Suffering, Courage and Theological Conflict: Learning from the Cappadocians by Gerald McDermott
Struggles within the church are not new to the church--every age has faced conflict and struggle.  McDermott looks at the fierce opposition to Nicene orthodoxy that faced the Cappadocian Fathers (Basil the Great, his brother Gregory of Nyssa, and Basil's friend and disciple Gregory of Nazianzus).  McDermott reminds readers, "Because of the triumphs of heresy and its advocates' ruthless methods, the orthodox were reluctant to join the battle." Nov/Dec 2006 Theology Matters p. 6

Jonathan Edwards Responds to Deism by Gerald R. McDermott
"Edwards expended considerable effort wrestling with the deist claim that reason alone can show humanity the most basic religious truths.  Edwards agreed that reason alone can teach a considerable range of religious truth, but only when connected rightly to the heart that is open to the beauty of God."  Reason alone was never able to show how sinful humans could be reconciled to their Creator.   Nov/Dec 2003 Theology Matters     p. 9