Preface: On Kreeft and Pascal

I have to let you in on a secret: I heart Peter Kreeft.

It started when I picked up a copy of a book he wrote called Between Heaven and Hell. In it, Kreeft writes an imaginary dialog between C.S. Lewis, President John F. Kennedy and author/philosopher Aldous Huxley. As it turns out, those three men died on the same day in 1963 and Kreeft imagines their conversation on their way to the afterlife. It was a really imaginative and clever little apologetic about the intersection of worldviews and the person of Christ and I was hooked.

I downloaded some of his lectures from the Veritas Forum. I find his style engages both my heart and mind, a trait he asserts is vital in the writings of Pascal and the teachings of Christ, but I add that Kreeft himself does it really well.

Now to my second point: I heart Pascal.

I encountered his writings in a philosophy class as an undergrad, but it wasn't until a recent seminary class that I gave some of his Pensees serious consideration. I was wrestling with some good points in a book written by an atheist when I read something Pascal said about the importance of knowing truth through reason and through the heart.

190. The metaphysical proofs for the existence of God are so remote from human reasoning, and so complex, that they have little impact. Even if they were of help to some people, this would only be for the moment during which they observed the demonstration, because an hour later, they would be afraid that they have deceived themselves...

George Michael sang about this: "...oh ya gotta have faith, faith, faith."

But Pascal says it better. And he uses bigger words. We'll stick with him. ;)

As we look deeper at Pascal, via Kreeft, this summer my prayer is that our heads and our hearts would engage, sharpening our reasoning and deepening our faith. Our summer reading schedule starts next week, hope you'll join us!

Love to all,
Lindsey

2008 Summer Reading Schedule

Our book:

Christianity for Modern Pagans: Pascal's Pensees Edited, Outlined, and Explained by Peter Kreeft

June 30th

Preface and chapters 1,2 (pages 9-43)

July 7th

Chapters 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 (pages 47-104)

July 14th

Chapters 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 (pages 105 -164)

July 21st

Chapters 13, 14 (pages 167-206)

July 28th

Chapters 15, 16, 17, 18 (pages 209-242)

August 4th

Chapters 19, 20, 21 (pages 245-272)

August 11th

Chapters 22, 23, 24 (pages 273-288)

August 18th

Chapter 25 (pages 291-307)

August 25th

Chapters 26, 27 ,28 (pages 311-333)