Reflective Faith: Essays in Philosophical Theology

Description: In the foreword to this collection of essays, the noted British philosopher of religion John Hick aptly describes the style and tone to be found in Reflective Faith. ""Farrer asks . . . the right questions and thereby puts philosophical theology on the right road. This collection constitutes an introduction to Farrer's thought such as many have wished for; and it will be important also for those who are concerned to study Farrer's work as a whole."" And that work, Hick adds, ""is so far removed from the realm of unanalyzed slogans, vague metaphors, and all form of sloppiness and imprecision, that to read someone of Farrer's stature is to lose any taste for the lower levels of theological writing."" Reflective Faith spans Farrer's long career at Oxford, and includes essays taken from lectures, papers, and broadcast talks presented during those years. Originally written for select and usually small audiences, they display a warmth and spontaneity that enables readers to draw close to Farrer, and in so doing to appreciate his breadth of scholarship and wit. Here is traced the evolution of Farrer's thought from its early origins in scholastic theology to his eventual movement towards the ""philosophy of action."" Also included are study notes provided by the editor, and a bibliography of Farrer's published works. About the Contributor(s): Austin Farrer (1904-1968) was ordained an Anglican priest at Oxford where he served as chaplain and fellow of several colleges. He was warden of Keble College from 1960 until his death. Both a noted theologian and New Testament scholar, Farrer was a member of ""the Oxford Christians,"" conversing frequently with C. S. Lewis, J. R. R. Tolkien, Dorothy Sayers, and T. S. Eliot.