Thomas B. Warren
Encyclopedia
Thomas Bratton Warren was a professor of philosophy of religion
and apologetics
at the Harding University Graduate School of Religion in Memphis, Tennessee, USA and was an important philosopher and theologian in the Churches of Christ in the latter half of the twentieth century.
Warren had been in failing health for many years when he died at the age of 80 on August 8, 2000.
, USA. He was married to the former Faye C. Brauer (1921–2001) in 1941. They had three children. Warren served in the United State Air Force as an aerial navigator in World War II.
, and the M.A. and Ph.D. in philosophy from Vanderbilt University
. His dissertation topic foreshadowed his long-time interest in apologetics: God and Evil: Does Judeo-Christian Theism Involve a Logical Contradiction?
in Henderson, Tennessee
, USA, Warren chaired the Department of Bible from 1964-1971. His most fruitful academic appointment was as Professor of Philosophy of Religion and Apologetics at Harding Graduate School of Religion, where he served from 1971-79. He was co-founder and Dean of the Graduate School and Professor of Philosophy and Christian Doctrine and Apologetics at Tennessee Bible College
in Cookeville, Tennessee, USA. In addition, Warren served as minister of several Churches of Christ throughout his career.
to answer J. L. Mackie’s argument from evil
against theism
. Warren’s chief claim to fame outside the Churches of Christ are his debates with Antony Flew
and Wallace Matson on the existence of God, and his debate with Joe E. Barnhart on the adequacy of utilitarian ethics. The debate with Flew, a major proponent of atheism
famous for his argument that theism is not falsifiable
, was held at North Texas State University (now the University of North Texas
) in Denton, Texas, USA from September 20–23, 1976. This was an exceptionally well attended debate, and Flew describes it as the best attended of his many debates with theists on the existence of God, with audiences each night ranging from 5,000-7,000 people. The Warren-Matson Debate took place in Tampa, Florida, USA from September 11–14, 1978. Matson, a professor of philosophy at the University of California at Berkeley was, like Flew, a long-time proponent of atheism.
The Warren-Barnhart Debate took place at North Texas State University on November 3–6, 1980. Barnhart has retired as Professor of Philosophy at the University of North Texas.
for the existence of God
, using (in his debate with Flew) the alveoli in the lungs
and the process of oxygen/carbon dioxide exchange
as proof for an intelligent designer
; in his debate with Matson, he used the circulatory system
. Warren was also known for his logical traps, for example, his challenge to Flew to answer the question, “Which came first, a human mother or a human baby?” Flew struggled to answer Warren’s question; however, Matson replied with a red-herring: “When did Latin become French,” arguing that in biological evolution, as in language, there are times when it is difficult to assign a language (or a life form) into a specific category. In his theological writings, especially in his articles in the magazine he edited, The Spiritual Sword, Warren argued that specific Christian beliefs, such as the resurrection of Christ and the inspiration of the Bible, could be proved by natural reason.
, Warren was a strict restorationist: he believed that the noninstrumental Churches of Christ followed the strict New Testament
pattern of Christian doctrine, worship
, and practice. He held that any deviation from that pattern by a church would exclude it from being part of the Christian community. Warren consistently argued that members of the noninstrumental Churches of Christ are “the only Christians.” This put Warren at odds with more liberal leaders in the Churches of Christ such as Rubel Shelly
, who argued that members of Christian bodies outside the Churches of Christ could also be Christians. Warren also staunchly defended the traditional hermeneutic of the Churches of Christ: that only direct commands from the Bible, apostolic examples, or necessary (deductive) inferences from direct commands and examples were authoritative for Christians. This hermeneutic was consistent with Warren’s strong epistemological rationalism
.
Another area of controversy in Churches of Christ in which Warren played a role was the issue of divorce
and remarriage. Warren’s position was that a divorced individual could only be remarried if (1) the divorce was due to adultery, and (2) the individual desiring a second marriage was the innocent partner in the first marriage. Unless these two conditions were fulfilled, the remarried individual was not truly remarried, but “living in adultery.” The proper action, according to Warren, for that person is to return to his or her first spouse.
. It is currently in the planning stages and will be built in Vienna, West Virginia
, USA.
Have Atheists Proved There is no God? Nashville: Gospel Advocate Company, 1972. ISBN 978-0934916332
Keeping the Lock in Wedlock: A Critical Analysis of the Doctrine of Dr. James D. Bales
on Divorce and Remarriage. Jonesboro, AR: National Christian Press, 1980. ISBN 978-0934916264
Logic and the Bible. Jonesboro, AR: National Christian Press, 1982. ISBN 978-0934916011
Sin, Suffering, and God. Jonesboro, AR: National Christian Press, 1980. ISBN 978-0934916257.
(with Joe E. Barnhart). The Warren-Barnhart Debate on Christian Ethics versus Utilitarian (Psychological Hedonistic) Ethics. Jonesboro, AR: National Christian Press, 1981.
(with Antony Flew). The Warren-Flew Debate on the Existence of God. Jonesboro, AR: National Christian Press, 1977. ISBN 978-0934916400
(with Wallace Matson). The Warren-Matson Debate on the Existence of God. Jonesboro, AR: National Christian Press, 1978. ISBN 0-934916-39-X
When is an Example Binding? Jonesboro, AR: National Christian Press, 1975. ISBN 0-934916-43-8
Philosophy of religion
Philosophy of religion is a branch of philosophy concerned with questions regarding religion, including the nature and existence of God, the examination of religious experience, analysis of religious language and texts, and the relationship of religion and science...
and apologetics
Apologetics
Apologetics is the discipline of defending a position through the systematic use of reason. Early Christian writers Apologetics (from Greek ἀπολογία, "speaking in defense") is the discipline of defending a position (often religious) through the systematic use of reason. Early Christian writers...
at the Harding University Graduate School of Religion in Memphis, Tennessee, USA and was an important philosopher and theologian in the Churches of Christ in the latter half of the twentieth century.
Warren had been in failing health for many years when he died at the age of 80 on August 8, 2000.
Early life
Warren was born in Carrizo Springs, TexasCarrizo Springs, Texas
Carrizo Springs is a city in and the county seat of Dimmit County, Texas, United States. The population was 5,655 at the 2000 census.The name of the town comes from the local springs, which were named by the Spanish for the cane grass that once grew around them. It is the oldest town in Dimmit...
, USA. He was married to the former Faye C. Brauer (1921–2001) in 1941. They had three children. Warren served in the United State Air Force as an aerial navigator in World War II.
Education
Warren received a B.S. in mathematics from Abilene Christian College, the M.A. in religion from the University of HoustonUniversity of Houston
The University of Houston is a state research university, and is the flagship institution of the University of Houston System. Founded in 1927, it is Texas's third-largest university with nearly 40,000 students. Its campus spans 667 acres in southeast Houston, and was known as University of...
, and the M.A. and Ph.D. in philosophy from Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University is a private research university located in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. Founded in 1873, the university is named for shipping and rail magnate "Commodore" Cornelius Vanderbilt, who provided Vanderbilt its initial $1 million endowment despite having never been to the...
. His dissertation topic foreshadowed his long-time interest in apologetics: God and Evil: Does Judeo-Christian Theism Involve a Logical Contradiction?
Teaching career
Warren taught mathematics and Bible at Abilene Christian College, Abilene, Texas, USA during the 1946-47 academic year. From 1959-61 he chaired the Department of Bible at Fort Worth Christian College where he also served as President. At Freed-Hardeman CollegeFreed-Hardeman University
Freed-Hardeman University is a primarily undergraduate university in Henderson, Tennessee. The university is located within a short distance of the town's central area. The university traces its heritage to the members of the Churches of Christ who helped build it...
in Henderson, Tennessee
Henderson, Tennessee
Henderson is an incorporated city in Chester County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 5,670 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Chester County...
, USA, Warren chaired the Department of Bible from 1964-1971. His most fruitful academic appointment was as Professor of Philosophy of Religion and Apologetics at Harding Graduate School of Religion, where he served from 1971-79. He was co-founder and Dean of the Graduate School and Professor of Philosophy and Christian Doctrine and Apologetics at Tennessee Bible College
Tennessee Bible College
Tennessee Bible College is a private college located in Cookeville, Tennessee. It is affiliated with the Churches of Christ. Tennessee Bible College is authorized by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission.-History:...
in Cookeville, Tennessee, USA. In addition, Warren served as minister of several Churches of Christ throughout his career.
Philosophical research and debates
Warren’s earliest published work in philosophy was modified from the final chapter of his Vanderbilt University dissertation and was published in 1972. In Have Atheists Proved There is No God?, Warren develops a version of a soul-making theodicyTheodicy
Theodicy is a theological and philosophical study which attempts to prove God's intrinsic or foundational nature of omnibenevolence , omniscience , and omnipotence . Theodicy is usually concerned with the God of the Abrahamic religions Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, due to the relevant...
to answer J. L. Mackie’s argument from evil
Evil
Evil is the violation of, or intent to violate, some moral code. Evil is usually seen as the dualistic opposite of good. Definitions of evil vary along with analysis of its root motive causes, however general actions commonly considered evil include: conscious and deliberate wrongdoing,...
against theism
Theism
Theism, in the broadest sense, is the belief that at least one deity exists.In a more specific sense, theism refers to a doctrine concerning the nature of a monotheistic God and God's relationship to the universe....
. Warren’s chief claim to fame outside the Churches of Christ are his debates with Antony Flew
Antony Flew
Antony Garrard Newton Flew was a British philosopher. Belonging to the analytic and evidentialist schools of thought, he was notable for his works on the philosophy of religion....
and Wallace Matson on the existence of God, and his debate with Joe E. Barnhart on the adequacy of utilitarian ethics. The debate with Flew, a major proponent of atheism
Atheism
Atheism is, in a broad sense, the rejection of belief in the existence of deities. In a narrower sense, atheism is specifically the position that there are no deities...
famous for his argument that theism is not falsifiable
Falsifiability
Falsifiability or refutability of an assertion, hypothesis or theory is the logical possibility that it can be contradicted by an observation or the outcome of a physical experiment...
, was held at North Texas State University (now the University of North Texas
University of North Texas
The University of North Texas is a public institution of higher education and research in Denton. Founded in 1890, UNT is part of the University of North Texas System. As of the fall of 2010, the University of North Texas, Denton campus, had a certified enrollment of 36,067...
) in Denton, Texas, USA from September 20–23, 1976. This was an exceptionally well attended debate, and Flew describes it as the best attended of his many debates with theists on the existence of God, with audiences each night ranging from 5,000-7,000 people. The Warren-Matson Debate took place in Tampa, Florida, USA from September 11–14, 1978. Matson, a professor of philosophy at the University of California at Berkeley was, like Flew, a long-time proponent of atheism.
The Warren-Barnhart Debate took place at North Texas State University on November 3–6, 1980. Barnhart has retired as Professor of Philosophy at the University of North Texas.
Philosophical views
Warren was a strong evidentialist on the issue of God’s existence. He believed that there is proof beyond a reasonable doubt for the existence of God. In his two debates on the existence of God, Warren prefers versions of the Teleological ArgumentTeleological argument
A teleological or design argument is an a posteriori argument for the existence of God based on apparent design and purpose in the universe. The argument is based on an interpretation of teleology wherein purpose and intelligent design appear to exist in nature beyond the scope of any such human...
for the existence of God
Existence of God
Arguments for and against the existence of God have been proposed by philosophers, theologians, scientists, and others. In philosophical terms, arguments for and against the existence of God involve primarily the sub-disciplines of epistemology and ontology , but also of the theory of value, since...
, using (in his debate with Flew) the alveoli in the lungs
Pulmonary alveolus
An alveolus is an anatomical structure that has the form of a hollow cavity. Found in the lung parenchyma, the pulmonary alveoli are the dead ends of the respiratory tree, which outcrop from either alveolar sacs or alveolar ducts, which are both sites of gas exchange with the blood as well...
and the process of oxygen/carbon dioxide exchange
Respiratory physiology
Respiratory physiology is the branch of human physiology focusing upon respiration.Topics include:-Volumes:* lung volumes* vital capacity* functional residual capacity* dead space* spirometry* body plethysmography* peak flow meter-Mechanics:...
as proof for an intelligent designer
Intelligent designer
An intelligent designer, also referred to as an intelligent agent, is the hypothetical willed and self-aware entity that the intelligent design movement argues had some role in the origin and/or development of life...
; in his debate with Matson, he used the circulatory system
Circulatory system
The circulatory system is an organ system that passes nutrients , gases, hormones, blood cells, etc...
. Warren was also known for his logical traps, for example, his challenge to Flew to answer the question, “Which came first, a human mother or a human baby?” Flew struggled to answer Warren’s question; however, Matson replied with a red-herring: “When did Latin become French,” arguing that in biological evolution, as in language, there are times when it is difficult to assign a language (or a life form) into a specific category. In his theological writings, especially in his articles in the magazine he edited, The Spiritual Sword, Warren argued that specific Christian beliefs, such as the resurrection of Christ and the inspiration of the Bible, could be proved by natural reason.
Involvement in theological controversy
In the context of the Churches of Christ and the Restoration MovementRestoration Movement
The Restoration Movement is a Christian movement that began on the American frontier during the Second Great Awakening of the early 19th century...
, Warren was a strict restorationist: he believed that the noninstrumental Churches of Christ followed the strict New Testament
New Testament
The New Testament is the second major division of the Christian biblical canon, the first such division being the much longer Old Testament....
pattern of Christian doctrine, worship
Worship
Worship is an act of religious devotion usually directed towards a deity. The word is derived from the Old English worthscipe, meaning worthiness or worth-ship — to give, at its simplest, worth to something, for example, Christian worship.Evelyn Underhill defines worship thus: "The absolute...
, and practice. He held that any deviation from that pattern by a church would exclude it from being part of the Christian community. Warren consistently argued that members of the noninstrumental Churches of Christ are “the only Christians.” This put Warren at odds with more liberal leaders in the Churches of Christ such as Rubel Shelly
Rubel Shelly
Dr. Rubel Shelly is an author, minister, and the current president of Rochester College. He served as Senior Minister for the Family of God at Woodmont Hills in Nashville, Tennessee from 1978 until 2005...
, who argued that members of Christian bodies outside the Churches of Christ could also be Christians. Warren also staunchly defended the traditional hermeneutic of the Churches of Christ: that only direct commands from the Bible, apostolic examples, or necessary (deductive) inferences from direct commands and examples were authoritative for Christians. This hermeneutic was consistent with Warren’s strong epistemological rationalism
Rationalism
In epistemology and in its modern sense, rationalism is "any view appealing to reason as a source of knowledge or justification" . In more technical terms, it is a method or a theory "in which the criterion of the truth is not sensory but intellectual and deductive"...
.
Another area of controversy in Churches of Christ in which Warren played a role was the issue of divorce
Divorce
Divorce is the final termination of a marital union, canceling the legal duties and responsibilities of marriage and dissolving the bonds of matrimony between the parties...
and remarriage. Warren’s position was that a divorced individual could only be remarried if (1) the divorce was due to adultery, and (2) the individual desiring a second marriage was the innocent partner in the first marriage. Unless these two conditions were fulfilled, the remarried individual was not truly remarried, but “living in adultery.” The proper action, according to Warren, for that person is to return to his or her first spouse.
Legacy
Thomas B. Warren was one of the first trained philosophers to teach at colleges associated with Churches of Christ. His debate with Flew on the existence of God is still known in many Fundamentalist and Evangelical Christian circles. He was an influential figure in the Churches of Christ from the 1940s through the early 1980s, though afterward his influence waned. With the advent of Rubel Shelly and other more liberal leaders in the Churches of Christ, Warren’s conservative hermeneutic and strict restorationism does not have the level of influence it once had. However, among a small circle of preachers and teachers, including those at the Tennessee Bible College, Warren’s influence remains strong. After Warren’s death, a number of his former students and others influenced by his thought worked to establish a center in Christian apologeticsChristian apologetics
Christian apologetics is a field of Christian theology that aims to present a rational basis for the Christian faith, defend the faith against objections, and expose the perceived flaws of other world views...
. It is currently in the planning stages and will be built in Vienna, West Virginia
Vienna, West Virginia
Vienna is a city in Wood County, West Virginia, along the Ohio River. It is a suburb of Parkersburg. The population was 10,749 at the 2010 census. It is the third largest city by population in the Parkersburg-Marietta-Vienna Metropolitan Statistical Area. Vienna was incorporated in 1935, and was...
, USA.
Selected works by Thomas B. Warren
The Bible Only Makes Christians Only and the Only Christians. Jonesboro: National Christian Press, 1986. ISBN 9780934916103Have Atheists Proved There is no God? Nashville: Gospel Advocate Company, 1972. ISBN 978-0934916332
Keeping the Lock in Wedlock: A Critical Analysis of the Doctrine of Dr. James D. Bales
James D. Bales
James David Bales was an influential Bible professor and administrator at Harding University for almost 40 years...
on Divorce and Remarriage. Jonesboro, AR: National Christian Press, 1980. ISBN 978-0934916264
Logic and the Bible. Jonesboro, AR: National Christian Press, 1982. ISBN 978-0934916011
Sin, Suffering, and God. Jonesboro, AR: National Christian Press, 1980. ISBN 978-0934916257.
(with Joe E. Barnhart). The Warren-Barnhart Debate on Christian Ethics versus Utilitarian (Psychological Hedonistic) Ethics. Jonesboro, AR: National Christian Press, 1981.
(with Antony Flew). The Warren-Flew Debate on the Existence of God. Jonesboro, AR: National Christian Press, 1977. ISBN 978-0934916400
(with Wallace Matson). The Warren-Matson Debate on the Existence of God. Jonesboro, AR: National Christian Press, 1978. ISBN 0-934916-39-X
When is an Example Binding? Jonesboro, AR: National Christian Press, 1975. ISBN 0-934916-43-8