Philosophy Made Slightly Less Difficult summary

This book was much more challenging than I thought. While the goal was to make Philosophy less difficult, it exposed to me how little I know about Philosophy (and I teach it at a local community college). There are four main areas that I want to improve: logic, metaphysics, spiritual disciplines, and community impact.

I found myself struggling through the logic section. Though the concepts make sense, the way it was unpacked the the labels for the fallacies, arguments, etc. were completely lost on me. I realized that while I have a logical mind, I am untrained and undisciplined in the technical side of logic. For the good of myself, my congregation, and the endeavor to 'save the mind' of my community, I need to be sharpened.

Metaphysics had a similar impact. But, what I realized is that most of what was discussed came off as a foreign language. I think this is in part because we do not discuss these things in our culture, and in part because most of my focus in study has been on epistemology and ethics. Regardless, spending some time understanding the major thoughts in metaphysics again would be good for myself, my congregation, and the endeavor to 'save the mind' of my community.

An aside in the book was a brief thought on spiritual disciplines, but it had a profound impact on me. I regularly exercise because I believe it will make me a healthier person and extend my life. I don't exercise because I think it will somehow help me in my job - I don't run, lift, or have to do anything requiring physical endurance in my job. However, I have been approaching the disciplines that way. I think that if I practice them, it will have direct impact at best, or I use them as an end in of themselves at worst. What shifted for me was realizing that I practice them because I believe it will make me a healthier person spiritually and bring holiness and vibrancy to my life as well. I plan to return (after my doctoral reading) to 'Spirit of the Disciplines' by Willard.

Finally, I am genuinely asking the question how I and my congregation can be a people who intellectually engage our community through deeper thought on philosophical topics and more confident assertion of Christ as THE TRUTH. I am still working this out in my head, but I would like to begin a dialog with elders and pastors at my church on how we can have this type of an impact. More to come, I suppose.