Here is a book with a definite slant. It is subtitled ‘The Role of Reason in the Life of the Soul’. The author is not shy to express his credentials at various points throughout the book, the idea being to help enforce the needed emphasis that he is seeking to bring and to indicate that he is qualified to say the things he is saying. I thought it rather unhelpful and appeared a little arrogant and to its detriment. The book itself will be far beyond the average reader in parts at least, especially in those sections where he unfolds the faculties of soul and mind as he sees them to be and this is a shame because it contains some excellent material as the he encourages the Christian to the use of their mind in the things of God. Obviously he is writing into a mainly western church scene and his emphasis is a necessary one. The idea that Christians have neglected their minds, that they are not trained in reading and thinking is pertinent. This neglect has been evident for at least a century. Unfortunately Pentecostalism and the charismatic churches are probably guilty the most as regards neglect in this area, and to their detriment. This book is a kind of exploration into the place of the mind in the Christian life, a charting of a course through things not usually written about. The publishers of the book indicate the kind of book it is likely to be, but the intent is to encourage the use of the mind in spiritual transformation into Christ-likeness. To become like Christ in the way that we think is vital, this book encourages us in that direction for sure. One reviewer mentions that J. P. Moreland encourages us to a ‘tough and analytic’ mind. I was interested in that because I think it is partly true. Whether all can be pressed into that mould I question though and I do wonder if all are to be expert in apologetics. It is good to read something that is opening up this subject. I would have preferred a little less of the scholarly approach, although the author desires us to read that which challenges us and is above our usual level and that is a helpful point too. He is a professor of Philosophy and a man with pastoral and evangelistic experience too and perhaps a little more of the latter would have made the book somewhat more accessible to a wider readership for its content and emphasis is much needed. I did enjoy his application of the use of the mind to worship, to leadership in the church and to vocation. So, here is a book with a vital message certain sections of which are sure to help the reader and some which may be almost superfluous at a first reading and to which they can return at a later date.
