The study of philosophy can lead to the confirmation of Christian beliefs. Although some Christians consider philosophy to be of Satanic origin, in reality it emanates from the search by humans for meaning and order in life. Unlike science or mathematics, philosophy has no laws. Instead, philosophy is characterized by argument, alternative reasoning, and debate. Philosophical debate centers on such theological issues as the existence of God, the reality of evil, and the concept of immortality. These issues are of importance to all Christians. Geisler and Feinberg contend that Christians have a responsibility to study philosophy because "philosophical thought can significantly contribute to theological understanding" (5).
The word philosophy comes from two Greek words that mean "loving wisdom." The Greek philosopher Socrates wrote of the unworthiness of the unexamined life. Other Greek philosophers such as Plato and Aristotle focussed on the concept of "goodness" in philosophy. In contrast, modern philosophers are concerned with a much broader range of topics. Modern philosophy is divided into two branches: analytic and speculative. Analytic philosophy is also referred to as conceptual analysis. Analytic philosophers attempt to identify the basic, unquestioned concepts and principles of human beings. Speculative philosophy goes beyond analytic philosophy in that it introduces questions of ethics, e.g., how humans ought to be and act.
The major disciplines in the study of philosophy are ethics, philosophy of religion, logic, epistemology, and metaphysics. Many think of ethics as the study of morality. Philosophers give it an even broader definition: "The moral philosopher is interested in the nature of the good life, in ultimate worth, and in the propriety of certain actions and courses of life" (Geisler and Feinberg 24). The philosophy of religion examines such areas as the nature of religion itself, the existe...