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THE FUTURE OF REASON, SCIENCE AND FAITH Focusing on the history of ideas, this book explores important questions concerning knowledge in relation to philosophy, science, ethics and Christian faith. Kirk contributes to the current debate about the intellectual basis and integrity of Western culture, exploring controversial issues concerning the notions of modernity and post-modernity. Repositioning the Christian faith as a valid dialogue partner with contemporary secular movements in philosophy and ethics, Kirk seeks to show that in ‘post-Christian’ Europe the Christian faith still possesses intellectual resources worthy to be reckoned with. This book’s principal argument is that contemporary Western society faces a serious cultural crisis. It explores what appears to be an historical enigma, namely the question of why Western intellectual endeavours in philosophy and science seem to have abandoned the search for a source of knowledge able to draw together disparate pieces of information provided by different disciplines. Kirk draws conclusions, particularly in the area of ethical decision-making, from this apparent failure and invites readers to consider Christian theism afresh as a means for the renewal of culture and society.
Transcending Boundaries in Philosophy and Theology Series editors: Martin Warner, University of Warwick Kevin Vanhoozer, Trinity International University Transcending Boundaries in Philosophy and Theology is an interdisciplinary series exploring new opportunities in the dialogue between philosophy and theology that go beyond more traditional ‘faith and reason’ debates and take account of the contemporary reshaping of intellectual boundaries. For much of the modern era, the relation of philosophy and theology has been conceived in terms of antagonism or subordination, but recent intellectual developments hold out considerable potential for a renewed dialogue in which philosophy and theology have common cause for revisioning their respective identities, reconceiving their relationship, and combining their resources. This series explores constructively for the 21st century the resources available for engaging with those forms of enquiry, experience and sensibility that theology has historically sought to address. Drawing together new writing and research from leading international scholars in the field, this high profile research series offers an important contribution to contemporary research across the interdisciplinary perspectives relating theology and philosophy. Also in this series Transcending Boundaries is Philosophy and Theology Reason, Meaning and Experience Edited by Kevin Vanhoozer and Martin Warner On Soren Kierkegaard Dialogue, Polemics, Lost Intimacy, and Time Edward F. Mooney Impossible God Derrida’s Theology Hugh Rayment-Pickard On Paul Ricoeur The Owl of Minerva Richard Kearney
The Future of Reason, Science and Faith Following Modernity and Post-Modernity
J. ANDREW KIRK
© J. Andrew Kirk 2007 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the prior permission of the publisher. J. Andrew Kirk has asserted his moral right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988, to be identified as the author of this work. Published by Ashgate Publishing Limited Gower House Croft Road Aldershot Hampshire GU11 3HR England
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Ashgate website: http://www.ashgate.com British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data Kirk, J. Andrew The future of reason, science and faith : following modernity and postmodernity. – (Transcending boundaries in philosophy and theology) 1. Knowledge, Theory of (Religion) 2. Faith and reason 3. Science – Philo