In a day when Christian bookstore shelves are loaded with
the likes of Joyce Meyer and Joel Osteen, it is not surprising if atheists tend
to think of Christians as either non-intellectual or outright
anti-intellectual. However, it is somewhat surprising that the new apostles of
atheism, such as Richard Dawkins and Sam Harris, are so profoundly ignorant of
the Christian intellectual tradition. In the spirit of enlightenment, I offer
the following admittedly eccentric and selective bibliography for the study of
atheists (and under-educated Christians) who need to be more familiar with the
Christian intellectual tradition.
Many other books could be added, and no doubt better
selections are available. I deliberately avoided systematic theologies (except
in the case of Aquinas) and tried to stick to more readily accessible material
(except for Edwards, which is a tough read). I have also tried to reflect the
broadness of the Christian intellectual tradition (though I haven’t included anything
from Eastern Orthodoxy, simply because I am not familiar with that tradition).
So if I didn't include your favorite book, make up your own list.
The New Cambridge Paragraph Bible. No atheist critic
of Christianity has earned the right to be taken seriously if he hasn't read
the Bible cover-to-cover at least once. I’m recommending this particular
edition for two reasons. First, it is the King James Bible, which is still a
foundational piece of English literature. Second, it is really a reader’s edition;
no commentary, no cross-references, just clear, single-column text.
Augustine, The City of God. Cultural criticism,
systematic theology, biblical exegesis and more under one cover, by one of the
finest minds of the Western tradition.
St. Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologiae. I recommend the
Concise Translation edited by Timothy McDermott. Aquinas summarized in
600 pages. Aristotle placed into the service of the medieval church.
Dante, Divine Comedy. Thomistic theology in the form
of epic poetry. There are many good versions available, but I particularly
recommend that done by Dorothy Sayers, originally published in the Penguin
Classics series.
John Bunyan, Pilgrim’s Progress. Puritan Protestant
theology in allegory. Perhaps the greatest allegory in English literature.
Available in many editions.
John Milton, Paradise Lost. “Justifying the ways of
God to men.” Protestant theology in the dress of epic poetry. One of the
greatest works of English literature.
Jonathan Edwards, Freedom of the Will. Perhaps the
finest philosophical theologian America ever produced. Here, a close and
careful analysis of man’s choosing. Many editions are available, but the Yale
University Press edition, though exorbitantly priced, has a very useful introduction.
John Henry Newman, Apologia Pro Vita Sua. One man’s
journey from status quo British theological liberalism to the Roman Catholic
Church. One of the great spiritual autobiographies.
G. K. Chesterton, Orthodoxy. Classic Chesterton. Perhaps
a favorite of mine because his tale so resonates with mine.
The Reverend Mr. James Erskine Moore said that there were three books that need to be in every Christian's library (and I will add as well in every atheist's library:
ReplyDelete1. A text edition of the Bible like the one recommended in the blog.
2. A one-volume commentary on the Bible.
3. A concordance such as Young's or Strong's: I prefer the former of these because it is easier to handle and in my estimation better. There used to be an old saw: "Young's for the young; Strong's for the strong; and Cruden's for the ...." -- I won't finish it. Although I have a Cruden's and use it for quick word searches, I really do not like it.
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ReplyDeleteGood list. Thanks.
ReplyDelete