Philosophy And Theology

Something few churchgoers understand is the close relationship (for better or worse) between philosophy and theology -- and the power of it. Look at that Church over there -- this probably applies there. Usually theology trails philosophy -- I would estimate by about a generation. That is, if philosophers think it, it will be driving theology one generation later. The evangelical theologian Francis Schaeffer spent much of his life trying to awaken Christians to this fact. OBSERVATION: Some influential philosophers in the field of theology today, to give some examples, were Whitehead (creation as process), Wittgenstein (religion as culture), or Derrida (be aware of constructions), although they themselves were influenced by others. I think culture probably has a stronger influence than philosophy, but that is harder to define.