Paul M. Gould

Young adults today want authentic answers to their soul-deep questions about God. They want meaningful ways to communicate those answers to others. Most of all, they want to know that they are living a life that matters. In A Good and True Story, philosopher, apologist, and international speaker Paul Gould leads readers on an engaging journey through eleven clues that suggest Christianity is not only true but satisfies our deepest longings. This creative foray into the foundations of Christian truth explores the universe, morality, happiness, pain, beauty, and more for readers looking for culturally informed apologetics. Ideal for college-age and twentysomething readers, small group leaders, and anyone interested in the intersection of faith, philosophy, and culture, A Good and True Story reminds readers that their search for identity and purpose is a gift from a loving and purposeful God.

The outrageous idea of this book is that God wants to use professors as professors to reach others, transform the academy, and meet the needs of the world. God is on a mission to redeem and restore this fallen world, and as members of one of the most influential institutions in society, Christian professors in the university play an important role in that mission. Becoming a missional professor will require a clear vision of God's heart for the lost as well as humankind's purpose and calling under the banner of Christ, an understanding of the significance of the university as a cultural shaping institution and mission field, and a desire for Christian wholeness in a fragmented world. This idea is outrageous because many Christian professors struggle to live missionally and need a clear vision of such a life as well as role models to lead the way. Many professors already living missional lives need encouragement to "excel still more" (1 Thess 4:10). We all need God's grace and mercy as we try to faithfully follow Christ within the university. Paul M. Gould (PhD. Purdue University) teaches philosophy and apologetics at Oklahoma Baptist University and is the founder and president of the Two Tasks Institute. D. Keith Campbell (PhD. Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary) is Global Partnerships Vice President at Global Scholars. Li Ma (PhD. Cornell University) is Senior Research Fellow at the Henry Institute for the Study of Christianity and Politics at Calvin College. Omar Montero (PhD. Candidate, University of Buenos Aires) is Associate Professor and Researcher for Undergraduates and Postgraduates in the Architectural and Design Department at the University of Buenos Aires. Granville W. Pillar (PhD. University of Newcastle) is Associate Professor of Philology at Ferenc R k czi II Transcarpathian Hungarian Institute, Ukraine. Osam Edim Temple (PhD. University of Ibadan) is former Professor of Philosophy at the American University of Nigeria and Special Advisor to the Honourable Minister of Niger Delta Affairs. Bee-Lan C. Wang (PhD. University of Chicago) taught at the Science University of Malaysia, Northern Illinois University, and Wheaton College (Illinois).

The outrageous idea of this book is that God wants to use professors as professors to reach others, transform the academy, and meet the needs of the world. God is on a mission to redeem and restore this fallen world, and as members of one of the most influential institutions in society, Christian professors in the university play an important role in that mission. Becoming a missional professor will require a clear vision of God's heart for the lost as well as humankind's purpose and calling under the banner of Christ, an understanding of the significance of the university as a cultural shaping institution and mission field, and a desire for Christian wholeness in a fragmented world. This idea is outrageous because many Christian professors struggle to live missionally and need a clear vision of such a life as well as role models to lead the way. Many professors already living missional lives need encouragement to "excel still more" (1 Thess 4:10). We all need God's grace and mercy as we try to faithfully follow Christ within the university. Paul M. Gould (PhD. Purdue University) teaches philosophy and apologetics at Oklahoma Baptist University and is the founder and president of the Two Tasks Institute. D. Keith Campbell (PhD. Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary) is Global Partnerships Vice President at Global Scholars. Li Ma (PhD. Cornell University) is Senior Research Fellow at the Henry Institute for the Study of Christianity and Politics at Calvin College. Omar Montero (PhD. Candidate, University of Buenos Aires) is Associate Professor and Researcher for Undergraduates and Postgraduates in the Architectural and Design Department at the University of Buenos Aires. Granville W. Pillar (PhD. University of Newcastle) is Associate Professor of Philology at Ferenc R k czi II Transcarpathian Hungarian Institute, Ukraine. Osam Edim Temple (PhD. University of Ibadan) is former Professor of Philosophy at the American University of Nigeria and Special Advisor to the Honourable Minister of Niger Delta Affairs. Bee-Lan C. Wang (PhD. University of Chicago) taught at the Science University of Malaysia, Northern Illinois University, and Wheaton College (Illinois).

Renewing the Christian voice, conscience, and imagination so that we can become compelling witnesses of the Gospel in today's culture. Christianity has an image problem. While the culture we inhabit presents us with an increasingly anti-Christian and disenchanted position, the church in the West has not helped its case by becoming anti-intellectual, fragmented, and out of touch with the relevancy of Jesus to all aspects of contemporary life. The muting of the Christian voice, its imagination, and its collective conscience have diminished the prospect of having a genuine missionary encounter with others today. Cultural apologetics attempts to demonstrate not only the truth of the Gospel but also its desirability by reestablishing Christianity as the answer that satisfies our three universal human longings—truth, goodness, and beauty. In Cultural Apologetics, philosopher and professor Paul Gould sets forth a fresh and uplifting model for cultural engagement—rooted in the biblical account of Paul's speech in Athens—which details practical steps for establishing Christianity as both true and beautiful, reasonable and satisfying. You'll be introduced to:The idea of cultural apologetics as distinct from traditional apologetics. The path from disenchantment with how we understand reality to re-enchantment with the reality of the spiritual nature of things. The practical tools of good cultural engagement: conscience, reason, and imagination. Equip yourself to see, and help others see, the world as it is through the lens of the Spirit—deeply beautiful, mysterious, and sacred. With creative insights, Cultural Apologetics prepares readers to share a vision of the Christian faith that is both plausible and desirable, offering clarity for those who have become disoriented in the haze of modern Western culture.

Two experienced educators offer an up-to-date introduction to philosophy from a Christian perspective that covers the four major areas of philosophical thought: epistemology, metaphysics, philosophy of religion, and ethics. Written from an analytic perspective, the book introduces key concepts and issues within the main areas of philosophical inquiry in a comprehensive yet accessible way, inviting readers on a quest for goodness, truth, and beauty that ultimately points to Jesus as the source of all.

The outrageous idea of this book is that God wants to use professors as professors to reach others, transform the academy, and meet the needs of the world. God is on a mission to redeem and restore this fallen world, and as members of one of the most influential institutions in society, Christian professors in the university play an important role in that mission. Becoming a missional professor will require a clear vision of God's heart for the lost as well as humankind's purpose and calling under the banner of Christ, an understanding of the significance of the university as a cultural shaping institution and mission field, and a desire for Christian wholeness in a fragmented world. This idea is outrageous because many Christian professors struggle to live missionally and need a clear vision of such a life as well as role models to lead the way. Many professors already living missional lives need encouragement to ""excel still more"" (1 Thess 4:10). We all need God's grace and mercy as we try to faithfully follow Christ within the university. ""What does it mean to be a faithful follower of Jesus as a University professor? Paul Gould, in The Outrageous Idea of the Missional Professor, has the boldness to suggest that faithfulness involves taking up the mission of Jesus in the academy. Combining clear analysis and concrete steps, Gould motivates academics to a deeper commitment to that mission."" --Gregory E. Ganssle, Professor of Philosophy, Talbot School of Theology, Biola University, La Mirada, CA ""This book is for anyone in a teaching profession wondering what it means to be 'called' to serve God in the classroom, library, or lab. Expertly combining foundational principles and points of practical application, Gould offers a roadmap to flourishing as a Christian academic."" --Stan Wallace, President, Global Scholars, Overland Park, KS ""Paul Gould is one of the brightest young scholars in the evangelical world, and The Outrageous Idea of the Missional Professor is an excellent book which argues that evangelical institutions and faculty members need to 'revision' themselves as missional institutions and professors. I agree with Gould and recommend the book highly to leaders, administrators, and faculty members in the world of Christian higher education."" --Bruce Ashford, Associate Professor of Theology and Culture, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Wake Forest, NC ""Professor Gould has issued a challenge for anyone interested in the needs of higher education in America. He argues forcefully that Christian professors should live their lives before God as participants in His mission of redemption and restoration to a world badly in need of hope, a missio dei extending to the classroom, the faculty lounge, the research lab, and the myriad other venues one finds the soul of the modern university. May his message find a widespread audience."" --Andrew H. Trotter Jr., Executive Director, Consortium of Christian Study Centers, Charlottesville, VA Paul M. Gould is Assistant Professor of Philosophy and Christian Apologetics at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, TX. He is the editor of Beyond the Control of God? Six Views on the Problem of God and Abstract Objects and the co-editor of The Two Tasks of the Christian Scholar: Redeeming the Soul, Redeeming the Mind and Loving God with Your Mind: Essays in Honor of J. P. Moreland.