Blaise Pascal (1623-62) was a provocative and important thinker. Both the range and the influence of his work is immense. His Pensees ("Thoughts"), unfinished and composed of fragments, is widely regarded as a classic of Christian apologetics. In this volume, the reader is introduced to this work, with a view to both describing what Pascal says and assessing its present value. After introducing the man and his life, Pascal's views on reason and the heart, and on human wretchedness and greatness, are discussed before asking in a final chapter, "Would you bet on God?" An appendix treats Pascal and modernity. Four hundred years on, Pascal's voice can still be heard. Four hundred years on, we still need to heed it. Pascal does not simply speak from the mind to the mind. He speaks as a person to persons.
Blaise Pascal (1623-62) was a provocative and important thinker. Both the range and the influence of his work is immense. His Pensees ("Thoughts"), unfinished and composed of fragments, is widely regarded as a classic of Christian apologetics. In this volume, the reader is introduced to this work, with a view to both describing what Pascal says and assessing its present value. After introducing the man and his life, Pascal's views on reason and the heart, and on human wretchedness and greatness, are discussed before asking in a final chapter, "Would you bet on God?" An appendix treats Pascal and modernity. Four hundred years on, Pascal's voice can still be heard. Four hundred years on, we still need to heed it. Pascal does not simply speak from the mind to the mind. He speaks as a person to persons.
Stephen N. Williams is honorary professor of theology at Queen's University, Belfast.
"Stephen Williams has offered us an engagingly written, genuinely
interesting, and finely judged guide to the thought of Blaise
Pascal. The book carefully and sympathetically shows how Pascal,
one of the most enigmatic yet intriguing thinkers of the early
modern age, offers some startlingly novel perspectives on some of
our contemporary dilemmas, such as the role of reason, the nature
of evil, the search for meaning, and the drama and mystery of being
human."
--Graham Tomlin, director, Centre for Cultural Witness, Lambeth
Palace
"Pascal stands among the greatest Christian thinkers and advocates
of all time. In this book, Stephen Williams offers a sensitive,
discerning, and eloquent account of his thought. Listen to
him."
--Nigel Biggar, regius professor emeritus of moral theology, the
University of Oxford
"Pascal lived centuries ago but his thoughts continue to speak to
and resonate with our present human condition, even more so now
thanks to Stephen Williams's ambassadorial work. One wonders what
the world would be like if Pascal rather than Descartes had had
modernity's ear. Williams thinks he knows: it would be more
realistic and hearty (the operative term in Pascal's thinking),
acknowledging both the contradiction of sinful humanity and the
rationality of salvation in Christ."
--Kevin J. Vanhoozer, research professor of systematic theology,
Trinity Evangelical Divinity School
"Stephen Williams, a Welshman, has spent most of his career
teaching theology in Belfast. Those acquainted with Irish history
will be aware of that city's bitter history of sectarianism. How
wonderful then that a much-respected Presbyterian theologian there
should engage with such clarity and sympathy with one of
Catholicism's greatest ever Christian apologists. Williams
acknowledges Pascal's indebtedness to St. Augustine's teaching as
he writes poignantly about the former's 'night of fire, ' powerful
conversion experience, and much more."
--Niall Coll, Catholic bishop of Ossory
"Stephen William's mastery of Pascal's unfinished text and its
biographical, philosophical, and historical contexts produces an
authoritative, comprehensive, convincing, tightly argued exposition
of the wide range of Pascal's arguments. This outstanding book,
rich in reflection on issues around the birth of modernity, is a
must-read for anyone involved in apologetics."
--John Gillespie, professor emeritus of French language and
literature, Ulster University
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