John Mark Reynolds's book When Athens Met Jerusalem provides students a well-informed introduction to the intellectual underpinnings of Western civilization and highlights how certain intellectual trends are eroding those very foundations.

Christian theology shaped and is shaping many places in the world, but it was the Greeks who originally gave a philosophic language to Christianity. John Mark Reynolds's book When Athens Met Jerusalem provides students a well-informed introduction to the intellectual underpinnings (Greek, Roman and Christian) of Western civilization and highlights how certain current intellectual trends are now eroding those very foundations. This work makes a powerful contribution to the ongoing faith versus reason debate, showing that these two dimensions of human knowing are not diametrically opposed, but work together under the direction of revelation.

According to the author the Hellenistic tradition played a role as a model for Jewish modernisers to draw upon as they perceived a lack in Jewish culture. The author believes that Greek and Hellenistic concepts are now internalised by the Jewish people.

Throughout his long career, Cornelius Van Til--a professor at Westminster Theological Seminary and a renowned apologist--raised and discussed issues such as the authority of the Scriptures, the effects of the fall, and the existence of "common ground" between believers and unbelievers. Such issues are as significant in our day as they were in his. First published in 1971 and now back in print, Jerusalem and Athens goes beyond the scope of a typical festschrift. As a point of reference for what follows, it opens with Van Til's clear and simple introduction to his own thought, in which he defends the Christian's commitment to the "self-attesting Christ of Scripture" "I have never met Christ in the flesh. No matter, he has written me a letter." This is followed by twenty-five critical essays on theology, theological method, philosophy, and apologetics written by contributors such as J. I. Packer, G. C. Berkouwer, Richard Gaffin, Herman Ridderbos, and Rousas Rushdoony. Van Til replies to a number of these essays, sharpening the impact of this unique and useful book.

Praised as a major political thinker of the twentieth century and vilified as the putative godfather of contemporary neoconservatism, Leo Strauss (1899–1973) has been the object of heated controversy both in the United States and abroad. This book offers a more balanced appraisal by focusing on Strauss's early writings. By means of a close and comprehensive study of these texts, David Janssens reconstructs the genesis of Strauss's thought from its earliest beginnings until his emigration to the United States in 1937. He discusses the first stages in Strauss's grappling with the "theological-political problem," from his doctoral dissertation on Friedrich Heinrich Jacobi to his contributions to Zionist periodicals, from his groundbreaking study of Spinoza's critique of religion to his research on Moses Mendelssohn, and from his rediscovery of medieval Jewish and Islamic philosophy to his research on Hobbes. Throughout, Janssens traces Strauss's rediscovery of the Socratic way of life as a viable alternative to both modern philosophy and revealed religion.

Having led change successfully at three sprawling, monumental organizations—the CIA, Texas A&M University, and the Department of Defense—Robert M. Gates offers the ultimate insider's look at how leaders can transform large organizations and companies. For many Americans, bureaucracy and corporate structure are code words for inertia. Gates knows that it doesn't have to be that way. With stunning clarity, he shares how simple plans, faithfully executed, can cut through the mire of bureaucracy to reform organizational culture. And he shows that great leaders listen and respond to their teams and embrace the power of compromise. Using the full weight of his wisdom, candor, and devotion to duty, he empowers leaders at any level to effectively implement his leadership strategies.

Thirty 20-page excerpts of the most influential works of Western culture with essays on how they influenced Christian thought and practice.