#926 Release of Systematic Philosophical Theology, vol. I

Dr. craig’s response

I appreciate your enthusiasm, Matthew! I’m taking your question this week in a shameless attempt to publicize the release of volume I of my Systematic Philosophical Theology this month in the U.K. by Wiley-Blackwell. Forgive me!

You know that series of books “             for Dummies,” like Chemistry for Dummies or U.S. History for Dummies or Electrical Engineering for Dummies? These books attempt to make difficult subjects accessible to laypeople (which means all of us outside our area of expertise!). Well, my Defenders lessons could aptly be called Systematic Theology for Dummies. It covers the same material as my Systematic Philosophical Theology, but at a simplified level for laymen. In fact, the Defenders 4 series of lessons actually includes revisions to Defenders 3 based on my current scholarly work. So you can get a sneak preview of my forthcoming volumes by reading the transcripts of my Defenders lessons (which are free, to boot!) posted on our website.

I can promote the newly released vol. I with a clear conscience, since of all the volumes this one should be almost entirely accessible to university educated laypeople. Subsequent volumes like vol. IIa will, I fear, be too difficult for most folks—remember, the target audience of these volumes is Christian philosophers, theologians, and scientists! They’re not intended to be easy to understand.

So the Defenders lessons present a wonderful opportunity to laypeople to become educated in Christian systematic theology. Indeed, as I’ve often remarked to the people in my class, if they stick with it and apply themselves to mastering the material, they will come away with a better education in Christian doctrine than they would get at virtually any seminary!