20 Most Brilliant Christian Professors

[Lil Red]

+JMJ+
http://www.collegecrunch.org/professors/the-20-most-brilliant-christian-professors/

[Thy Geekdom Come]

I've only heard of one of those people: N.T. Wright.

[Brother Adam]

Interesting. I know lists like this are subjective and never perfect, but there were some surprises on there, like McGrath, who I would never count as one of the 20 MOST brilliant.

Notably missing are some of the finest Catholic minds in the world who are far more brilliant than most on that list.

[rkwright]

[quote name='Raphael' date='14 April 2010 - 02:19 PM' timestamp='1271272751' post='2093388']
I've only heard of one of those people: N.T. Wright.
[/quote]


[quote name='Brother Adam' date='14 April 2010 - 02:19 PM' timestamp='1271272785' post='2093389']
Interesting. I know lists like this are subjective and never perfect, but there were some surprises on there, like McGrath, who I would never count as one of the 20 MOST brilliant.

Notably missing are some of the finest Catholic minds in the world who are far more brilliant than most on that list.
[/quote]

Really? I've read/heard of 3 or 4 of these guys and I'm not a phil. guy?

William Lane Craig? Plaintinga?

I've read an overview of Christian thought by McGrath - seemed alright. Why discount him?

[Brother Adam]

[quote name='rkwright' date='14 April 2010 - 05:46 PM' timestamp='1271277964' post='2093481']
Really? I've read/heard of 3 or 4 of these guys and I'm not a phil. guy?

William Lane Craig? Plaintinga?

I've read an overview of Christian thought by McGrath - seemed alright. Why discount him?
[/quote]

We're talking about the top 20, which is why I discount him. I would most likely put him somewhere between 150-200 in any "top" lists.

[rkwright]

[quote name='Brother Adam' date='14 April 2010 - 03:51 PM' timestamp='1271278280' post='2093493']
We're talking about the top 20, which is why I discount him. I would most likely put him somewhere between 150-200 in any "top" lists.
[/quote]

Top 20 of people alive right now... still in your 150-200?

I don't know if I could even name 150 Christian professors right now.

[EcceNovaFacioOmni]

I can't believe Alasdair MacIntyre wasn't included!

[Brother Adam]

[quote name='rkwright' date='14 April 2010 - 06:02 PM' timestamp='1271278976' post='2093507']
Top 20 of people alive right now... still in your 150-200?

I don't know if I could even name 150 Christian professors right now.
[/quote]

Remember we aren't talking theology professors, we are talking Christian professors. I used to listen to him on the radio all the time. He's got some really funky Protestant theology in a few areas. I would put Joseph Ratzinger, Edward Oakes, Peter Kreeft, Regis Martin, Denis Mcnamara, Peter Williamson, etc in the top 50.

Edited April 14, 2010 by Brother Adam

[Apotheoun]

I am only familiar with the writings of Alister McGrath, and I owe him a debt of gratitude for helping me to overcome (and eventually abandon) the Protestant understanding of the doctrine of justification.

[Chestertonian]

[quote name='rkwright' date='14 April 2010 - 02:46 PM' timestamp='1271277964' post='2093481']
Really? I've read/heard of 3 or 4 of these guys and I'm not a phil. guy?

William Lane Craig? Plaintinga?

I've read an overview of Christian thought by McGrath - seemed alright. Why discount him?
[/quote]

You don't care for Plantinga? Plantinga's evolutionary argument against naturalism is brilliant.

[Seven77]

haven't you all ever heard of Professor Robert George?! he was one of the pioneers of the Manhattan Declaration! ( just remembered-- I probably should sign that...lol)

[Hassan]

[quote name='Brother Adam' date='14 April 2010 - 03:19 PM' timestamp='1271272785' post='2093389']
.

Notably missing are some of the finest Catholic minds in the world who are far more brilliant than most on that list.
[/quote]

I don't see how you can support this unless you have read these people's reaserch.





Anyway, I'm sorry they left out Michael Dummett.

He's done brilliant work in intuitionist logic, mathematical logic and Analytic Philosophy. He's the top interpreter of Frege and did great work in the UK combating racism. He's even made contribution to serious biblical scholarship criticizing some philosophical assumptions of many scholars in the field.

Edited April 15, 2010 by Hassan

[Hassan]

[quote name='Brother Adam' date='14 April 2010 - 07:42 PM' timestamp='1271288577' post='2093591']
Remember we aren't talking theology professors, we are talking Christian professors. I used to listen to him on the radio all the time. He's got some really funky Protestant theology in a few areas. I would put Joseph Ratzinger, Edward Oakes, Peter Kreeft, Regis Martin, Denis Mcnamara, Peter Williamson, etc in the top 50.
[/quote]


Joseph Ratzinger does not publish most of his work in English. As much as I am happy to admit that Ratzinger is a profoundly intelligent man, I can't think of any original work he has done in a proactive sense. Although my reading of him is limited.

I like hearing Peter Kreeft talk, but he certainly does not belong on the same list as a Plantinga. Kreeft is intelligent but I wouldn't call him brilliant. He really hasn't done any original research that I know of.

He's an apologist. A very decent man and an intelligent man, but he's not in the same league as the figures on that list that I recognize as far as I can tell.

[MIKolbe]

[quote name='Apotheoun' date='14 April 2010 - 08:43 PM' timestamp='1271292185' post='2093615']
I am only familiar with the writings of Alister McGrath, and I owe him a debt of gratitude for helping me to overcome (and eventually abandon) the Protestant understanding of the doctrine of justification.
[/quote]
i think that would be a great new thread.

could you open a new one and explain in depth?

[Lil Red]

[quote name='MIkolbe' date='15 April 2010 - 05:46 AM' timestamp='1271335588' post='2093931']
i think that would be a great new thread.

could you open a new one and explain in depth?
[/quote]
+JMJ+
agreed.