These days, when popular religious movements are enthusiastic rather than reflective, it is particularly helpful for students to be given better ways of grasping the significance and strengths of their own beliefs. Nancey Murphy's new book presents the methods of contemporary argumentation analysis in a way that helps readers develop habits of critical reading and thinking that serve them well not only in religion, but in other fields of experience and action. At one and the same time easy to read, and deep in its implications, her book is something of a tour de force. Stephen Toulmin, author of The Uses of Argument I know of no other work that explores the nature of reasoning and types of reasoning with specific application to the various theological disciplines. If this book were a required text in all seminaries, the level of thought and discourse in our churches would be greatly increased. William P. Alston, Department of Philosophy, Syracuse University
