Diogenes Allen (1932–2013)

Allen, who died earlier this year, undertook a valuable task by setting out to find and as it were 'translate' just enough philosophy to help students of theology navigate the Big Sister Discipline's treacherous seas. He achieves exactly what he sets out to do, never permitting himself to sail up philosophical water courses that are not germane to the theological task.

For precisely that reason there will be some who find the book disappointing - although to be honest the title could not make the direction taken more clear. There are however others who may be more obtuse than Allen foresaw: I count myself among them. The book tries, it really does. In the end, though, after pages of Kant or Hegel or Heidegger - or even for that matter Arostotle - I find myself gobsmacked by my own dullness, and scurrying back to the untenable belief that I am just a simple believer in something far too great to comprehend.

Still, at least Allen tried, and perhaps there were moments in the journey when even I thought a passing flash of understand came my way.… (more)