Faith & Reason [antikvár]

PREFACE Since chapter 1 reports what this book is all about, I will not repeat any of that information here. Instead, I will use this Preface as an opportunity to acknowledge my appreciation to somé of the many people who have helped over the years to make this book possible. I have read much over the past thirty years, and somé of the material-by way of agreement or disagreement-has contributed to the thinking that helped produce this book. The names of many of those authors appear in the footnotes or the section "For Further Reading." My students during this same period of thirty years have been a part of most of my books. I have often used them as a sounding board for ideas and arguments that eventually became books; this work is no exception. One of those former students, Dr. Kelly Clark of Gordon College, was kind enough to spend a great deal of time reading the manuscript and offering valuable suggestions and criticisms. His efforts did much to improve the book. My children, Jeff and Jennifer, were growing up when most of my other books were being written. They took their father's absences of mind or body with uncommon good grace. So too has my wife, Betty Jane. Her contribution to this and other books has been absolutely indispensable. Four of my other books-all from the same publisher-complement this study. Many things I do not discuss in this book are covered in The Word of God and the Man of God (1982), The Concept of God (1983), Christian Faith and Historical Understanding (1984), and Christianity and the Hellenistic World (1984).