As its title clearly implies, Introduction to Philosophy : A Christian Perspective is just that. It is a Christian perspective on the study and history of philosophy and it attempts to answer the questions of what philosophy is, why it should be studied and what its practical impact is.
The authors, Norman Geisler and Paul Feinberg, set out to show that philosophy should be valued in and of itself, and that Christianity can stand up to the rigors of philosophy, and should be seen as a philosophically valid worldview. Therefore they undertake the task of showing the value of philosophy, without glossing over the issues in philosophy which seem to contradict Christianity. All truth is God's truth, they say, and philosophy, in its simplest form, is a search for truth. And the search for truth, or wisdom, is prescribed in the Bible in several places.
That being said, Geisler and Feinberg know that some of the values and principles of philosophy are antithetical to Christian doctrine. But that is no reason to remove oneself from the study of philosophy. Instead, as Christians, called to take every thought captive to Christ, we need to investigate philosophy, and to refute its errors where and when they occur. We then need to offer justification for the validity of the Christian worldview, based on accepted philosophical standards.
For those who have not studied philosophy, or those who are just beginning its study, Introduction to Philosophy is a great place to start. It discusses the nature of philosophy, the nature of knowledge, the nature of reality, the nature of the ultimate (God), and the nature of good and right. It includes a glossary of philosophical terms and an extensive index for easy referencing. This book is a valuable reference tool for beginners, and for those seeking to teach philosophy from a Christian perspective.
