Solved by Sacrifice (Paperback)

R. MacSwain

ISBN 10: 9042927380 / ISBN 13: 9789042927384

Published by Peeters Publishers, Leuven, 2013

About this Item

Paperback. Austin Farrer (1904-1968), Warden of Keble College, Oxford, was aremarkably creative and significant figure in twentieth-centurytheology. Robert MacSwain argues that one explanation for Farrersrelative obscurity is that most commentators have focused on hismetaphysics, and in particular on Finite and Infinite (1943), hismonumental treatise of rational theology. By contrast, MacSwainproposes an epistemological analysis that takes seriously the neglectedbut crucial theme of fideism in Farrers thought. MacSwain charts thedevelopment of Farrers thinking on the proper relation between faithand reason from 1924 to 1968including his engagements with Karl Barth,logical positivism, Thomism, and Wittgensteinian philosophyand offers areading of Farrer that resonates with contemporary religiousepistemology and the growing focus on spiritual praxis. The finalchapter considers Farrers provocative claim that the logical paradoxesof religious belief are solved by sacrifice in the lives of those whomwe recognise as saints: as Farrer puts it, Such a life, then, isevidence, and what other evidence could you hope to find? Austin Farrer (1904-1968), Warden of Keble College, Oxford, was a remarkably creative and significant figure in twentieth-century theology. Robert MacSwain argues that one explanation for Farrer's relative obscurity is that most commentators have focused on his metaphysics, and in particular on Finite and Infinite (1943), his monumen Shipping may be from multiple locations in the US or from the UK, depending on stock availability.

Seller Inventory # 9789042927384

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Solved by Sacrifice (Paperback)
• Publisher: Peeters Publishers, Leuven
• Publication Date: 2013
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 9042927380
• ISBN 13: 9789042927384
• Binding: Paperback
• Condition: new

About this title

Synopsis

Austin Farrer (1904-1968), Warden of Keble College, Oxford, was a remarkably creative and significant figure in twentieth-century theology. Robert MacSwain argues that one explanation for Farrer's relative obscurity is that most commentators have focused on his metaphysics, and in particular on Finite and Infinite (1943), his monumental treatise of 'rational theology'. By contrast, MacSwain proposes an epistemological analysis that takes seriously the neglected but crucial theme of fideism in Farrer's thought. MacSwain charts the development of Farrer's thinking on the proper relation between faith and reason from 1924 to 1968-including his engagements with Karl Barth, logical positivism, Thomism, and Wittgensteinian philosophy-and offers a reading of Farrer that resonates with contemporary religious epistemology and the growing focus on spiritual praxis. The final chapter considers Farrer's provocative claim that the logical paradoxes of religious belief are 'solved by sacrifice' in the lives of those whom we recognise as 'saints': as Farrer puts it, 'Such a life, then, is evidence, and what other evidence could you hope to find?'

Table of Contents:
Introduction
Chapter One: "The Believer's Reasons"
Chapter Two: "A Sort of Fideist"  
Chapter Three: "A Viable and Sophisticated Natural Theology"  
Chapter Four: "Can Reasonable Minds Still Think Theologically?"  
Chapter Five: "Solvitur Immolando"

About the Author

Robert MacSwain is Assistant Professor of Theology and Christian Ethics at The School of Theology of the University of the South, Sewanee, Tennessee, USA.