What is Christian Philosophy?

In this video, Kelly Fitzsimmons Burton asks "what is Christian Philosophy?" She looks at what the apostle Paul describes as "worldly philosophy" and offers an alternative approach to doing philosophy.
Kelly's website: retphi.com
Kelly's author page: www.amazon.com...
Kelly's podcast: anchor.fm/kell...
Recorded April 28, 2018
Smart Faith Conference
Phoenix, AZ

[@FrankieMcGowan]

Thank you so much Kelly for posting this lecture. This is actually my first ever philosophy lecture, even though I hold a BA Philosophy (II.I) from The University of London/Birkbeck. (I completed the material for this from reading, and submitting essays to my tutor - Geoffrey Klempner - and having them critiqued by him, then taking the international examinations at monitored test centers in the US, all while in my late forties and early fifties.) The title of your lecture attracted me for one of the same reasons that I began to study philosophy. Years ago, I read C.S. Lewis' works, in particular those that explain why he became a Christian. I also read Bertrand Russell's "Why I am NOT a Christian." I thought, "Interesting ..." So I embarked upon six years of study, gained my diploma and my BA, then went back to re-reading both bodies of work by Lewis and Russell. Although I come from a Christian background and love Jesus and God, I would not be considered "Christian" by most folks who consider themselves Christian, nor indeed by myself. Now in retirement, I DO nevertheless share your desire to show that "God exists," and I am working on ideas how to do that. I am very appreciative of your efforts in this regard. Thank you. Again. (I don't have a public presence, other than I'm the only Frank McGowan on LinkedIn with 'Philosophy' in my profile, I believe.)

[@kellyfitzsimmonsburton]

Dear Frank, thank you so much for watching the video and for your thoughtful comment. I would like to invite you to join a discussion about how to show that God exists, and related topics, at: kellyburton.locals.com/ Please join us!

[@dathunder8208]

Wow, thank you Dr. Burton. Your lecture was a joy to listen too, and very enlightening.

[@kellyfitzsimmonsburton]

Thank you very much!

[@nigelhunter4230]

After 5 minutes I knew this was going to be very helpful. Thanks.

[@kellyfitzsimmonsburton]

Glad it was helpful!

[@JohnC-24]

Thank You so much Kelly. I believe I just saw this video at the right time. Looking forward to watching more. 👍🏼

[@kellyfitzsimmonsburton]

Thank you for watching! I’m here if you have questions.

[@slimshawsy]

What an excellent introduction to this subject. Thank you!

[@kellyfitzsimmonsburton]

Thank you!

[@danieleaster7982]

Many paths lead to spiritualism. In my opinion any path you take that's based on knowledge that is refined by your logos(Spirit) to reveal truth, is indeed how you come to know your Creator.. Stand with one foot in chaos and one foot in order. Never be satisfied with what you don't know.

[@danieleaster7982]

I did very much, enjoy your lecture..

[@kellyfitzsimmonsburton]

Thank you very much, Daniel.

[@crossandculture]

Brilliance. I'm excited to call this woman one of my newest friends! Great work, Dr. B.

[@kellyfitzsimmonsburton]

Thank you, Friend!

[@mackmack5555]

Fascinating. I just started to study philosophy in my personal time. Loved this video

[@kellyfitzsimmonsburton]

Thank you for watching!

[@sunnygee3712]

Amazing..Thank you !

[@kellyfitzsimmonsburton]

Thank you, Sunny!

[@joyhoisington5487]

Such interesting stuff! Love the way you explain things!

[@kellyfitzsimmonsburton]

Thank you for watching! I appreciate your feedback.

[@TheProdigalMeowMeowMeowReturns]

@18:42 Note to self

[@achikmusictheory6069]

Good education on faith maam 😊🌹❤🌹

[@kellyfitzsimmonsburton]

Thank you kindly

[@barnas26]

Thanks for few doors of insight

[@kellyfitzsimmonsburton]

Thank you!

[@dobberdop]

I enjoyed this very much. Well done..

[@kellyfitzsimmonsburton]

Many thanks!

[@seanlee7054]

I'm not concerned with God but my view is agnostic. We have 2 contingencies: God exists and he is all knowing, all loving, and created moral virtue and the other being we are nothing more than atoms in a void. How do we fulfill a meaningful life in both contingencies? If there is a God then living according to virtue would make it seem like you would be a friend of his rather than an enemy. If God doesn't exist then you will just "go with the flow" and that in itself is living in virtue.

[@kellyfitzsimmonsburton]

Thank you for your thoughts, Sean!

[@tyroneb5772]

Enjoyed the lecture. Christians should get involved in philosophy as mentioned in this video presentation, because God created human beings to think objectively. Thank you.

[@kellyfitzsimmonsburton]

Thank you, Tyrone. I hope you find some of my other videos helpful.

[@tyroneb5772]

@@kellyfitzsimmonsburton I will observe more lectures. Thank you for the invitation. May our Lord Jesus Christ bless your work. (Colossians 3:23)

[@tyroneb5772]

Dr. Burton: What's your worldview on existentialism?

[@kellyfitzsimmonsburton]

Thank you, Tyrone!

[@kellyfitzsimmonsburton]

I think Existentialism has some serious problems. I’ll try to address the topic in a Philosophical Foundation video soon.

[@tes767]

Thank you for that helpful lecture. I have to admit, I am that electrical engineer, and I never had high thoughts of philosophy because each philosopher lives to shoot down the theories of the others. I'd like to know more about Saint Augustine interweaving Neoplatonism and Manicheanism into early Christianity. I have to write about it in my book. Thanks!

[@kellyfitzsimmonsburton]

Thank you! I am glad you are getting into philosophy.

[@user-zf5mw3ok1f]

For more on Augustine, I’d suggest reading Dr. Ken Wilson’s thesis titled: "Augustine's conversion from traditional free choice to 'non-free Free Will': A comprehensive methodology”.

[@garyfookins9968]

First off, thank you for sharing this interesting lecture. Second, what does Retrieval Philosophy mean? Do you mean that you want Philosophy brought back to Christianity? Also, I looked on your website for your paper you wrote about certainty and probability in concerns to hard and soft knowledge and found an interesting diagram about how logos "certifies" knowledge but was wondering if there was a full paper I might have missed. Thank you again.

[@kellyfitzsimmonsburton]

Thank you for watching! The paper became a chapter in my book. You can find it here: www.amazon.com/dp/0692184864/ref=cm_sw_r_as_gl_api_gl_i_PAYCRNC2YAPEJN7T1NM1?linkCode=ml2&tag=thelogosfound-20

[@garyfookins9968]

@@kellyfitzsimmonsburton Perfect, and the description answers my question about retrieval philosophy. I have added your book to my reading list, thank you!

[@kellyfitzsimmonsburton]

Thank you very much!

[@michaellittle4506]

Wisdom is given to you or experienced. Nobody believes 100% in anything. We are human and God made us to be skeptical

[@kellyfitzsimmonsburton]

Hello! Do you think there is a difference between “being skeptical” which is a stance of critical thinking, and “skepticism” which denies that anything is clear to reason (or knowable)?

[@brianoloo8927]

Enjoyed the lecture

[@kellyfitzsimmonsburton]

Thank you!

[@BenjaminOrthodox]

19:00 positivism*

[@bharata5496]

No there exists Christian Mathematics and christian philosophy - see the work of Dr. C.K. Raju on Sangam Talks and Centre for Indic Studies - he explains how Dogma is involved in Maths

[@kellyfitzsimmonsburton]

Thanks, I’ll check it out.

[@turbopro10]

@28:55 "... the method of philosophy: since the method has to do with the critical use of reason, I'm gonna suggest that a, a Christian application of this would be taking every thought captive, that's raised up against the knowledge of god; we have to look at other views critically and test them. So all those worldly philosophies, can we show where they are mistaken. That would be good philosophy right." Cool. Sounds somewhat reasonable. And, if we accept this as "good philosophy," then may I ask please, why should we test only "those worldly philosophies" critically to "show where they are mistaken". Should we not test them critically and see what the results elicit, rather than presume them to be mistaken? Are they all mistaken by definition? Perhaps one or more of "those worldly philosophies" may turn out to be correct, perhaps one or more may be incorrect. Why privilege Christian philosophy above the others? Good philosophy, as elucidated above, suggests that perhaps we exercise the same methodology on Christian philosophy, right?

[@kellyfitzsimmonsburton]

I would apply the same method on all ideas. In addition, I think there are truths that can be found in non-Christian thinkers. Critical thinking is necessary for all ideas that we encounter, no matter what their origin.

[@ashleygovender4104]

Excellent. Thank you for this. I have been thinking through some of these questions. Any good reading recommendations? Durban, South Africa

[@kellyfitzsimmonsburton]

Thank you for watching! You should join our conversation on Locals: kellyburton.locals.com

[@yohansuy3096]

Great, may I reupload on tiktok?

[@kellyfitzsimmonsburton]

Yes, please do.

[@samsontesfay1]

My appiciation

[@wayongo2929]

Dr. Don't you think Socrates may only be one of the earlier written about philosophers, since he is modern to his ancestors and have actually copied what the ancestry have also copied from their ancestry. Philosophy had begun with the world. Thanks

[@kellyfitzsimmonsburton]

Good point, Wayon. Thank you for watching!

[@juliorivera870]

W😮W I'm impressed! Now that's wisdom, my name is Julio, I don't believe God exist, I know he exist, I have seen Jesus face in the clouds, I even took his picture. I could see in his right hand the nail print.

[@kellyfitzsimmonsburton]

Thank you for the encouraging words, Julio!

[@billygundum]

God is either the author of strong delusions or he is not. *** God is the creator of evil or calamity? Semantaside? Sorry, I can't yet readily tell which of his invisible qualities you are pointing at. 🤞one day.

[@kellyfitzsimmonsburton]

Thank you for watching. I appreciate your interaction.