How can we, or should we, talk about God? What concepts are involved in the concept of a Supreme Being? This book is about the search to reconcile modern metaphysics with traditional theism--focusing on the seminal work of Austin Farrer who was Warden of Keble College, Oxford until his death in 1968, and one of the most original and important philosophers of religion of this century. Conti traces the evolution of Ferrar's thought and shows why he preferred a "personalist" approach over Aristotle's metaphysics of "being."

Description:
In the foreword to this collection of essays, the noted British philosopher of religion John Hick aptly describes the style and tone to be found in Reflective Faith.

""Farrer asks . . . the right questions and thereby puts philosophical theology on the right road. This collection constitutes an introduction to Farrers thought such as many have wished for; and it will be important also for those who are concerned to study Farrers work as a whole."" And that work, Hick adds, ""is so far removed from the realm of unanalyzed slogans, vague metaphors, and all form of sloppiness and...

Description:
""Published sermons present a special problem,"" writes John Austin Baker in his introduction to The End of Man. ""Sermons no one would think of printing have saved souls; sermons much admired by posterity may have achieved nothing . . .. What is rare indeed is that the text of a genuine sermon as actually delivered should satisfy the criteria of the literary form as well. To the tiny company of such preachers of genius Austin Farrer belongs.""
The sermons collected in this volume demonstrate Farrers rare abilities as a writer and preacher. Originally delivered to members of the...

Description:
Previously unpublished, the forty sermons collected here were preached by Austin Farrer during his twenty-five years as chaplain of Trinity College, Oxford (1935-60). Most of them were short biblical addresses given during Evensong, and they are offered here for Farrer devotees, and for a new generation of readers to savor.

Endorsements:
""Austin Farrers many-sided gifts may be said to have been distilled in his preaching . . . Here are the learning, the imagination, the whimsical humor, the originality, the eloquence, blended with a profound spirituality, which made him so...

Description:
Austin Farrer in his later years was striving for new depths of simplicity and insight. This collection of Farrer sermons, preached mainly to undergraduate audiences, is the third to be published since his death. Even readers who never heard him speak can form from the printed text a true impression of his qualities of imagination, humor, and spirituality.
For preachers he not only advocates but illustrates preaching as a creative art; to the ordinary Christian he shows how worthwhile it is to take trouble with the questions of faith: to face them as issues of truth, to probe...

Description:
Austin Farrers writings show amazing originality and independence of thought. To the end of his life he was developing a Christian apologetic that was both thoroughly orthodox and thoroughly contemporary. Interpretation and Belief is a collection of essays grouped round three themes--Canon, Creed, and Criteria--presenting Farrers thoughts on the foundations of Christian belief. As with Reflective Faith, a recently published collection of his essays on philosophical theology, the pieces vary considerably both in range and in date; they are chosen to stimulate interest rather than...