What does Athens have to do with Jerusalem?: Part IV

I concluded the last posting with stating that the primary distinction between Christian philosophy and the philosophy of the world is found in the foundation for epistemology. The foundation for Christian philosophy is founded upon the knowledge of Christ.

Christ, Himself, is the only source of truth and knowledge. John 14:6 states that Christ is "the way, the truth, and the light." Thus, all knowledge begins with Christ and that Christ is the standard of true philosophy.

Furthermore, Christians cannot be naive in their reasons for being a Christian. Part of the Christians responsibility is to know how to respond clearly and comprehensively to those who raise questions or criticisms against Christianity. In order for the Christian to be able to do this task effectively, the believer must be able to critique other worldviews and philosophies. And studying philosophy is the best way a believer can prepare himself or herself to know how to raise objections in other worldviews to so the inconsistencies within the worldview being discussed.

What does Athens have to do with Jerusalem? The answer to this question is everything. It is with Jerusalem, the Christian foundation of knowledge, that any sense of the pursuit of philosophy, Athens, can be made. Apart from faith in Christ and recognizing Christ as the source of truth, all other philosophies are flawed.

In the previous postings in this series I have only briefly touched upon the vastness of the subject at hand. There is so much more that can be said and perhaps should be said. There are numerous resources that one could turn for additional references. Two such sources are Philosophical Foundations for a Christian Worldview by William Lane Craig and J. P. Moreland and Faith Has Its Reasons: An integrative Approach to Defending Christianity by Kenneth D. Boa and Robert Bowan.