I disagree.
I do respect that. Actually, I respect everyone’s opinions on this forum - especially when they give reasons for their rational. The Roman Catholic church is the biggest proponent of combining philosophy with theology. And protestants and Orthodox do the same, in their respective university and professional publication settings.
Yes and Catholics believe in God’s providential control along with the paradox of free will. I wouldn’t use the term free will though but human responsibility.
That’s nice to see your viewpoints, Cole. I actually see Roman Catholics and Eastern Orthodox as brothers and sisters in Christ. Many in the Protestant world probably won’t take that position. Out of curiosity, what is your background in these subjects? Did you study philosophy and theology at the university? You don’t have to answer, if you don’t want to.
Randy,
I’ve been studying these things since I was 15 years old. I’m now 40. I have over 70 hours in the liberal arts in college. I am a caregiver for an 84 year old man who has been Catholic since he was a baby. We met in A.A. He started out as my sponsor now I’m helping him. Also, Peter Kreeft (Ph.D) is a philosopher and Catholic Apologist. He has won many awards in philosophical reasoning and has an excellent article in the “Handbook of Catholic Apologetics” that I would agree with:
Hi, Cole.
Thanks for sharing.
My own background comes from taking philosophy, theology, literature and math courses at Aurora University, where I have a bachelors. I got a masters in Psychology at Norwich University. I have taken many courses over the years in computer science, philosophy, creative writing and literature, at the College of Dupage. I put everything together and finally got an associated degree from them. I usually went out of my way to engage the professors outside the classroom, so I could learn. I remember discussing abnormal psychology with a psychiatrist and professor at Aurora University. We had many conversations on the relationship between existentialism and Zen. As far as logic goes, I had courses in logic, computer science and math. I really don’t see much difference between constructing/deconstructing a philosophical proof, proving a theorem in advanced calculus and building/debugging a complicated, object oriented software system.
When I was in the Peace Corps in Liberia, West Africa, I served at a Roman Catholic mission school. i had extensive conversations with the priests there and read through their philosophy library during my servitude. My lifelong friend in the Greek Orthodox church knows Greek, Russian, English and Koine Greek. She has a masters from the University of Chicago and a PhD from Oxford in Biblical Archeology. One of her sons is a professor at Harvard and a leading figure in genetic modeling.
But you know what? I put more trust in what the historical mystics have to share over the historical logicians.
Thanks for sharing. I always like to exchange backgrounds and viewpoints with fellow travelers.
I love the mystics as does the Catholic church I’ve been attending for three years. But you are still wrong.
Wrong about what? Please enlighten me!!!
Liking an article about a philosophical theology topic, in a journal that professional Christian theologians and Christian philosophers used to contribute to? That professional editors grounded in theology and philosophy have approved? That a professional with solid academic credentials has submitted?
Or am I wrong because a person’s philosophical view might not align with the various “biblical” denominational positions and theological perspectives, within the protestant community? And which “biblical” position should it align with??
Or wrong in trying to figure out figuring out how we make the logical jump from a statement of liking Orthodox and Catholic brothers and sisters in Christ, to something in the Catholic teaching you disagree with and initiated in conversation? Especially since I never stated my position on your response?
Or wrong in trying to figure out how you might know more then all the professionals that used to contribute to and edit the journal?
So please do enlighten me on where exactly am I wrong and why. Like Socrates, I know nothing - unless those more enlightened, intelligent, knowledgeable, wiser or cleverer than I enlighten me. Now it’s getting late in the Chicago-land area. So I might have to ask more questions tomorrow, if you respond - as I always need to improve my understanding of things.
Sorry Randy! I misunderstood then! 