliefs. Part two highlights the way Jesus was an intellectual thinker and employed logic in his teachings. Part three surveys the basic concepts of logic and part four marries those concepts with practical application. The major claim of Dickinson’s work is that if we embrace the life of the Christian mind, we can impact this world for the cause and kingdom of Christ.
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- Surveys the basic concepts of logic
- Recaptures the need for a Christian worldview, highlighting the use of reason, logic, and evidence to develop and defend Christian beliefs
- Highlights the way Jesus was an intellectual thinker and employed logic in his teachings
Top Highlights
“The shift was to an emphasis on a more emotional and experience-based conversion rather than one with a reflective and intellectual emphasis. One came to Christ on the basis of momentary feelings of conviction rather than on the basis of a deep consideration of the truth of Christianity.” (Page 4)
“Ronald Nash offers tests or criteria for evaluating a worldview. Nash finds inspiration for the criteria from Gordon Clark, who says, ‘If one system can provide plausible solutions to many problems while another leaves too many questions unanswered, if one system tends less to skepticism and gives more meaning to life, if one worldview is consistent while others are self-contradictory, who can deny us, since we must choose, the right to choose the more promising first principle?” (Pages 67–68)
“This shift from an intellectual faith to a faith of experience and emotions is a serious problem in the church, and it has had catastrophic consequences for our impact on our culture. To stem this tide, we must, as Christians, recover two things. We must learn to think critically and to think Christianly about all of life.” (Page 8)
“They have failed to see Jesus as the most brilliant thinker ever—a master logician and the wisdom of God in human form.” (Page xi)
“Given that we fail to see Jesus as an intellectual, we of course don’t model our intellectual lives after him.” (Page 32)
- Title: Logic and the Way of Jesus: Thinking Critically and Christianly
- Author: Travis Dickinson
- Publisher: B&H
- Print Publication Date: 2022
- Logos Release Date: 2022
- Pages: 367
- Era: era:contemporary
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Logos Reader Edition
- Subject: Logic › Jesus Christ--Thought and thinking
- ISBNs: 9781430075233, 9781535983273, 9781535983266, 1535983272, 1535983264, 1430075236
- Resource ID: LLS:LGCWYCRCHRSTNLY
- Resource Type: Monograph
- Metadata Last Updated: 2023-10-09T18:00:53Z
Reviews
1 rating
Charlie Nason
12/22/2023
Thinking Christianly or not Christianly “What we have to understand is that Christianity is a whole way of life. It is a worldview in the fullest sense of that term. There is a Christian way of seeing the world and understanding your place in it, and this gives meaning to every aspect of the world for the Christian.” (pg. 12) I teach an informal logic class at a Christian high school and I teach apologetics at a local Bible college and seminary all the while pastoring a local church. I swim in the Scriptures while communicating it logically and passionately. I ran across this book when I was looking to expand my understanding of formal logic. I read through it in a matter of two weeks and will read it again soon. The author is writing to display that the best life, the kind of life Jesus exemplified, is one lived “Christianly”. It is a life grounded in “have you not read” the Scripture to then evaluate the arguments brought against Christ and his teaching providing a biblically accurate intellectually compelling answer. People believe the Bible because when it is taught accurately it makes sense of our questions and meets our needs. This is what Christians do when making disciples. We proclaim the truth of the word in a manner that makes sense in our culture answering our questions trusting God will use that proclamation to give life (1 Pet. 1:23-25). Every Christian needs to do this better! This book will help you be better at this. It is an introduction and accessible to any who would venture in. The author is kind and generous with his thoughts and time. If you are looking for an introduction to formal logic that will help you think more like Christ, this will serve you well.
