Refreshingly forthright about the priority of educational philosophy over methodological issues, and therefore about the foundational role of a Christian worldview, Peterson grounds the quest for truth and moral development and the pursuit of excellence in the creational mandate and redemptive task. An important call to educators, and a viable text for prospective teachers.” —Arthur F. Holmes, emeritus professor of philosophy, Wheaton College
“Contemporary education is beset by many problems, [Peterson] argues, that can best be solved by instilling a reverent sense of humanity in children of all ages. . . . Recommended.” Library Journal
“A thoughtful argument from a broadly ecumenical viewpoint that education does not just happen. Educators, to be effective, must think about what they are doing, and that thinking may result in something like a philosophy of education.” —First Things
“Peterson takes on [an] ambitious challenge, attempting to extend the influence of Christian perspectives to address the crisis pervading mainstream American education and culture. . . . [He] adroitly provides an overview of the basic concepts of three traditional schools of thought and four philosophies that have influenced education.” —America
“Peterson is clear, rigorous, critical, and fair. This is a valuable book, not only for students at church-related colleges who may need an introduction to the special educational contributions of their institutions and students in philosophy of education courses, but also as a reminder that Christian faith is not just a set of affections or a collection of virtues, but a confession. That confession, as Michael Peterson so ably points out, ought to make a difference in what we understand education to be for and how we go about educating.” —The Cresset
“The book’s value lies in being one of those... engaging, friendly and accessible texts which make complex ideas accessible to first-time readers in the field.” —Journal of Christian Education
“This is a very carefully written book with much of interest to say on a wide range of topics. It is comprehensive and yet succinct. It evidently represents a distillation of many years of reflection from a Christian perspective on all these topics. It is a valuable addition to recent Christian writings on education.” —Journal of Education and Christian Belief
“Peterson’s expositions of the positions of others are exemplary. His accounts and evaluations of Dewey and postmodernism are particularly helpful here...this is a significant, interesting and lucid contribution to an important topic, and should be warmly welcomed” —International Journal of Education and Religion
"... a readable study of a complex topic." —Interpretation
Refreshingly forthright about the priority of educational philosophy over methodological issues, and therefore about the foundational role of a Christian worldview, Peterson grounds the quest for truth and moral development and the pursuit of excellence in the creational mandate and redemptive task. An important call to educators, and a viable text for prospective teachers.
Peterson, a devout believer in Christian theism, is a philosophy professor at a Christ-centered liberal arts college. His 1998 God and Evil examined evil in the context of the philosophy of religion. Here he deals with educational issues from a fundamentalist perspective, which holds that universal truths and values are knowable because they are based on the Scriptures. Before making his case for a Christian philosophy of education, Peterson surveys other philosophies, including existentialism, experimentalism, and postmodernism, and expounds on each of their inadequacies as a basis for teaching today's youth. Contemporary education is beset by many problems, he argues, that can best be solved by instilling a reverent sense of humanity in children of all ages. Curricula based on a Christian worldview would promote ethics and values along with the pursuit of intellectual excellence in other areas of study. Peterson concludes by urging all Christian scholars to transform culture by reflecting the character of God in all they do. Fundamentalists will applaud Peterson's stance, but nonbelievers will find too many leaps of faith required to embrace his subjective thinking. Recommended for large education, religion, and philosophy collections. Will Hepfer, SUNY at Buffalo Libs. Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.