VIRTUOUS MINDS [Paperback]
Philip E. Dow (Author)
- Publisher: IVP Academic (2013)
- ISBN-10: 0830827145
- ISBN-13: 978-0830827145
This book brings up key issues facing the modern church and Christians alike. For quite some time the, "God did it, and that enough for me" answer was sufficient and the idea of a "God of the Gaps" seemed to be a valid response to the tough questions. However we live in a modern era of having to put aside not only rage, anger, brawling, and slander, but also intellectual laziness, arrogance, ignorance and cowardice. When taking God at His word, it doesn't mean that we simply stop seeking out truth or that we don't attempt to search out for completeness in our knowledge of who He is and how He operates in our world.
"Intellectual
character is the force of accumulated thinking habits that shape and color
every decision we make."
Being Virtuous in our mind has always had a connotation of
upholding purity in our thoughts, which is valid and needed. But we must also
hold up in our minds the intellect that God has given us. Honest curiosity
seeks after the truth in a balanced and objective way.
I Love that Philip E. Dow breaks down "The Seven
Intellectual Virtues" with such insight and understanding.
1. Intellectual Courage
2. Intellectual Carefulness
3. Intellectual Tenacity
4. Intellectual Fair-mindedness
5. Intellectual Curiosity
6. Intellectual Honesty
7. Intellectual Humility
Without one of these we run the risk of faltering on our journey
to education, engagement, and integrity.
This book recommends that instead of shutting off when we
feel tired, pick up a book and learn something. Like a marathon runner, you
don't simply wake up one morning and jog the whole thing. You practice and
build up stamina, start walking then build up with a half mile jog, keep going up
to a full mile and so on. This analogy is a great one, since I am a runner I
understand the difficulty that comes with a long run. Likewise we must train
our minds daily to be ready when the time comes to put them to the test. These
keys to Intellect are often overlooked in a world where it seems like “might
makes right” or he that shouts loudest wins. With the rise of the New Atheist
movement and those who are so clearly intellectually deficient, yelling at the
top of their lungs falsehoods and lies. We must stand firm and rise up to a
level of better thinking and truly Love God With All Our Minds!
