703 Introduction to Christian Philosophy (ICP): Session 2
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Christians should study philosophy for several reasons: 1) Philosophy is unavoidable and it is better to have a studied opinion than an unstudied one. 2) Philosophy is part of our spirituality as loving God includes loving Him with our minds through intellectual pursuits. 3) Philosophy plays an important role in the Church's teaching ministry by providing frameworks and vocabulary for articulating theological ideas.
703 Introduction to Christian Philosophy (ICP): Session 2
- 1. Why should a Christian study Philosophy? Based on Edward W H Vick, Philosophy for Believers
- 2. Why should Christians study philosophy? First, because philosophy is unavoidable and its wiser to have a studied opinion than an unstudied opinion. Second, because philosophy is part-and-parcel of our spirituality, and the divine command to love God includes the command to love Him with our minds and to be spiritually transformed by the renewing of our minds. Peter S Williams apologetics315.com
- 3. Third, because philosophy plays an indispensable role in the teaching ministry of the Church broadly construed. None of this means that Christians are all obliged to study philosophy formally. Nevertheless, we should heed the call ‘to work out the salvation that God has given you with a proper sense of awe and responsibility.’ (Philippians 2:12, J.B. Phillips) Philosophy can help us to do that. Peter S Williams apologetics315.com
- 4. Aquinas ‘The pursuit of wisdom especially joins man to God in friendship.’ David A. Horner, ‘Truly loving God with your mind means being intentional about your intellectual life, learning to think well.’ C.S. Lewis, ‘Good philosophy must exist, if for no other reason, because bad philosophy needs to be answered.’ Peter S Williams apologetics315.com
- 5. 1. To examine beliefs We claim to believe many things but that statement does not clarify the kind of belief involved. We need to question the belief. For example we might believe… - Peter can be trusted - Achan can do a job - The weather will be good tomorrow - God is love - the painting is by Picasso - The historian gives an accurate account
- 6. …and importantly for us our beliefs about… - Moral claims - Aesthetic claims - Religious claims What motivates that belief? What reason, or lack of, is there behind the belief? Can I argue in a rational way for the belief, can I justify that belief?
- 7. ! We can argue about beliefs an argument being, - a disagreement between believers holding differing views - a set of statements which are arranged in such a way that they give support to a conclusion drawn from them (also called deduction)
- 8. In looking at belief and believing we can see there are levels to be addressed, we might have a simple belief that… I believe the building to be safe - but what makes holding that particular belief a reasonable thing to do? Christianity has many philosophical assumptions based upon attitudes which fill the content of your speech (and faith) “I believe” is often implicit in our statements but means you affirm or deny something
- 9. So we need to ask what is belief, what does it mean to believe? After it is applied to the simpler questions above we can then move on to the bigger issues, “what does it mean to believe that God is creator?” etc. By asking this (philosophical) question, we gain a better understanding of our belief. For example asking such questions,
- 10. - it brings clarity - what do the words used to state the belief mean? - helps us to understand what is a reasonable support for a belief - are the reasons for your belief rational, are your arguments sound? - get a good vocabulary appropriate language to describe something is essential for understanding
- 11. 2. Discussing Issues Discussion of ideas is important in both philosophy and theology. It is possible that there are alternatives to the way you currently believe that when considered might be a better alternative - but this can only be established by asking questions and digging deeper. Can you…?
- 12. 2. Discussing Issues - articulate the problem, define the issue? - consider other approaches to the question? - assess arguments to decide which are “good” or “poor” or reasonable - be prepared to reach a tentative conclusion and investigate further - know what is, and how to make, a good argument
- 13. 2. Discussing Issues - articulate the problem, define the issue? - consider other approaches to the question? - assess arguments to decide which are “good” or “poor” or reasonable - be prepared to reach a tentative conclusion and investigate further - know what is, and how to make, a good argument
- 14. Investigating new approaches, asking new questions to issues can be invigorating Often “great minds” have been there before us and laid a foundation for us to build upon Struggling with an issue often (in the long run) leads to greater clarity in a conviction You need to read carefully more slowly and with repetition this can give clarity and satisfaction in the long run
- 15. 3. Why be interested in philosophy? How is philosophy helpful to the believer - how does it help our theology? 1. The language of philosophy has been widely used in declaring theological ideas - so understanding philosophy brings clarity and illumination 2. Philosophy brings understanding to certain ideas. e.g. the use of word (logos) and beginning (arche) in John’s gospel were established in Greek thought and John used this in his writing
- 16. 3. Why be interested in philosophy? The word pleroma = fulness - in Greek thought Gnostics had built the whole structure of the universe into this word - Paul then takes it further and shows their incompleteness by introducing Jesus It could be argued that in Heb 6:1 and 1 Cor 3;2 the writers arguing for growth would include the ability to understand and think deeper about such issues
- 17. 3. Why be interested in philosophy? The word pleroma = fulness - in “How can one Greek thought Gnostics had built counter error if the whole structure of the one universe into this word - Paul does not shows then takes it further and their incompleteness by understand what introducing Jesus onebe argued that inand believes Heb It could 6:1 and 1 Corwhat writers also 3;2 the the arguing for growth would include alternatives are” the ability to understand and Vick think deeper about such issues
- 18. 3. There are many parallels drawn between philosophical ideas and the Bible, and ideas to be better understood. E.g In Hebrews the author speaks of reality and the shadows of angels, worship, priesthood - Plato et al dealt with the same theme of reality and the ideal, the earth and temporal things being a shadow of the perfect. Often we Christians adopt, adapt and redefine original philosophical ideas
- 19. “The Christian vocabulary has grown steadily from the very beginnings of Christian belief. As the church has moved into different communities and encountered different languages and customs, it deployed and expressed its beliefs in different ways. it was inevitable that various ways of explaining Christian doctrine would emerge. This variety of expressions emerged so as to connect with the differing contexts within which the Gospel was being preached…
- 20. “Differing forms of expressing Christian faith emerged and gave rise to differing explanations. A a different context provided for different thoughts about the meaning of faith, so different theologies were created and discussions and disputes took place…Traditions emerged and proliferated…So emerged the sad tradition that often more effort was spent in defending the tradition than in seeking further and renewed understanding” Vick
- 21. 4. Greek philosophers were very good at providing a systematic framework for their ideas Christians observed and often adopted approaches of the early philosophers - Plato, Aristotle et al influenced the way Origen, Augustine and Aquinas approached their theological work. So often we see confessional statements - “two natures, one person” “three persons, one substance” - which are using Greek philosophical terms to explain what we believe. Augustine
- 22. 4. Understanding Faith Usually observation precedes The Latin term fides quaerens understanding - we watch and then intellectum means “Faith attempt to explain what we have seeking understanding” - this observed - the explanation is often course aims to help with that in itself difficult to but it then helps approach, so wewhat is going on ask, us to understand - what does it mean to and then to use this in practical understand? ways. Most people faith do - what does neverthat the hard work involveddo? understands in attempting to understand - they leave it with the Often we leave understanding to expert. Or we are simply content the experts (an electrician, doctor (lazy) and so make no effort to dig etc.) deeper
- 23. We confess what we believe but never ask any questions about it often those who do ask such questions are looked down upon, or accused of being heretics! We need to understand and be able to explain any claims or changes or thinking we might develop. To properly understand we need to be able to explain the concepts. Consider this:
- 24. The earth is rotating. The sun (nearest star) is 93 million miles away. The universe is 45 billion lightyears across and filled with 100 billion galaxies, each with hundreds of billions of stars You need to understand: star, mile, speed, light, 93, sun etc. The you take your understanding further - what is 45 billion light years? A light years is 5,874,601,673,407.3 miles
- 25. Then we apply this understanding to what believers think: God brings about events in the world in answer to prayer Jesus ascended into heaven I believe in the resurrection and life everlasting The result is you start to get some understanding of the “big picture”
- 26. The constellation Orion is over 10 million light years across - it is the closest star forming region to earth, only 1500 light years away
- 27. The constellation Orion is over 10 million light years across - it is the closest star forming region to earth, only 1500 light years away
- 28. 5. What about you? - you have beliefs, some important, some less so - you want to be able to think rationally and logically, to validate your beliefs - as you think about your beliefs you find some inconsistencies, uncertainties - do you ignore them, or respond to the question and investigate? - will the problems resurface in other ways or areas?
- 29. - if you investigate you will have to learn new terms, deal with new ideas, you will have to read, investigate, explore - such investigation might (will!) then make you question other areas of belief - reorientation of thinking and application of that understanding will take time, energy…it might involve close friends disagreeing, falling out, walking new and different paths - one might say this is the path to maturity
- 30. “Nothing has to power to separate believers more then the reasonableness to consider others beliefs when they differ from ours…and the widely accepted beliefs of our community…It often requires doubt for one to be tolerant”
- 31. “Nothing has to power to separate believers more then the reasonableness to consider others beliefs when they differ from ours…and the widely accepted beliefs of our community…It often requires doubt for one to be tolerant”