Ayers, Robert H.

Dr. Robert H. Ayers is Professor Emeritus of Philosophy and Religion from the University of Georgia. He holds a Ph.D. from Vanderbilt University. During his active career, he taught courses in both Religion and Philosophy and was instrumental in the establishment of a Department of Religion. He participated in several academic societies and served as President of The Society for Philosophy of Religion, the Southeastern Philosophy of Education Society, and the Southeastern Section of The American Academy of Religion. Dr. Ayers has published in the areas of philosophy of religion, Christian thought, and biblical criticism.

Bible and Contemporary Theology

2006 0-7734-5855-7
An honest appraisal of much biblical material must admit that in terms of its perspectives of nature and the universe, cultural mores, moral sensitivity, and understanding of God, there are factual errors and considerable irrelevance for the contemporary world. Thus the claim of infallibility is simply false. Does this mean that the Bible must be abandoned as useless? Can it be shown that in its major and essential themes, there is no necessary contradiction with the proven facts of our world and that such themes are relevant in any age?

The views of several modern theologians who seek relevance for the biblical material are described and evaluated. It is concluded that the theologies of Reinhold Niebuhr and the Process Theologians serve best to preserve the major biblical themes as meaningful in the contemporary world. Interpreted in this way, the Bible can make a contribution to the faith and life of contemporaries.

Christian Theology in a Contemporary World

1997 0-7734-8739-5
This study by a distinguished theologian is an effort to rethink the basic tenets of faith, to organize this thinking in a systematic fashion, and form a rational apology for these tenets. The author rebels against the irrational noncognitivism found in some contemporary theologies, is skeptical about the worth of current theological fads. This study explicates and defends a viable theology which can legitimately be called Christian and at the same time make sense in the contemporary world.