***You can view my previous posts on this interview here: Introduction, Part I, Part II, Part III***
Should philosophy have a role in the Christian layperson’s life, and if so, what is that role?
Dr. Cabal: I do, and though I wouldn’t teach it in a church, I think that would be mistaken, I might teach a series on Christian apologetics that would have philosophy built into it. I certainly wouldn’t have, personally, though some would probably disagree, a series on Sunday nights, for instance, where I would teach the history of philosophy. I could see, however, if I were discipling some leaders that we share together a couple of months reading a one-volume history of philosophy and discussing the major philosophers.
I think that any person who is pretty serious about getting a grasp on the major ideas that have made the world what they are, especially in relation to Christianity, would do quite well, and indeed should consider, reading something in the history of philosophy a must and probably then to use that as an introduction into certain other things like quality Christian apologetics. One thing we need to remember – it wasn’t that long ago, and still is the case in many schools, that part of a quality undergraduate education was a requirement that all people have some sort of introduction to philosophy, and it isn’t just because it’s an old tradition that’s antiquated. It’s because good thinkers, Christian and non-Christian alike, realized for a very long time that philosophy at its best is intended to make us think better.
Filed under: interviews, philosophy, theology
