By Gordon H. Clark
I finished this book last week after spending several weeks reading one to two chapters each Sunday. Like the title declares, the book is about Behaviorism and Christianity. Dr. Clark profiles several prominent proponents of Behaviorism, namely John Watson, Edgar Singer, Gilbert Ryle, and B.F. Skinner. The last chapter is an exposition on how Behaviorism and Christianity are incompatable; using the so-called Christian Behaviorist Donald MacKay's ideas as a jumping off point. The essence of Behaviorism, when brought down to it's most simple terms, is a denial of the spiritual, of souls, and anything non-mechanical. Even thought is described as nothing more than chemical reactions! Once the reader is thoroughly flooded with the main points of Behaviorist ideology, he is quickly shown the logical holes that it possesses. More importantly, Clark demonstrates how Behaviorism and Christianity cannot mix. Dr. Clark's writing style is engaging, though definitely intellectual. One's understanding of his writing would be greatly enhanced had one actually read the works he references. Of course, were one a little more philosophically minded than I am, that might also help. I always find that Dr. Clark, while frequently enough writing over my head, had such a sense of humor that one cannot get bored with his books--even when slightly muddled about the exact topic on hand.
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RachealA Reformed Presbyterian girl who enjoys a good movie or a good book any ol' Archives
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