Cambridge Scholars Publishing The Christian Message as Vision and Mission: Philosophical Considerations of its Significance

With all the messages that come our way through social media and in sophisticated gadgets, does the Christian message of love, hope and redemption still have an importance and relevance? What does it have to offer to enable us to meet the various challenges which beset present-day living? Today there is an even greater and more urgent need to focus on it. After all, the Christian message is not merely information because it is also about a way of life. Neither is it simply an exhortation since it also presents a definite goal. This book provides some philosophical considerations which underpin its central teaching. While aware of its richness and complexity, the essays concentrate on the Christian message insofar as it provides a vision for humanity and articulates a mission to implement it. The book serves to establish points of encounter, rather than points of departure, in order to contribute to the ongoing reflection by those who believe in that message, as well as to the debates with those who oppose it. Review “Informed by philosophy and theology, and committed to the complementarity of faith and reason, Santiago Sia articulates the power of the Christian message in a world beset by challenges and loss of meaning. Neither dogmatic nor doctrinal in emphasis, the essays in this volume highlight the rationality of the Christian message in terms of love, hope, and redemption. With insight and even-handedness, Professor Sia powerfully illustrates the enduring relevance of basic Christian themes for various aspects of modern life and culture, including education and technology.”Brendan SweetmanProfessor and Chair of Philosophy, Rockhurst University, USA“Santiago Sia has devoted much thought and time throughout his philosophical career to examining some of the fundamental issues in the Christian religion and their relevance to contemporary society. In times of progressive modernization, such as ours today, these issues have become more relevant than ever. In this book Santiago Sia shows himself to be well-equipped to be an excellent guide.”André ClootsProfessor Emeritus of Philosophy, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium“In this new work Santiago Sia deals with a number of enduring philosophical themes with characteristic erudition. Sia conveys the richness and complexity of the Christian tradition as it engages with questions of meaning and ultimacy. He challenges the dichotomies that have marked much of the western philosophical and theological traditions, and makes the case for a faith that is multi-dimensional, creative and hope-filled.”Linda Hogan Professor of Ecumenics, University of Dublin, Ireland"Offered in this opus is a product of years of reflection from one of the renowned philosophers born in the East but spent most of his time teaching and researching in the West. [...] The whole work attests to the richness of the author’s experiences and the depth of his expertise on the subjects assigned to him in these academic gatherings. Prof. Sia has argued well the significance of a philosophical viewpoint that bears with it the specific end of articulating the significance of faith and faith-based institutions. He will convince the reader into seeing why we need not bracket the faith when we talk about our human concerns, including even perhaps the social and political issues that confront our human communities. Like-minded individuals and professionals, especially Catholic philosophers and educators, are invited to share the task. This book will certainly be a useful guide, and noting the author’s willingness to engage in conversations, further academic engagements and exchanges may perhaps be arranged in order to nurture the interest on this very timely concern."Joel C. SagutPhilippiniana Sacra 53/159 (2018) About the Author Santiago Sia is a retired Professor and Dean of the Faculty of Philosophy of the Milltown Institute at the National University of Ireland. The a