Interpretation and Belief

Description: Austin Farrer's writings show amazing originality and independence of thought. To the end of his life he was developing a Christian apologetic that was both thoroughly orthodox and thoroughly contemporary. Interpretation and Belief is a collection of essays grouped round three themes--Canon, Creed, and Criteria--presenting Farrer's thoughts on the foundations of Christian belief. As with Reflective Faith, a recently published collection of his essays on philosophical theology, the pieces vary considerably both in range and in date; they are chosen to stimulate interest rather than to exhaust their subject matter. Farrer's studies of the Gospels and his exploration of Christian doctrine both find their place in the larger framework of theistic belief and reveal their author's deep commitment, profound learning, and ability to hold faith and reason in a creative tension. Endorsements: ""Austin Farrer was, by common consent, one of the most remarkable men of his generation. He possessed the qualities of originality, independence, imagination, and intellectual force to a degree amounting to genius."" --Basil Mitchell ""A theologian in many ways unequalled in his own time, and now perhaps beginning to be truly recognized."" --A. M. Allchin ""Farrer built bridges, easily ruined, often ignored, and well worth keeping in repair."" --J. L. Houlden About the Contributor(s): Austin Farrer (1904-1968) was ordained an Anglican priest at Oxford where he served as chaplain and fellow of several colleges. He was warden of Keble College from 1960 until his death. Both a noted theologian and New Testament scholar, Farrer was a member of ""the Oxford Christians,"" conversing frequently with C. S. Lewis, J. R. R. Tolkien, Dorothy Sayers, and T. S. Eliot. Charles Conti is a Lecturer in Philosophy at the University of Sussex.