Speaking of a Personal God: An Essay in Philosophical Theology

This short work shows how systematic theology is itself a philosophical enterprise. After analysing the nature of philosophical enquiry and its relation to systematic theology, and after explaining how theology requires that we talk about God, Vincent Brümmer illustrates how philosophical analysis can help in dealing with various conceptual problems involved in the fundamental Christian claim that God is a personal being with whom we may live in a personal relationship.

• Author is well-known philosopher of religion, writer of a number of important books • Difficult theological questions here put forward with great clarity, making the study accessible to non-specialists • Examines some of the fundamental issues of modern theology

Acknowledgements; 1. Philosophical theology; 2. Can we speak about God?; 3. Can we resist the grace of God?; 4. Can God do evil?; 5. Can God act in the things we do?; 6. Can a theodicy console?; Epilogue: theology and philosophical inquiry; Index of names.

‘Vincent Brümmer’s study meets a need which no other book precisely deals with … It examines issues of central importance to Christian faith on the borderline between philosophy and theology. It makes use of technical distinctions in a confident manner that will be respected by specialists, while at the same time making them accessible to the non-specialist reader. In addition, the author shows more theological awareness and sensitivity than many British philosophers of religion using the same sort of analytic approach. For all these reasons I welcome the publication of this book.’

– Maurice Wiles, Professor Emeritus, University of Oxford

‘Vincent Brümmer writes very clearly, and his work is very readable. He sometimes has significant and valuable insights, and can sometimes be superbly persuasive, when explaining why love is quite impossible without freedom.’

– Richard Swinburne, Nolloth Professor of the Philosophy of Religion, University of Oxford