Travis Dickinson - Logic and the Way of Jesus: Thinking Critically and Christianly

Those of us who teach logic and critical thinking in Christian universities, colleges, and seminaries have long dreamt of a book like this. Travis Dickinsons Logic and the Way of Jesus is the new gold standard in the field. There is no close second. Not only does it teach the fundamentals of logic in remarkably clear and practical terms; it demonstrates how a basic grasp of critical thinking skills is essential to loving God with our minds, forming a consistent Christian worldview, and following Jesusour Lord and the preeminent Logician. This book is required reading for all who would contend for the faith in our spiritually confused, post-Christian generation!

Richard Brian Davis , professor of philosophy, Tyndale University

Logic and the Way of Jesus is an incisive, thoughtful, and carefully designed look at what it means to think Christianly about all aspects of life. In this outstanding book, Travis Dickinson brilliantly and insightfully connects intellectual curiosity, an understanding of logic, critical thinking, the place of faith and reason, and the importance of developing a Christian worldview. In doing so, he winsomely and persuasively invites Christ followers to think and live in a renewed and holistic way in order to change lives, strengthen churches, enhance Christian entities, advance the gospel, and bring glory to the one, true, and living God. Heartily recommended!

David S. Dockery , president, International Alliance for Christian Education, and distinguished professor of theology, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

Brilliant! This is the book Ive been waiting for: a clarion call to reject anti-intellectualism and love God with all our minds. Dickinsons Logic and the Way of Jesus is one part inspiring and one part practical: a perfect blend, showing the brilliance of Jesus, the Master Logician, and the call of his followers to think critically and Christianly in a world gone mad.

Paul M. Gould , associate professor of philosophy of religion, Palm Beach Atlantic University

Logic and the Way of Jesus is an accessible guide that helps equip followers of the Way to cultivate a more responsible, intellectually virtuous character, one that is modeled by Christ himself and rooted and nourished in the life-giving reality of the triune God. Dickinson reminds us that the intellectual pursuit of God is to be understood primarily in the context of the first and greatest commandment: to love the Lord our God with every aspect of our being. This is no ordinary introduction to logic textbook! Dickinson is a seasoned, pastoral guide to the logical and moral dimensions of a well-ordered, Christ-shaped mind.

Ross D. Inman , associate professor of philosophy, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary

The call to Christlikeness is a call to love God with a well-ordered and virtuous mind. Logic and the Way of Jesus brilliantly equips readers to answer this call. Appealing throughout to the example of Jesus, Travis Dickinson shows uswith patience born of true expertisethe way to recover the intellect as central to Christian discipleship. Dickinsons engaging readability and skillful explanations guarantee that Logic and the Way of Jesus will serve equally well in classical schools or college classrooms, small groups, and personal studies.

R. Keith Loftin , headmaster, Kingdom Preparatory Academy

There has been a need for this book for a long time. Logic and the Way of Jesus explains why critical thinking is important for Christians and offers a practical road map for how to think like Jesus. This is now my top recommendation for a book of its kind.

Sean McDowell , associate professor of Christian apologetics, Talbot School of Theology, Biola University

The incarnation of the Son of God saliently revealed the ground of logic and love, of rationality and hospitality. It is no less true to say, God is logic than it is to say, God is love. Of course, God is more than those characteristics, but certainly not less. It also explains why the university and hospital movements arose predominantly in the Christian West. In Logic and the Way of Jesus , Dickinson helps us see the good of training our minds and how to do so. Moreover, he helps us see why, as Christians, loving God with our heads in addition to [our] hands and hearts is essential to Christian discipleship in pursuing the good life. This is a good resource for individuals, small groups, and classrooms.

Corey Miller , president and CEO, Ratio Christi

Travis Dickinson is a Christian scholar with a pastors heart of equipping believers for ministry and maturity. Logic in the Way of Jesus brings all of this together in a readable way. The real importance of the book lies in the way Dickinson depicts, explains, and illustrates crucial concepts as aspects of Christian discipleship: worldview, rationality, inductive and deductive logic, truth, and much, much more. This book is crucial reading for pastors, students, and everyday Christians. I highly recommend it.

JP Moreland , distinguished professor of philosophy, Talbot School of Theology, Biola University

Some tell us we should think well, and that is important. Others teach us how to think well, and that is also important. This is a book that gives the why and how: a white swan event. Whether teaching basic logic in a Christian context or hoping to learn how to be a better reasoner, this is an outstanding resource.

John Mark Reynolds , president and professor of philosophy, The Saint Constantine School

Logic and the Way of Jesus

Copyright 2022 by Travis Dickinson

Published by B&H Academic

Nashville, Tennessee

All rights reserved.

ISBN: 978-1-5359-8327-3

Dewey Decimal Classification: 160

Subject Heading: LOGIC / JESUS CHRIST / THOUGHT AND THINKING

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Christian Standard Bible, copyright 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible and CSB are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked NEB are taken from the New English Bible, copyright Cambridge University Press and Oxford University Press 1961, 1970. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible , New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

The web addresses referenced in this book were live and correct at the time of the books publication but may be subject to change.

Cover design by Darren Welch.

Cover illustration: Jesus Preaching in the Synagogue by Gustave Dor, sourced from ivan-96/istockphoto; geometric pattern by briddy_/istockphoto

Printed in the United States of America

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S pecial thanks are due to Brett Coppenger and Keith Loftin for reading through the manuscript and making invaluable suggestions. Thanks to Cristina VanWerkhoven for help with creating the practice problems. Thanks to B&H Academics Audrey Greeson and Renee Chavez for extending virtually every deadline and, along with their editorial team, for helping make this a reality. Special thanks to my former students at Scarborough College who took my Critical Thinking and Worldview class, where many of these ideas were worked out and refined. And to my new students at Dallas Baptist University, I look forward to continuing this conversation. Thanks to the late Dallas Willard, whom I never got to meet, and JP Moreland, who, in many different ways, inspired the idea for the book.