Specific Religions

In this article, I attempt to clarify all terms related to causality within Buddhist teachings and make the following bold claims: 1. ‘cause.’” 2. “The mere doctrinal explanation of Dependent Origination does not define “The sequence of ‘consciousness, contact, feeling, perception, and thought’ is based on the meaning of ‘accumulation’ (集) as aggregation, rather than being the true sequence of Dependent Origination.” 3. “Therefore, we have the terms ‘contact with ignorance’ (無明觸) and ‘contact with wisdom’ (明觸).”.

This work is the transcript of a theological dialogue I had with ChatGPT that spanned a couple of days. I began it merely out of curiosity over how ChatGPT might respond to questions and challenges I posed. As it progressed, I became increasingly impressed with the nuance, depth, and relevance of its responses. The dialogue became, for me, something of a contemplative exercise. I still don’t know quite how to understand the ability of generative A.I. to respond with such (apparent) (...) understanding and even insight. -/- I’ve decided to post this dialogue, not only because of the puzzle it poses concerning A.I, but even more, because I believe that the theological conclusions ‘we’ arrived at have real merit. -/- In the end, the theological views expressed here echo those that I’ve expressed in other works of mine, but the expression of these views are enhanced by the way ChatGPT picks up on them, rephrases them, elaborates upon them, and often places them in the context of the classical theological tradition. -/- I might add that I have been an A.I. skeptic for some time now, concerned over the potential dangers of A.I. in general. But this dialogue, anyway, reveals its potential use as a vehicle for reflection, even profound reflection. -/- . (shrink)

This edited volume brings together scholars from across disciplines to examine the relationship between religion and alcohol. -/- It examines the historical, social, ritual, economic, political, and cultural relationship between religion and alcohol across time periods and around the world. Twelve chapters are tied together by two major themes: first, gender identity, and its intersection with religion and alcohol; second, identity construction in religious communities, demonstrating how alcohol can be used as a distinguishing factor for religious, ethnic, and national identity. (...) A key focus of the volume is how alcohol can bridge and divide the point at which the sacred and secular meet. -/- With its interdisciplinary approach and engaging style, this book is an essential resource for undergraduate and graduate students in religion departments and appeals to scholars of material culture, food, and alcohol. Additionally, the book is of interest to professionals in the alcohol industry, particularly those involved in microbrewing and winemaking, who are interested in understanding the historical and cultural contexts of their craft. (shrink)

انتشرت ظاهرة الغش في الامتحان إلى الحد الذي جعلها عادة مألوفة يمارسها السواد الأعظم من التلاميذ، ويصنف الراغب عنها في حكم الشاذ الذي لا يعتد به، وقد تطور الأمر إلى الإبداع والتفنن في ابتكار الوسائل والطرق "الحديثة" التي لم تخطر من ذي قبل على بال أحد من العالمين، ولأن ما يتكرر يتقرر فقد صارت هذه الآفة جزءا من "الممارسة البيداغوجية"، بل تحولت إلى صاحبة الشأن الأول التي يتبتل التلميذ في محرابها الساعات الطوال تفكيرا وتنظيرا وممارسة، حتى وصل إلى درجة الكمال (...) والبلوغ في الاهتداء إلى أنجع السبل وأكثرها تطورا، مسجلا بذلك براءات اختراع مبهرة. ولعل نظرة فضولية إلى طوابير التلاميذ المقبلين على محلات النسخ قبيل الامتحانات تظهر بجلاء "حيوية هذه السوق" التي تكيف تجارها مع واقعها، وكونوا أنفسهم ليواكبوا مستجداتها، وينالوا رضا زبنائهم، وكل هذه "الدينامية" تجري أمام أنظار السلطات العمومية التي تكتفي بالتفرج السلبي على المشهد، كأنها لاتدري أن حرمة القانون تنتهك بهذا السلوك المخل بالأمن التربوي، وتستوجب الضرب بيد من حديد على أيدي هؤلاء "التجار" الذين يشيعون الفاحشة في أرض التربية والتعليم بضمائرهم الميتة وجيوبهم الجشعة. إن الانتشار الواسع لهذه الظاهرة أكسبها شرعية الفعل، وأسقط عن ممارسيها الشعور بالإثم الذي يحيك في القلب ويحجز من يهم به عن إتيانه خشية أن يطلع عليه الناس، فصار التباهي سمة المقدم عليها، وإنتاج الأبطال والفرسان نهاية حلبتها. (shrink)

In this paper, informed by Vatican 2 and one of its premier modern day scholars, Gerald O'Collins, we will argue (1), that while the Christian evangelist should proclaim that Jesus is the only way to God, she should nonetheless be open to the possibility that Christ is saving those in non-Christian traditions as non-explicit or anonymous Christians, and, (2), that other serious religious traditions can be interpreted as doctrinally consistent with (or something nearby) the Nicene Christian tradition. In conclusion, these (...) theses will lead us to argue that in the Christian's approach to evangelism, her first step in persuading her non-Christian counterpart should be to emphasize the commonality that exists between the Christian tradition and the relevant non-Christian tradition. The evangelist then, should not see her main task as developing arguments against her interlocuter's religious tradition (though, this has its place), but rather her focus should be on proclaiming an additional truth that her interlocuter can accept alongside many of her already held religious commitments. (shrink)

Volume 12, Issue 1, January 2012, Page 56-60.

"Chegaram ao lugar que Deus lhe havia designado; ali edificou Abraão um altar, sobre ele dispôs a lenha, amarrou Isaque, seu filho, e o deitou no altar, em cima da lenha; e, estendendo a mão, tomou o cutelo para imolar o filho. Mas do céu lhe bradou o Anjo do SENHOR: Abraão! Abraão! Ele respondeu: Eis-me aqui! Então, lhe disse: Não estendas a mão sobre o rapaz e nada lhe faças; pois agora sei que temes a Deus, porquanto não me (...) negaste o filho, o teu único filho. Tendo Abraão erguido os olhos, viu atrás de si um carneiro preso pelos chifres entre os arbustos; tomou Abraão o carneiro e o ofereceu em holocausto, em lugar de seu filho. E pôs Abraão por nome àquele lugar - O SENHOR Proverá. Daí dizer-se até ao dia de hoje: No monte do SENHOR se proverá." (Gn 22.9-14). Atribuindo à ironia a possibilidade de exercício da liberdade subjetiva, Kierkegaard sublinha a negatividade absoluta de tal processo em Sócrates, convergindo para assinalar o absoluto e irredutível valor do indivíduo em um movimento que envolve o início absoluto da vida pessoal entre criar-se e deixar-se criar (poeticamente), cuja construção encerra a tensão inaplacável entre existência e transcendência e implica a necessidade de tornar-se subjetivo, haja vista que a verdade consiste na transformação do sujeito em si mesmo entre a vertigem da liberdade e o paradoxo da fé. Dessa forma, o Prof. Luiz Carlos Mariano da Rosa mostra que, baseado na ordem de Deus para sacrificar o seu filho, Isaque, Abraão instaura uma nova experiência existencial, segundo o referencial teórico de Mircea Eliade, pois pelo ato de fé supera a condição mítico-religiosa e institui uma relação absoluta com o Absoluto, conforme a leitura teológico-filosófica de Kierkegaard, o que implica a intervenção do Eterno no temporal, a manifestação do Deus-Homem Jesus Cristo que, de acordo com a perspectiva teológico-bíblica católico-protestante, possibilita a realização de um novo ser e de um novo modo de existência. "A fé é a mais alta paixão de todo homem." (Kierkegaard). (shrink)

Consistindo em diferentes possibilidades diante da condição trágica da existência, o estético, o ético e o religioso são os modos existenciais em Kierkegaard que trazem como personagens o Poeta, o Herói Trágico e o Cavaleiro da Fé. Se o que perfaz o estético é a fruição do prazer em uma relação baseada na pura imediatez e sedução como esforço de conquista de si mesmo, o ético encerra a harmonização da subjetividade com a generalidade do bem e do mal, convergindo ambos (...) para reduzir a busca do Absoluto à imanência. Dessa forma, baseado no princípio hermenêutico-existencial de Kierkegaard, o Prof. Luiz Carlos Mariano da Rosa investiga o dever ético do Herói Trágico e a sua virtude moral, detendo-se na distinção entre Agamêmnon e Abraão, o Cavaleiro da Fé e a sua relação absoluta com o Absoluto. Assim sendo, a pesquisa assinala que Abraão inaugura uma experiência existencial que encerra a fé como relação absoluta com o Absoluto e converge para a superação do determinismo natural e do terror da história através de uma liberdade absoluta, que pressupõe um novo ser e um novo modo de existência e implica a manifestação do Eterno no temporal, a encarnação do Lógos, Deus-Homem Jesus Cristo. (shrink)

Together with the return to traditional religions and the parallel immersion in pagan and Orthodox archaism, a third tendency—minimal religion, or "poor faith"—can be observed in contemporary Russia. According to the polls, more than one fourth of Russians believe in God but are not affiliated with any specific religion or denomination. To date, this type of religiosity has attracted the least attention because it has no clear organizational and dogmatic manifestations and tends to escape all forms of objectification. Its ‘minimality’ (...) almost precludes the formation of dogma or ritual and can be identified only as an internal impulse, a state of spirit, or a disposition of mind. This is what is called ‘poor’ or ‘minimal’ religion. For a Western observer, a more ‘recognizable’ name for it would be religious modernism, universalism, or ecumenicism, even if these terms do not exactly correspond to the Russian phenomenon. The spiritual vacuum, created by Soviet atheism, gave rise in the 1970s — 1990s to this new type of religiosity. Minimal religion is transcendental in two senses. As a religion, in distinction from a purely secular position, it transcends the ‘earthly’ world of immanence. As a minimal religion, in distinction from all organized religions, it transcends the world of all existing religious traditions, dogmas, rituals, and affiliations. It is only in the liminal ‘between’ that this uniquely postsecular phenomenon can be defined. Religion, yet minimal; poor, yet faith. (shrink)

Many people assume that serious reflection on animal ethics arose because of recent technological progress, the sharp rise in human population, and consequent pressure on global ecology. They consequently believe that this sub-discipline is relatively new and that traditional religions have little or nothing to offer. In spite of this however, we are currently seeing a heightened awareness of religion’s important role in all areas of individual and communal life, for better or for worse. As regards our relations with nature (...) in general and with animals in particular, and as regards the foundational idea of creaturehood, religious traditions have played, and are still playing, a central role in molding the subliminal conscience of billions of people, guiding their moral dispositions that often remain unarticulated. This paper therefore explores our relation to animals by referring not only to the binary conceptual structure animality-humanity, as philosophers often do, but by referring also to the triple conceptual structure animality-humanity-divinity. After critically evaluating some of the relevant attitudes that derive from the major world religions, the paper tries to determine the extent to which the doctrine of these religions converge on some useful central principles regarding animal ethics and animal production. The result of this research supplies added support to the claim that the study of religious outlooks in this area serves to rediscover neglected perspectives and thereby to enlarge the horizon of current philosophical work. (shrink)

Sublinhando que a evocação dos acontecimentos que tiveram lugar ab origine convergir, segundo a perspectiva mítico-religiosa, para a manifestação das sagradas, o Prof. Luiz Carlos Mariano da Rosa, baseado no método histórico-comparativo de Mircea Eliade, atribui à prece a condição de suscitar o poder sagrado em um processo capaz de exercer influência sobrenatural e alcançar os recônditos da consciência, como afirma Marcel Mauss. Dessa forma, sobrepondo-se às práticas mágico-religiosas e aos processos litúrgico-rituais do politeísmo, a oração característica do monoteísmo de (...) Israel, segundo a perspectiva bíblico-teológica veterotestamentária, assinala um relacionamento pactual e uma aliança que envolve Yahveh e como morais implicadas em seus atributos, a sabre, justiça, fidelidade e bondade, convergindo para a vida em sua plenitude histórica. Finalizando, o Prof. Luiz Carlos Mariano da Rosa mostra que a oração, segundo a perspectiva bíblico-teológica neotestamentária, implica a expressão da existência escatológica entre a contingência e a transcendência em Bultmann, encerrando a criatividade diretiva de Deus em Tillich e a superação do estado de alienação existencial. (shrink)

Underlining that the evocation of the events that took place ab origine converges, according to the mythical-religious perspective, for the manifestation of the sacred forces, Prof. Luiz Carlos Mariano da Rosa, based on the historical-comparative method of Mircea Eliade, attributes to prayer the condition of arousing the sacred power in a process capable of exerting supernatural influence and reaching the recesses of consciousness, as Marcel Mauss states. In this way, superimposing the magical-religious practices and liturgical-ritual processes of polytheism, the characteristic (...) prayer of the monotheism of Israel, according to the biblical-theological veteran perspective, marks a peaceful relationship and an alliance that involves Yahveh and the moral demands implied in his attributes, namely, justice, fidelity and goodness, converging for life in its historical fullness. Finally, Prof. Luiz Carlos Mariano da Rosa shows that prayer, according to the biblical-theological neotestheological perspective, implies the expression of eschatological existence between contingency and transcendence in Bultmann, closing the directive creativity of God in Tillich and the overcoming of the state of existential alienation. (shrink)

Soulignant que l'évocation des événements qui ont eu lieu ab origine converge, selon la perspective mythique-religieuse, pour la manifestation des forces sacrées, le professeur Luiz Carlos Mariano da Rosa, s'appuyant sur la méthode historico-comparative de Mircea Eliade, attribue à la prière la condition d'éveiller le pouvoir sacré dans un processus capable d'exercer une influence surnaturelle et d'atteindre les recoins de la conscience, comme l'affirme Marcel Mauss. Ainsi, en superposant les pratiques magico-religieuses et les processus liturgiques-rituels du polythéisme, la prière caractéristique (...) du monothéisme d'Israël, selon la perspective des vétérans de la théologie biblique, marque une relation pacifique et une alliance qui implique Yahveh et les exigences morales qu'impliquent ses attributs, à savoir la justice, la fidélité et la bonté, convergeant pour la vie dans sa plénitude historique. Enfin, le professeur Luiz Carlos Mariano da Rosa montre que la prière, selon la perspective néo-théologique biblique, implique l'expression de l'existence eschatologique entre contingence et transcendance chez Bultmann, fermant la créativité directive de Dieu à Tillich et le dépassement de l'état d' aliénation existentielle. (shrink)

Sottolineando che l'evocazione degli eventi accaduti ab origine converge, secondo la prospettiva mitico-religiosa, per la manifestazione delle forze sacre, il Prof. Luiz Carlos Mariano da Rosa, basato sul metodo storico-comparativo di Mircea Eliade, attribuisce alla preghiera la condizione di suscitare il potere sacro in un processo capace di esercitare un'influenza soprannaturale e di raggiungere i recessi della coscienza, come afferma Marcel Mauss. In questo modo, sovrapponendo le pratiche magico-religiose e i processi liturgico-rituali del politeismo, la caratteristica preghiera del monoteismo di (...) Israele, secondo la prospettiva biblicoteologica veterana, segna un rapporto pacifico e un'alleanza che coinvolge Yahveh e le esigenze morali implicite nei suoi attributi, cioè giustizia, fedeltà e bontà, convergendo per la vita nella sua pienezza storica. Infine, il Prof. Luiz Carlos Mariano da Rosa mostra che la preghiera, secondo la prospettiva neotestesologica biblicoteologica, implica l'espressione dell'esistenza escatologica tra contingenza e trascendenza in Bultmann, chiudendo la creatività direttiva di Dio in Tillich e il superamento dello stato di alienazione esistenziale. (shrink)

Subrayando que la evocación de los acontecimientos ocurridos ab origine converge, según la perspectiva mítico-religiosa, para la manifestación de las fuerzas sagradas, el Prof. Luiz Carlos Mariano da Rosa, basándose en el método histórico-comparativo de Mircea Eliade, atribuye a la oración la condición de suscitar el poder sagrado en un proceso capaz de ejercer una influencia sobrenatural y de llegar a los recovecos de la conciencia, como afirma Marcel Mauss. De este modo, superponiendo las prácticas mágico-religiosas y los procesos litúrgico-rituales (...) del politeísmo, la oración característica del monoteísmo de Israel, según la perspectiva bíblico-teológica veterana, marca una relación pac ífica y una alianza que involucra a Yahvé y las exigencias morales implícitas en sus atributos, a saber, la justicia, la fidelidad y la bondad, convergiendo para la vida en su plenitud histórica. Finalmente, el Prof. Luiz Carlos Mariano da Rosa muestra que la oración, según la perspectiva bíblico-teológica neotesteológica, implica la expresión de la existencia escatológica entre la contingencia y la trascendencia en Bultmann, cerrando la creatividad directiva de Dios en Tillich y la superación del estado de alienación existencial. (shrink)

Luiz Carlos Mariano da Rosa, opierając się na historiaczno-komparatywnej metodzie Mircea Eliade, przypisuje modlitwie warunek wzbudzenia świętej mocy w procesie zdolnym do wywierania śdwierania nadnaturalnego zakówierania twiero marciano marciano zakówiwieria marciano zakówieria marciano marciano marciano wpływieria marciano mar zdociwier do marciano marciadoci docciwier do mar. W sposób dez, nakładając nd siebie praktyki magiczno-religijne i procesy liturgiczno-krytyczne politeizmu, charakterystyczna dla monoteizmu Izraela Modlitwa, według biblijno-teologicznej perspektywy kombatanckiej, oznacza pokojowy Związek i Sojusz, który angażuje Yahvé i moralne postulaty zawarte w jego atrybutach, (...) czyli SPRAWIEDLIWOŚCI , wierności i dobroci, zbiegające się do życia w jego historycznej pełni. Luiz Carlos Mariano da Rosa pokazuje wreszcie, że modlitwa, zgodnie z biblijno-teologiczną perspektywą neotesteologiczną. (shrink)

Wisdom is often associated with age and an excess of life experience. Sometimes, however, we see that misconception crumble when a young prodigy emerges. Brandon Reece Taylorian, commonly known as Cometan, is the anomaly. He is a twenty-two-year-old British philosopher, religious founder, and novelist who has been enormously influential to the world of philosophy in his young life. Cometan is responsible for founding Astronism as a religion and philosophy, inventing the Spacefaring World franchise, developing thousands of new words, and creating (...) a treatise that would become the longest religious text and one of the largest books in history. In this essay, we will explore who Cometan is, how he has contributed to the world of philosophy, and critique his belief system. (shrink)

After the unexpected death of Professor Józef Kałuża at the age of 74 on the 26th of July 2003, not only Polish neuropathology but also Polish philosophy of medical investigations lost one of its most renowned minds. Beginning in 1949, Professor Kałuża studied medical sciences for five years at the Medical Faculty of the Jagiellonian University in Cracow. He did his Ph.D. thesis in neuropathology in the Department of Neuropathology of the Polish Academy of Science. In 1962 he received a (...) Rockefeller Foundation scholarship and spent one year at the National Institutes of Health. In 1981 Professor Kaluza was promoted to a tenured professorship in neuropathology. He is the author of more than 110 articles published in medical periodicals and coauthor of many chapters in medical handbooks. (shrink)

Jan Popiel urodził się dnia 28 I 1914 r. w Brodnicy k. Śremu w Wielkopolsce w głęboko religijnej rodzinie ziemiańskiej. Był synem Michała i Jadwigi z Mańkowskich. Młodość spędził wraz z pięciorgiem rodzeństwa w majątku rodzinnym w Wójczy k. Pacanowa. Dwie jego siostry obrały zakonny stan życia w Zgromadzeniu Sióstr Urszulanek Serca Jezusa Konającego. Pierwszą i drugą klasę gimnazjalną Jan przerabiał prywatnie w latach 1923-1925 i pod koniec roku zdawał egzaminy w Gimnazjum św. Anny w Krakowie. Następne kilka miesięcy wykorzystał (...) na naukę języka niemieckiego. Od 1926 do 1932 r. kształcił się w prowadzonym przez jezuitów zakładzie naukowo-wychowawczym Stella Matutina w Feldkirch, Vorarlberg, w Austrii. Osiem klas gimnazjum klasycznego zakończył egzaminem maturalnym w 1932 r. Maturę nostryfikował przed Komisją Kuratorium Okręgu Szkolnego Krakowskiego. (shrink)

The article reviews the book Edukacja oświeceniowa a szkoła tradycyjna. Z dziejów kultury intelektualnej i filozoficznej [Enlightenment Education and Traditional Education: From the History of Intellectual and Philosophical Culture], by Stanisław Janeczek.

How is one to distinguish a true lover of peace from a mere appeaser, a pacifist, and a warmonger? Distinguishing them can be sometimes confusing, as they will often appropriate each other’s language. The criterion for the above distinction does not only lie in outward behavior, as knowledge of inward attitudes is also required. A right understanding of these attitudes and motivations involve at least an implicit grasp of the true nature of peace, which is investigated as something more than (...) the mere absence of war, insofar as peace is primarily a work of two moral virtues: justice and charity. It is in the spirit of justice and charity that the true lover of peace must then distinguish—both in one’s own life and with nations—between what can be ignored and / or forgiven, and what must be redressed. Furthermore, the distinction between the lover of peace and the pacifist, with the possibility of pacifism being a distinct tradition from just war philosophy, is investigated. The argument is made that pacifism should not be considered outside the context of just war because one needs that context to address if and who demands restitution. (shrink)

The article reviews the book "Encyklopedia Bioetyki," edited by Andrzej Muszala.

The problem of identity at least these days, is not a directly philosophical problem, but rather the subject of disputes in the well-known newspapers. Identity is rarely the subject of modern famous thinkers' speeches. This is because in the present process of uniting Europe, the main debate centres around the economic and political aspects of the process, whilst the cultural aspects are put to one side. It is worth mentioning here C. Adenauer's assertion: „The ground of European unity is an (...) idea of Christian community, culture and European civilization." In this context we can also mention the previous chairman of the European Commission, J. Dolors, who states: „If Europe does not have its own soul, it will not define itself as cultural, it will not be Europe. But if it is only a political or economical community, it will not absolutely fulfil its task." It is not difficult to notice the difference between these two statements; the first highlights the problem of cultural unity, formulated as a postulate, a kind of program which must be carried out in the future. We can interpret Dolors' thought as a kind of warning against neglecting the problem of cultural identity. (shrink)

While spreading wide-world, the new coronavirus Sars-CoV-2 made changes in many social departments of our society on levels we never thought about and messes with all our cultural habits. Thus, we witnessed that the religious denominations took into consideration changes without precedent in their cultic history and thus dogmatic as well concerning the actual threat of Coronavirus. We saw for example the Roman-Catholic Church who suspended all masses here and there[1] at first or banned the crucial gestures in rituals [to (...) suspend the distribution of Holy Communion from the Chalice[2], to distribute the Eucharist preferably into the hands of the faithful, and to avoid the physical contact from a peaceful handshake, to forego ash crosses on forehead, to suspend placing water in holy water fonts at the entrance of churches, that the churchgoers "refrain" from kissing or touching the cross for veneration, or even cancellation of masses]. We witnessed Buddhist temples and Protestant churches around Korea [at first] and beyond that have also suspended religious gatherings, and so on. In my case, the Romanian Orthodox Church did the same thing[3], but in a controversial way, firstly making some recommendations for its believers [e.g. not to kiss public icons in Churches, but their indoor ones, and receive Holy Communion with teaspoons for single-use]; afterward same Church reconsidered these recommendations and withdrew its decision [perhaps at the pressure of civil fundamentalists]. How can we qualify all these measures and, moreover, the withdrawal on behalf of religious believers, as weakness, populism, diligence, assuming the human limits, or...something else? What would be the correct and coherent answer religion should assume in this particular regard, and especially what are the reasons to qualify it in a way or another? (shrink)

The new Coronavirus, namely Sars-CoV-2, took the world by surprise and grew into a pandemic worldwide in a couple of months since the beginning of 2020. It managed to lockdown at home almost half of the world population under the threat of illness and sudden death. Due to the extreme medical advises of containing the spread and damages of this threat, mostly directed towards social distancing, public gatherings cancelation, and contact tracing, each State imposed such regulations to their people and (...) for all areas of social activity, including the religious ones. This articles analyses four topics: 1. Restrictions imposed by the State and reactions by religious organizations. The theological-ethical response focused on the fact that all religions what to save lives and defeat death. 2. The pandemic shows the sensitive relation between the State and religions and shows the differences in power relations in the different countries. The theological-ethical response calls for a partnership between the State and the religions in their territory. 3. The relation between science and religion is tested during the pandemic. Whereas the majority of believers adhere to scientific results, a good part refuses scientific knowledge. The theological-ethical response of the authors is that science and religion are complementary and not contradictory. 4. Pandemics as situations of high uncertainty are often accompanied by conspiracy theories that claim to know who is guilty for the disaster, who is the scapegoat, which has to be punished. The theological-ethical response gives theological reasons to say no to conspiracies and scapegoats and yes to take responsibility wherever we are in order to save lives. (shrink)

Globalization, migration, and an increasingly complex connection between nation and culture, have prompted a renewed recognition of religion as a major social, political, and cultural force. For the main-stream religions [in-power in each State] this has come as both a shock and a challenge facing the long-held presumption about the oneness of religious faith. The new form of establishment that the megalopolitan life brings challenges religions both to coexist, to coop, and to reconsider their values and methods in order to (...) be kept significant and trustworthy for the civil life. Whoever do not adjust is doomed to vanish, and we have seen so many examples from which nowadays religions should learn some. (shrink)

In this thesis, I argue that the Functional Monotheism model is not tri-theistic, but is a model of pro-Nicene Trinitarianism. In establishing this thesis, I focus on countering a specific objection prevalent in the Analytic Theology literature; the Tri-Theism Objection, which has charged the Functional Monotheism model with “tri-theism”. This objection, formulated by Kelly James Clark and Edward Feser, asserts that the Functional Monotheism model is tritheistic and thus should be rejected as a possible model of scriptural monotheism and “orthodox” (...) Trinitarianism. I argue against this objection by demonstrating that the Functional Monotheism model, once certain necessary philosophical clarifications and modifications are made, is not tri-theistic (in the classical sense of the term), but is in fact in line with “strict” (Second Temple) Jewish monotheism and “orthodox” (pro-Nicene) Trinitarianism. The Functional Monotheism model, contra the proponents of the objection, is therefore not subject to a charge of tri-theism, and thus should be taken as a viable model of “orthodox” Trinitarianism that can aid analytic theologians in their Trinitarian theorising. (shrink)

Open Theist theologians argue that their view of divine foreknowledge and providence is the correct interpretation of the Bible, and suggest some biblical evidence to support this claim. Among these theologians, Gregory A. Boyd’s case is the most systematic, and also the most comprehensive and rigorous. Taking into consideration (1) the main philosophical claims of Open Theism and its main rivals, namely Calvinism and Molinism, and (2) Open Theist theologians’ interpretative principles for the Bible, the biblical evidence for Open Theism (...) suggested by Boyd can be classified into three groups according to their strength. I will argue that the first group of themes has no evidential value for Open Theism, since these themes can be interpreted just as plausibly from a Calvinist or Molinist perspective. By contrast, the second group of themes has some evidential value and thus constitutes prima facie evidence for Open Theism, since these themes make most sense under an Open Theist interpretation. However, these themes also make some sense on a Molinist reading. The third group of themes, I argue, has most evidential value for Open Theism, since it seems hard to reconcile these themes either with Calvinism or Molinism. (shrink)

Conversion is a word with a variety of meanings. It also has various significations, from the exchange between different currencies, to job conversion or the change of career path, to the change from one religion, political belief, viewpoint, etc., to another – all these types of conversion have mutual methods and shared purposes. They are all requiring malleability, the capacity of exchanging old things for the new ones, openness to different, the will to adopt something new or at least different, (...) and the legerity of giving up on the old things. All these requirements are always easier said than done, and therefore conversion is not for all types of characters and personalities, some being more stable and fundamental, thus resistant to renewal. There is no religion, on the one hand, that does not promote conversion and thus use proselytism to do it. On the other hand, same religions that believe conversion is an act of God, a sign that everyone should embrace and leave whatever religious belief they might have previously, consider it as a ‘sin’, an act that should be forbidden, the conversion/leaving for other, diverse religion. How is it regarded by religions and scientific thought and at what point it became obsolete? (shrink)

This anthology is intended primarily to provide students of theology with some of the basic writings of the major thinkers who have contributed to the development of the movement known as "process theology." Because of the content students of philosophy will likewise find it useful. The editor begins the work with an introduction in which he ably traces in broad perspective the various ways in which a mental attitude stressing process is reflected in contemporary culture, philosophy, and theology. The first (...) part of the volume then provides essays that center on process thought as this has emerged from the writings of Alfred North Whitehead and his American disciples. Two essays in this part are concerned with tracing the development of process thought, the one by Norman Pittenger centering on its historical evolution from Whitehead through Hartshorne and others into a distinct theological movement, whereas the one by Charles Hartshorne is concerned with the inner development of process thought as a noetic capable of dealing with relational reality. In other essays in this part Bernard Meland comments on the value of process thought in providing an imagery and concepts congenial to contemporary man in his struggle to understand his experience, and Bernard M. Loomer examines in detail the empirical basis and methodology central to Whitehead’s philosophy. The essays in the second part focus on the relationship between God and the world as this relationship is interpreted by process thinkers. Here selections include the final chapter of Whitehead’s Process and Reality, Hartshorne’s suggestive account of the philosophical and religious uses of the term "God," Schubert Ogden’s attempt to defend a concept of God modeled on process thought as more conformable to biblical testimony than the concept of God classical in Christian thought, Walter Stoke’s endeavor to integrate features of process thought within a more Thomistic framework relative to the being of God, and two essays by Daniel Day Williams and John B. Cobb, Jr. on the relationship between God and world and God and man. Essays in the third part, called "Christ and Redemption," reflect the efforts of three Whiteheadian-inspired theologians, Meland, Pittenger, and Henry Nelson Wieman, to rethink the Christian doctrine of the incarnation within the framework provided by process thought. In the fourth part of the work attention is directed from Whitehead to another major source of contemporary process theology, Teilhard de Chardin. The essays include Theodosius Dobzhansky’s lengthy critical appreciation of the major directions in Teilhard’s vision of the universe, Teilhard’s own views on a cosmic Christology, a development of his views on this topic by Henri de Lubac, and other studies of aspects of Teilhard’s thought by N. M. Wildiers, George Crespy, and Christopher F. Mooney. An appendix includes a comparative study of the metaphysics of Teilhard and Whitehead by Ian G. Barbour. A useful bibliography completes the anthology.—W. E. M. (shrink)

This edition of Michael Scot’s Latin translation of Aristotle’s De partibus animalium is part of a vast project, under the supervision of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, to publish the Syriac, Arabic, and Hebrew translations of Aristotle’s works, of the Latin translations of these works, and of the medieval paraphrases and commentaries made in the context of this translation tradition. After a general introduction, the Latin text is presented, followed by a good number of excellent notes, an (...) Index latino-arabus, an Index of proper names of animals and an Index arabo-latinus. This is followed by an Index of the Greek names of plants and animals. (shrink)

The first part of this work examines Augustine’s political writings in the context of his time, the second plots their trajectory into our own. The first chapter discusses Augustine’s hopes for a political career, his conversion not only to Christianity but to a contemplative life, and his reentry into an active life as a priest and bishop. TeSelle also analyzes the nature and scope of City of God, giving particular attention to Augustine’s reconsideration of the relationship of Christianity to the (...) political world after Rome’s fall. Chapter 2 focuses on the meaning of “city” in the ancient world and in City of God. Chapter 3 is concerned with the meaning of peregrinus, since citizens of the city of God are peregrini in the earthly city. (shrink)

Stewart in this book uses essays from well-known Hegel scholars such as Shlomo Avineri, Emil Fackenheim, T. M. Knox, and Henning Ottmann to identify and to correct Hegel myths. Five myths are discussed thoroughly. Part 1 deals with the myth of Hegel justifying the status quo derived from the dictum "was vernünftig ist, das ist wirklich; und was wirklich ist, das ist vernünftig" in the preface of the Philosophy of Right. This allegation does not consider that "according to his [Hegel's] (...) dialectic of culture and spirit, philosophical knowledge must emerge from within the development of actual knowledge and cultural forms, and not as an artificial imposition upon them". (shrink)

The divine command to kill the Canaanites is the most problematic of all Old Testament ethical issues. This article responds to challenges raised by Wes Morriston and Randal Rauser. It argues that biblical and extrabiblical evidence suggests that the Canaanites who were killed were combatants rather than noncombatants and that, given the profound moral corruption of Canaan, this divinely-directed act was just. Even if it turns out that non­combatants were directly targeted, the overarching Old Testament narrative is directed toward the (...) salvation of all nations—including the Canaanites. (shrink)

The nature of the „Christian Middle Ages‟ in Europe and the interaction of „heretical groups‟ operating within France is anything but the simplistic model that we conjure in our minds when we hear the terms „Christian‟ Europe and „heretics‟. A juggernaut of power embodied by the Church, bending to nothing and rooting out the poor, unintelligent „heretics.‟ This paper will venture to enlighten the reader to the exceedingly complex relationship between the Church and the „heretical‟ groups. Furthermore, examining the membership (...) of the „heretics,‟ their industries as well as modern contributions from leading historians, will allow the reader to see how the Church undertook a policy of accommodation towards „heretics‟ and actively sought to recruit, not necessarily exterminate these heretical groups, in order to invest in the Church itself and strengthen its power base. (shrink)