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Philosophy for Kids
From Shadows to Sunlight (Plato)
Prudentia, an eight-year-old girl, suddenly awakens in a dim cave only to discover that she cannot move her head to the right or left. After being suddenly freed from the chains, she turns around to discover that there is much more to reality than the shadows. She eventually finds her way out of the cave and discovers reality in its purest form. Although she longs to stay, she realizes that she must return and help others go free. This book is intended to introduce young children to Plato’s Allegory of the Cave, one of the most famous pieces in Western Philosophy. In this Allegory which is located in Book VII of The Republic, Plato sets forth both his metaphysics (the study of the nature of reality) and epistemology (the study of knowledge). This is the first book in a series, and the overall intent is to introduce kids to the great world of Western Philosophy in narrative form.
From the Ground Up (Descartes)
René, a 12-year-old boy who loves nature and solitude, falls asleep on a September afternoon out in the woods by his fort. A couple of hours later, he wakes from the nap only to realize that the fire in front of him is not that different than the fire in his dream, and he suddenly realizes that there might not be a way to tell the difference. He then takes on the challenge to search for something that can be known for certain. This book is intended to introduce young children to the Cogito, one of the most famous lines in Western Philosophy. “Cogito ergo sum” is a Latin phrase that means “I think; therefore, I am.” Written by the French philosopher Renē Descartes in the 1600s, it was the first idea that Descartes believed could be known with certainty. It then became the foundational piece of knowledge in Descartes’ epistemology (i.e., related to knowledge) from which he worked to see what else could be known beyond doubt. Ultimately, he wanted to provide a secure foundation for scientific knowledge. This is the second book in the series “Philosophy for Kids,” and the overall intent is to introduce kids to the great world of Western Philosophy in narrative form.
Socrates and the Green Apple
The day is about done in the Newman’s cottage and all three children are preparing for bed. Skye, the youngest, tucks herself in but cannot fall asleep. Her dad comes in to say goodnight when Skye asks for a bedtime story. He agrees, and proceeds to tell the story of Socrates and why the oracle at Delphi declared that he was the wisest. When Chaerophon received this message and delivered it to Socrates back in Athens, Socrates set about trying to disprove it. Surely it couldn’t be true! As Skye struggles to understand this part of the story, her dad uses the example of a green apple to make his point. By the end, Skye learns what makes Socrates so special: he knew that he did not know. As the third book in the “Philosophy for Kids” series, this charming story is a lesson in humility. As the ancients believed, philosophy was not merely an intellectual exercise, but an investigation into the good life so that it could be lived. Human flourishing was its aim.
The Acorn and the Owl (Aristotle)
The Acorn and the Owl is a heartwarming tale of September, a small acorn who falls from her tree and feels lost and alone on the forest floor until she meets Atlas, a wise owl who teaches her about potential and growth. Through their conversations, September learns that even in her current state, she holds the potential to grow into a mighty oak tree, a realization that transforms her view of herself and her future. This beautifully illustrated story weaves together themes of friendship, self-discovery, personal growth, and the natural cycle of life. Moreover, it creatively introduces Aristotle’s metaphysics, especially his concepts of potentiality and actuality, illustrating these philosophical ideas in an accessible and engaging way. It is the fourth book in the series “Philosophy for Kids.”
To Mars and Back (William Paley)
Max and Theo, two curious boys building a secret fort in the woods, stumble upon something buried beneath the soil—an enormous, egg-shaped object unlike anything they’ve ever seen. Days of digging lead to the discovery of a mysterious spacecraft that whisks them away on an unexpected journey to Mars. There, they uncover a strange box created by ancient Martians, a device designed to preserve their forgotten history. But it’s not just the adventure that changes the boys—it’s the questions that follow. Who built the box? Why was it made? And could this same logic apply to the Earth…or even the universe? This story introduces children to William Paley’s Argument from Design, a classic philosophical argument for the existence of God. It encourages readers to consider how order, complexity, and purpose in nature might point to a purposeful Creator. Combining Paley’s timeless analogy of the watch with the modern idea of cosmic fine-tuning, this fifth installment of the Philosophy for Kids series sparks wonder, reason, and curiosity in young minds.
Psalm 32: A Meditation
Advancing AI in Theological Education
Highway 11 (Fatherhood)
Breaking Ground for New Christians
Written primarily for new Christians, this discipleship-oriented book is designed to help people lay a biblical foundation in six weeks. In Psalms 11:3, David wrote, “If the foundations are destroyed, what will the righteous do?” A solid, biblical foundation is key to long-term spiritual success. With this goal in mind, this book is uniquely formatted to encourage the reader to interact with the Bible, spend time with God daily, meet with a mentor or small group, and explore topics that are vital to cultivating a biblical worldview.
Freedom from OCD
Suffering from Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder is difficult, but ironically, it can be made even worse when it mixes with a person’s Christian faith. The additional “layer” of religious faith can further complicate and suffocate a faith that is intended to be a source of peace, comfort, and hope. At one point, the author’s struggle with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder brought him to a place of complete desperation and hopelessness. For years, he prayed: “Heal me or kill me.” The common consensus among professionals is that this mental illness is something that one must learn to cope with and manage, but not overcome. Yet, there is hope. Due to God’s intervention and a series of events spanning the course of a decade, the author tells his story of how God led him to total and complete freedom from this debilitating mental illness. This is his story including raw moments of honesty and past journal entries.
Philosophy and a Biblical Worldview
Originally designed and written as a course, this book is an introduction to the rich and varied history of Western Philosophy while also challenging individuals to evaluate philosophical ideas from a biblical perspective. Beginning with Thales in the 6th century B.C., you will learn about the origin of Western Philosophy, the four major branches of Western Philosophy, key thinkers and their ideas, various schools of thought (e.g., Epicureanism, Stoicism, Neoplatonism, Existentialism, etc.), and how Christians can benefit from learning, analyzing, and “doing” philosophy. Throughout the book, Christian theologians and philosophers such as Augustine, Aquinas, Martin Luther, John Calvin, Blaise Pascal, C.S. Lewis, Francis Schaeffer, John Frame, Herman Bavinck, Nancy Pearcey, William Lane Craig, and so many more are utilized to demonstrate Christianity’s superior explanatory power in comparison to other philosophical systems of thought. Ultimately, the book aims to develop in students and individuals alike a biblical worldview that impacts the entire person.
(PhD) beyond the call of duty
“Supererogation” is an awkward term but a useful concept. While not a term that we use every day, the concept is very familiar to most of us. It is an act that is neither obligatory nor forbidden and that possesses moral worth. While Roman Catholics and a large number of moral philosophers affirm the possibility and value of such acts, Evangelicals from the time of the Reformation have rejected them. Yet, this is to their detriment. Relying on Gregory Mellema’s insight that acts of supererogation are possible without compromising the orthodox Evangelical doctrine of justification, I argue that there is clear evidence for supererogation in the New Testament and that performing such deeds with a proper motive is essential in an Evangelical account of supererogation. It is my hope that Evangelicals will reconsider the possibility of supererogation and embrace the concept as a useful tool in counseling contexts, biblical interpretation, and homiletics.
Journey to Scotland
One of the great things about being a human being is the ability to dream a big dream and pursue it. Yet, while dreaming about the future is exciting, the actual pursuit can plunge one into confusion, despair, isolation, and times of deep discouragement when things do not turn out as one hoped. After serving as a pastor for over a decade, the writer tells the story of how he heard God’s call to walk away from pastoring and pursue the dream of earning a Ph.D. overseas that God had placed in his heart. It was not until almost two years later that breakthrough came and a door finally opened. In a series of honest and raw journal entries chronologically arranged, the author details the roller-coaster journey of confusion, faith, disappointment, hope, and anger that he and his family traversed.
Experiencing God in the Bible
The Bible, God’s Word, contains 66 books that fall under one of six genres: Law, History, Poetry and Wisdom, Prophecy, Gospels, and Letters. While God has given us special revelation in the form of the Bible to reveal Himself and His character, provide moral guidance, and help Christians craft a biblical worldview, He also desires His Word to be a vehicle that allows His children (i.e., Christians) to access His loving and intimate presence more easily. Reading the Bible is about encountering the God who inspired it. In this book, the author discusses the Bible from this angle while also sharing practical tips for using the Scripture to engage God at a more meaningful level.
Articles
Designing Clutter-Free Spaces for Student Flourishing
ChatGPT & Christian Education
Book Reviews
Thriving Amidst Challenges: Costly Grace Revisited
Memorialising C. S. Lewis
The Tortoise Wins: You’re Only Human
Currently Reading
The Peaceable Kingdom: A Primer In Christian Ethics (Hauerwas)
Stanley Hauerwas presents an overall introduction to the themes and method that have distinguished his vision of Christian ethics. Emphasizing the significance of Jesus’ life and teaching in shaping moral life, The Peaceable Kingdom stresses the narrative character of moral rationality and the necessity of a historic community and tradition for morality. Hauerwas systematically develops the importance of character and virtue as elements of decision making and spirituality and stresses nonviolence as critical for shaping our understanding of Christian ethics.
Jesus and the Disinherited (Howard Thurman)
In this classic theological treatise, the acclaimed theologian and religious leader Howard Thurman (1900-1981) demonstrates how the gospel may be read as a manual of resistance for the poor and disenfranchised. Jesus is a partner in the pain of the oppressed and the example of His life offers a solution to ending the descent into moral nihilism. Hatred does not empower–it decays. Only through self-love and love of one another can God’s justice prevail.
Pensées (Pascal)
Blaise Pascal, the precociously brilliant contemporary of Descartes, was a gifted mathematician and physicist, but it is his unfinished apologia for the Christian religion upon which his reputation now rests. The Penseés is a collection of philosohical fragments, notes and essays in which Pascal explores the contradictions of human nature in pscyhological, social, metaphysical and – above all – theological terms. Mankind emerges from Pascal’s analysis as a wretched and desolate creature within an impersonal universe, but who can be transformed through faith in God’s grace.
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Rowling)
1984 (Orwell)
Contact
Dr. BJ Condrey
Musings of a Christian Philosopher
October 25, 2018
CV
CV
B.J. Condrey, PhD
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