Augustine's New Trinity: the Anxious Circle of Metaphor
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The Collected Works of Eric Voegelin, Volume 16: Order and History, Volume III, Plato and Aristotle
The Collected Works of Eric Voegelin, Volume 16: Order and History, Volume III, Plato and Aristotle Dante Germino, Editor University of Missouri Press the collected works of ERIC VOEGELIN VOLUME 16 ORDER AND HISTORY VOLUME III PLATO AND ARISTOTLE projected volumes in the collected works 1. On the Form of the American Mind 2. Race and State 3. The History of the Race Idea: From Ray to Carus 4. The Authoritarian State: An Essay on the Problem of the Austrian State 5. Modernity without Restraint: The Political Religions; The New Science of Poli- tics; and Science, Politics, and Gnosticism 6. Anamnesis 7. Published Essays, 1922– 8. Published Essays 9. Published Essays 10. Published Essays 11. Published Essays, 1953–1965 12. Published Essays, 1966–1985 13. Selected Book Reviews 14. Order and History, Volume I, Israel and Revelation 15. Order and History, Volume II, The World of the Polis 16. Order and History, Volume III, Plato and Aristotle 17. Order and History, Volume IV, The Ecumenic Age 18. Order and History, Volume V, In Search of Order 19. History of Political Ideas, Volume I, Hellenism, Rome, and Early Christianity 20. History of Political Ideas, Volume II, The Middle Ages to Aquinas 21. History of Political Ideas, Volume III, The Later Middle Ages 22. History of Political Ideas, Volume IV, Renaissance and Reformation 23. History of Political Ideas, Volume V, Religion and the Rise of Modernity 24. History of Political Ideas, Volume VI, Revolution and the New Science 25. History of Political Ideas, Volume VII, The New Order and Last Orientation 26. -
95 Baptism and Incorporation Into the Body of Christ, the Church: A
Baptism and Incorporation into the Body of Christ, the Church: A Lutheran Reflection TIMOTHY J. WENGERT* In 2010, at the Lutheran World Federation’s (LWF) Assembly in Stuttgart, Germany, the churches of the LWF asked the Mennonite World Conference (MWC) for forgiveness over the way in which their Lutheran ancestors had treated the Mennonites’ Anabaptist forebears. This “one, small step” bore fruit almost immediately with the establishment of a trilateral dialogue with Mennonites and Roman Catholics, who had earlier concluded similar talks between the MWC and the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity (PCPCU) over responsibility for persecution. Though not quite the same as landing on the moon, the results of those trilateral meetings mark an important step forward in Christian rapprochement and indicate where important theological work still needs to be done. As a member of the original LWF/MWC conversations and the follow-up committee for the LWF, I am pleased to offer some reflections on this new report. PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS In a rather unassuming sentence in the preface of the report, we read: “It should be noted that a trilateral dialogue is rare.” Readers should highlight this sentence precisely because it represents a pioneering way forward in ecumenical conversations. Multilateral conversations often are stymied over the sheer breadth of theological and practical differences; bilateral dialogues may help individual churches but are not guaranteed to have broader significance. To be sure, there are exceptions, such as the multilateral production of Baptism, Eucharist, and Ministry from the international Commission on Faith and Order or the much wider impact of the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification initially made between Lutherans and Roman Catholics. -
Augustine's "De Trinitate"
Theological Studies 64 (2003) AUGUSTINE’S DE TRINITATE AND LONERGAN’S REALMS OF MEANING NEIL ORMEROD [After reviewing various proposals concerning the structure of Au- gustine’s De Trinitate, the author presents a structural analysis of that work using the notion of “realms of meaning” found in Ber- nard Lonergan’s Method in Theology. It suggests that Augustine’s treatise comprises four distinct sections which present an account of the Trinity from the perspective of a biblically informed common sense (Books 1–4); of theory (Books 5–7); of interiority (Books 8–11); and finally of transcendence (Books 12–15).] Y ALL ACCOUNTS, Augustine’s De Trinitate is a complex and difficult B book. Augustine himself declared that it would be “understood only by a few.” Among the few cannot be included a number of contemporary trinitarian theologians for whom Augustine has become something of a whipping boy.1 Variously misrepresented and frequently misunderstood, a variety of theological sins have been laid at his feet, notably the sin of individualism, with more than a suspicion of modalism. Subsequently con- temporary trinitarian thought has turned wholesale from the Western tra- dition championed by Augustine and Aquinas to embrace the supposedly superior position of the East, particularly that of the Cappadocians. As Augustine scholar Michael Rene´Barnes has noted: “It is impossible to do contemporary trinitarian theology and not have a judgment on Augustine; NEIL ORMEROD received a Ph. D. in pure mathematics from the University of New South Wales, Australia, and his D. Theol. from the Melbourne College of Divinity. He is lecturer in theology at the Catholic Institute of Sydney and president of the Australian Catholic Theological Association. -
Creation and God As One, Creator, and Trinity in Early Theology Through Augustine and Its Theological Fruitfulness in the 21St Century
Creation and God as One, Creator, and Trinity in Early Theology through Augustine and Its Theological Fruitfulness in the 21st Century Submitted by Jane Ellingwood to the University of Exeter as a dissertation for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Theology in September 2015 This dissertation is available for Library use on the understanding that it is copyright material and that no quotation from the dissertation may be published without proper acknowledgement. I certify that all material in this dissertation which is not my own work has been identified and that no material has previously been submitted and approved for the award of a degree by this or any other University. Signature: _________Jane Ellingwood _________________________ 2 Abstract My primary argument in this thesis is that creation theologies significantly influenced early developments in the doctrine of the Trinity, especially in Augustine of Hippo’s theology. Thus this is a work of historical theology, but I conclude with proposals for how Augustine’s theologies of creation and the Trinity can be read fruitfully with modern theology. I critically analyse developments in trinitarian theologies in light of ideas that were held about creation. These include the doctrine of creation ‘out of nothing’ and ideas about other creative acts (e.g., forming or fashioning things). Irenaeus and other early theologians posited roles for God (the Father), the Word / Son, the Spirit, or Wisdom in creative acts without working out formal views on economic trinitarian acts. During the fourth century trinitarian controversies, creation ‘out of nothing’ and ideas about ‘modes of origin’ influenced thinking on consubstantiality and relations within the Trinity. -
In Defense of the Development of Augustine's Doctrine of Grace By
In Defense of the Development of Augustine’s Doctrine of Grace by Laban Omondi Agisa Submitted to the faculty of the School of Theology of the University of the South in Partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Sacred Theology January 2020 Sewanee, Tennessee Approved ____________________________ _______________ Adviser Date ____________________________ _______________ Second Adviser Date 2 DECLARATION I declare that this is my original work and has not been presented in any other institution for consideration of any certification. This work has been complemented by sources duly acknowledged and cited using Chicago Manual Style. Signature Date 3 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT My study of theology was initiated in 2009 by the then Provost of St. Stephens Cathedral, Nairobi, the late Ven. Canon John Ndung’u who was a great encouragement to me. This was further made possible through my bishop the Rt. Rev. Joel Waweru and the Rev. Geoffrey Okapisi who were sources of inspiration. My studies at Carlile College (Church Army Africa) and St. Paul’s University laid a strong theological foundation and I appreciate among others the influence of the Rev. Dr. John Kiboi who introduced me to Philosophy, Systematic Theology, Ethics, and African Christian Theology that eventually became the foundation for my studies at the University of the South. I also appreciate the encouragement of my lecturers Mrs. Tabitha Waweru and Dr. Scholarstica Githinji during my Study of Education at Kenya Technical Trainers College and at Daystar University respectively. My interest in this topic came as a result of many sittings with two professors at the University of the South, Dr. -
Aristotle and Plato on Friendship by John Von Heyking
Digital Commons @ Assumption University Philosophy Department Faculty Works Philosophy Department 2017 The Form of Politics: Aristotle and Plato on Friendship by John Von Heyking Nalin Ranasinghe Assumption College, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.assumption.edu/philosophy-faculty Part of the Philosophy Commons Recommended Citation Ranasinghe, N. (2017). The Form of Politics: Aristotle and Plato on Friendship by John Von Heyking. International Political Anthropology 10(1): 39-55. This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Philosophy Department at Digital Commons @ Assumption University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Philosophy Department Faculty Works by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ Assumption University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. The Form of Politics: Aristotle and Plato on Friendship by John Von Heyking Nalin Ranasinghe Abstract Heyking’s ascent from Aristotle to Plato implies that something Platonic was lost in Aristotle’s accounts of friendship and politics. Plato’s views on love and soul turn out to have more in common with early Christianity. Stressing differences between eros and thumos, using Voegelin’s categories to discuss the Platonic Good, and expanding on Heyking’s use of Hermes, I show how tragic culture and true politics can be further enhanced by refining erotic friendship, repudiating Augustinian misanthropy, positing minimum doctrines about soul and city, and basing reason on Hermes rather than Apollo. Keywords: Plato, Aristotle, Voegelin, Eros, Thumos, friendship, soul, Von Heyking Introduction John von Heyking’s book on friendship is as easy to read as it is hard to review. -
THE CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY of AMERICA Doctrina Christiana
THE CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF AMERICA Doctrina Christiana: Christian Learning in Augustine's De doctrina christiana A DISSERTATION Submitted to the Faculty of the Department of Medieval and Byzantine Studies School of Arts and Sciences Of The Catholic University of America In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements For the Degree Doctor of Philosophy © Copyright All Rights Reserved By Timothy A. Kearns Washington, D.C. 2014 Doctrina Christiana: Christian Learning in Augustine's De doctrina christiana Timothy A. Kearns, Ph.D. Director: Timothy B. Noone, Ph.D. In the twentieth century, Augustinian scholars were unable to agree on what precisely the De doctrina christiana is about as a work. This dissertation is an attempt to answer that question. I have here employed primarily close reading of the text itself but I have also made extensive efforts to detail the intellectual and social context of Augustine’s work, something that has not been done before for this book. Additionally, I have put to use the theory of textuality as developed by Jorge Gracia. My main conclusions are three: 1. Augustine intends to show how all learned disciplines are subordinated to the study of scripture and how that study of scripture is itself ordered to love. 2. But in what way is that study of scripture ordered to love? It is ordered to love because by means of such study exegetes can make progress toward wisdom for themselves and help their audiences do the same. 3. Exegetes grow in wisdom through such study because the scriptures require them to question themselves and their own values and habits and the values and habits of their culture both by means of what the scriptures directly teach and by how readers should (according to Augustine) go about reading them; a person’s questioning of him or herself is moral inquiry, and moral inquiry rightly carried out builds up love of God and neighbor in the inquirer by reforming those habits and values out of line with the teachings of Christ. -
Love and the Knowledge of God in Augustine's De Trinitate
LOVE AND THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD IN AUGUSTINE'S DE TRINITATE LOVE AND THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD IN AUGUSTINE'S DE TRINITATE By MARTIN WESTERHOLM, B.A. A Thesis Submitted to the School of Graduate Studies in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Arts McMaster University © Copyright by Martin Westerholm, August 2009 MASTER OF ARTS (2009) McMaster University (Religious Studies) Hamilton, ON TITLE: Love and the Knowledge of God in Augustine's De Trinitate AUTHOR: Martin Westerholm, B.A. (McMaster University) SUPERVISOR: Professor P. Travis Kroeker NUMBER OF PAGES: v, 130 11 Abstract: This thesis offers a close reading of Augustine's De Trinitate that is aimed at addressing the vexed question of the unity of the work. The most influential 20th century interpretation of De Trinitate holds that Augustine moves from a theological examination of the nature of the Trinity based on scripture to a philosophical investigation based on the structure of the human mind. This interpretation has led to the misconceptions that Augustine espouses a form of natural theology and separates theological doctrine from the concerns of the practical life. This thesis shows that De Trinitate is unified around the methodological rule that only the mind that loves God is capable of knowing him. This means, first, that Augustine's procedure is improperly characterized as natural theology; and, second, that, in making love a prerequisite for, and means to, knowledge of God, the ethical question of the ordering of love is inseparable from doctrinal concerns. This thesis shows that De Trinitate offers a coherent and compelling moral ontology in which the perceived tensions in Augustine'S theology of love can be reconciled. -
The Ineffectiveness of Hermeneutics. Another Augustine's Legacy In
The ineffectiveness of hermeneutics. Another Augustine’s legacy in Gadamer Alberto Romele To cite this version: Alberto Romele. The ineffectiveness of hermeneutics. Another Augustine’s legacy in Gadamer. International Journal of Philosophy and Theology, Taylor & Francis, 2015, 75 (5), pp.422-439. 10.1080/21692327.2015.1027789. hal-01303281 HAL Id: hal-01303281 https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01303281 Submitted on 17 Apr 2016 HAL is a multi-disciplinary open access L’archive ouverte pluridisciplinaire HAL, est archive for the deposit and dissemination of sci- destinée au dépôt et à la diffusion de documents entific research documents, whether they are pub- scientifiques de niveau recherche, publiés ou non, lished or not. The documents may come from émanant des établissements d’enseignement et de teaching and research institutions in France or recherche français ou étrangers, des laboratoires abroad, or from public or private research centers. publics ou privés. The Ineffectiveness of Hermeneutics. Another Augustine’s Legacy in Gadamer Alberto Romele Institute of Philosophy, University of Porto COSTECH Laboratory, University of Technology of Compiègne This article builds on Gadamer’s rehabilitation of the Augustinian concept of inner word (ver- bum in corde). Unlike most interpretions, the thesis is that the Augustinian inner word does not show the potentialities, but rather the ineffectiveness of ontological hermeneutics. In the first section, it is argued that for the later Augustine the verbum in corde is the consequence of a Word- and Truth- event. In the second section, the author suggests that Gadamer has properly understood the verbum in corde as a matter of faith. -
Ancient Church History Semi-Pelagianism, Semi-Augustinianism, and the Synod of Orange (529) Pastor Charles R
Ancient Church History Semi-Pelagianism, Semi-Augustinianism, and the Synod of Orange (529) Pastor Charles R. Biggs Review of Pelagius and Augustine/ Council of Ephesus (431) Pelagius was a British monk, a very zealous preacher who was castrated for the sake of the kingdom and given to rigorous asceticism. He desired to live a life of perfect holiness. In Christian history, he has come to be the arch-heretic of the church, but in his early writings he was very orthodox and sought to maintain and uphold the creeds of the early church. Pelagius came from Rome to Carthage in the year 410 AD (after Alaric I had captured Rome) with his friend and student Celestius. He taught the people of North Africa a new emphasis on morals and the rigorous life of living the Gospel, because he was shocked by the low tone of Roman morals and thought that Augustine’s teaching on divine grace contributed to the immorality. Celestius, who was the most prominent follower of Pelagius at the time, was condemned at the Council of Carthage in 411 because he denied the transmission of Adam’s sins to his descendants. Augustine began to write and preach again Pelagius and Celestius’ doctrines. Pelagius and Celestius were condemned at two councils at Carthage and Milevis (Numidia, North Africa) in 416 and Innocent I (410-17) excommunicated them from the church. On May 1, 418 the Council of Carthage convened to issue a series of nine canons affirming without compromise the Augustinian doctrine of the Fall and Original Sin. Emperor Honorius (395-423) issued an imperial decree denouncing the teachings of Pelagius and Celestius in that same year. -
'Solas' of the Reformation
THE ‘‘SOLAS’’ OF THE REFORMATION The Reformation’s theological basis, though deep, was simple, resting on a handful of fundamental principles. Our salvation is entirely by God’s grace and not of our own doing. We receive that grace, and are justified, through faith, and not by any works we do. These principles were set forth in Article IV of the Augsburg Confession. 1 To these material principles of the Reformation is added the formal principle, stated in the Formula of Concord, that the sole norm and rule of doctrine is the Holy Scripture. These three principles are referred to as the ‘‘three solas’’------by grace alone, through faith alone, learned from Scripture alone. Some writers, especially among the Reformed, would add two other ‘‘solas’’------for the sake of Christ alone, and to God alone the glory. 2 Lutherans would not disagree with them as to that, though those two ‘‘solas’’ are actually solo propter Christum and soli Deo gloria . Nothing could be more important to each of us than knowing whether we are saved, whether we are destined for eternal life with God. There has been a certain tension in Christian doctrine from the very beginning. Christians agree that the saved have eternal life with God; “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life”3; “In my Father’s house are many mansions; if it we not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and 1 prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” 4 All Christians likewise agree that our salvation comes by God’s grace. -
REMINDERS from VOEGELIN and MORGENTHAU Greg Russell Univ
IDEOLOGICAL TEMPTATIONS AND MORAL CRUSADING IN POLITICS AND DIPLOMACY: REMINDERS FROM VOEGELIN AND MORGENTHAU Greg Russell University of Oklahoma Prepared for the annual meeting of the American Political Science Association Washington, D. C. September 2010 Not for citation or other use without author‟s permission IDEOLOGICAL TEMPTATIONS AND MORAL CRUSADING IN POLITICS AND DIPLOMACY: REMINDERS FROM VOEGELIN AND MORGENTHAU Ideological thinking about politics and diplomacy obviously impacts, as it distorts, the manner by which societies depict the truth of their existence, the ways in which the innermost purposes of a nation or people are acted upon by representatives of that truth (be they philosophers or statesmen), as well as the ethical potential of individuals, groups, and nations in a world not yet shorn of war and violence. Eric Voegelin‟s diagnosis of modern ideologies on the left and right helps to refocus our attention on the meaning of politics, political reality, and how ideological movements (as pseudo-philosophies and expressions of modern Gnosticism) empty politics of authentic moral content by seeking a world immanent rationale for the transcendent sources of being and order. While this important slice of the Voegelin corpus has received considerable attention over the years, less-often-investigated by political thinkers has been the impact of ideological claims in international politics, how to judge such claims, and how to assess the connection between ideological arguments and moral choices in foreign policy. If a truly open society is going concern for the twenty-first century, one that spans different groups and civilizations, and one that is linked to a “post-national” world, then we may well profit if ideology and ideological temptations have faded from the scene.