Christian Philosophy

Definition and Meaning

Christian philosophy is the discipline that addresses philosophical questions on the basis of the Christian faith, or that examines the content of the faith through philosophical argument. Major topics include arguments for the existence of God, the problem of evil (why evil and suffering exist if a good and omnipotent God exists), and the relationship between faith and reason. It overlaps considerably with theology, which takes revelation (God's making Himself known) as its starting point, but it is distinguished by its emphasis on rational argument. Traditions differ, however, on where to draw the line between philosophy and theology, and even on whether the term "Christian philosophy" is coherent at all.

Biblical and Historical Background

The Bible does not treat philosophy systematically. Certain passages, however, are frequently cited in discussions of the subject. Acts 17:16–34 describes Paul debating Stoic and Epicurean philosophers in Athens, and John 1 employs the term Logos (the Word). By contrast, Colossians 2:8 warns against "philosophy and vain deceit."

In the early church, attitudes toward philosophy were divided. Apologists such as Justin Martyr used Greek philosophy as a tool for explaining the gospel. Tertullian, on the other hand, kept his distance from philosophy, asking, "What has Athens to do with Jerusalem?" Augustine drew on Platonic thought to build a framework that embraced both faith and reason. In the Middle Ages, Anselm championed "faith seeking understanding," and Thomas Aquinas, who appropriated the philosophy of Aristotle, became the leading figure of Scholasticism.

In the modern era, within the Reformed tradition, Abraham Kuyper and Herman Dooyeweerd argued that all scholarship proceeds from religious presuppositions. Cornelius Van Til applied this idea to apologetics (the discipline of rationally defending the faith), developing presuppositional apologetics. In the English-speaking world of the late twentieth century, Alvin Plantinga put forward Reformed epistemology, which holds that belief in God can be rational even without external evidence. William Lane Craig is known for his work restating classical arguments for the existence of God, such as the cosmological argument.

Practice in the Korean Church

In Korea, Christian philosophy has been introduced mainly through courses at theological seminaries and Christian universities and through the Christian worldview movement. Emphases vary according to denominational tradition.

• Reformed Presbyterian churches: At the seminaries of Presbyterian denominations that emphasize Reformed theology, the influence of Kuyper, Dooyeweerd, and Van Til is pronounced, and apologetics is treated as an important subject.
• Methodist and Holiness churches: Following the tradition of John Wesley, these churches present a framework that treats Scripture, tradition, reason, and experience together as sources for theology. As a result, they tend to grant reason a relatively broad role.

Among church members, Korean translations of C. S. Lewis's Mere Christianity and of the works of Francis Schaeffer have been widely read. Worldview and apologetics studies are also conducted in young adult ministries and campus ministry organizations. At the same time, some still caution, on the basis of Colossians 2:8, that philosophy can be harmful to faith.