My first semester experience in the seminary was filled with a mixture of joyful, sorrowful and glorious mystical experiences. Not to mention the days I suffered from extreme rise and fall of my blood pressure that was brought about by numerous sleepless nights of writing thesis statements and graduate research papers, looking back to the first semester of my life as monastic seminarian, I should say, I had the share of experience of the three mysteries of the reality of Christ's passion, death and resurrection.
Just to show you one of the proofs of the mystical experience I went through, I thought of posting here a copy of one of my research papers that I humbly submitted to my professor in Logical Analysis which I never could imagine that I could still make it taking into consideration my age. I must say, education is indeed a lifelong process.
Brother Lawrence Pilarca, OSB
Dr. Christopher Lutz, PhD
05:513 Logical Analysis
December 11, 2008
Dr. Christopher Lutz, PhD
05:513 Logical Analysis
December 11, 2008
Catholic religious tradition seeks both faith and reason. Revelation is God’s way of making Himself known to humankind by faith and reason. Christian theology is the methodical approach used to interpret and understand God’s Revelation.
Philosophy is the critical use of logical reasoning in understanding the truths of Revelation. As Christians receive Revelation, they use philosophical methods to develop a theological understanding of it.
Misinterpretations are most likely to happen in the pursuit of philosophical understanding of truth. The main purpose of this paper is to identify possible philosophical pitfalls in the pursuit of Christian theology and its understanding of the truths of Revelation.
To start with, a discussion on the understanding of Divine Truth is found in the encyclical letter of Pope John Paul II, Fides Et Ratio. In his encyclical, the Pope explains the interaction between philosophy and theology in the intelligibility of Divine Revelation. He underlines the primary job of philosophy to unite with theology in the pursuit of theology’s undertakings.
The Pope discusses the work of the Church’s Magisterium in scrutinizing the philosophical knowledge and interpretation of the Church’s Faith. This work supports the Pope’s statement on the Magisterium’s responsibility to look at philosophical issues affecting the intelligibility of Christian doctrine.
In support to this endeavor, he emphasizes the following in his encyclical:
I have judged it appropriate and necessary to emphasize the value of philosophy for the understanding of the faith, as well as the limits which philosophy faces when it neglects or rejects the truths of Revelation. Theology must recover its true relationship with philosophy, but it is just as important that philosophy recover its true relationship with theology.[2]
I have judged it appropriate and necessary to emphasize the value of philosophy for the understanding of the faith, as well as the limits which philosophy faces when it neglects or rejects the truths of Revelation. Theology must recover its true relationship with philosophy, but it is just as important that philosophy recover its true relationship with theology.[2]
The Pope also explains the importance of achieving fundamental harmony between theology and philosophy by stating, “Theology asks that its object be understood with the help of philosophy; and at the summit of its searching, philosophy acknowledges that it cannot do without what theology presents.”[3]
Thus, the Church remains profoundly convinced that theology and philosophy mutually support each other in their tasks of enlightening the minds and inspiring the hearts of Christians in seeking the knowledge of God. From these arguments, the Church is clear in binding theology and philosophy together in search for God’s meaning.
Following Fides Et Ratio’s arguments is an insightful essay by Fr. Aidan Nichols. The essay talks about the intellectual clash between the leading scholars of what is called “new theology” and the Dominican Thomism of the Revue Thomiste.
Initially, the essay points to critical issues of the theological debate between the neo-Thomists and the Nouvelle Theologie scholars. One of the issues of the debate is about the nature and task of Catholic theology and scholastic theology.
To begin the division, Danielou, a Nouvelle advocate, gives a sharp remark on Thomism’s scholastic theology as an obsolete approach in the development of Christian thought. He adds that it is rationalist and detached from spirituality.[5]
To retaliate, Innozent Bochensky, a Polish Dominican logician, criticizes radical evolutionism and irrationalism as basis of this “new theology.” He comments that this “new theology,” in no time, will eventually go down its way back to Modernism.[6]
In addition, the Thomists claim that their philosophy and theology aspire to integrate other philosophical and theological systems, while the “new theology” does not.
On the other hand, the “Nouvelle scholars” hold that a modern Church must show ultimate beauty in its Gospel and unsurpassable dramatic power. The clash went on and remained unresolved. These arguments show how the interaction between philosophy and theology affects the intelligibility of Faith.
Similarly, the arguments that were discussed in the essay of Fr. Aidan Nichols resonate with the lecture of Fr. Timothy Radcliffe, OP. His lecture to the Religious Education Congress
held at Los Angeles focuses on the conflict between the Kingdom Catholics and the Communion Catholics.
held at Los Angeles focuses on the conflict between the Kingdom Catholics and the Communion Catholics.
Radcliffe explains that the conflict between the two groups emanates from their different philosophical understandings and interpretations of the 2nd Vatican Council’s Reforms.
The conflict results from two disruptive opposing practices that adversely affect the understanding of Faith. Significantly, Radcliffe talks about how the practices of Kingdom Catholics critically affect the way the Communion Catholics conduct their faith.
Thus, Radcliffe proposes philosophical conversation as an effective way to interact with each other in addressing their differences. In this way, the two groups may achieve a certain level of harmony in their philosophical understandings and interpretations to the pursuits of Christian thought.[8]
Rode explains the conflict resulting from the ways the Religious conduct their consecrated way of life. The conflict refers to their observance and practice of interpretation to the 2nd Vatican Council’s guidelines for renewals and reforms of the consecrated life.
Also, Rode points out that a divergent manner of interpretations, which he names as the Hermeneutic of Discontinuity and Rupture, adversely affects the practice of the Religious in the Catholic Church.
To sum up Rode’s arguments, the rupture is caused by a considerable failure to achieve an appropriate philosophical understanding of the origin of the Deposit of Faith. This rupture causes an erroneous philosophical interpretation of the Council’s Reforms of Religious life.
Thus, to avoid such error, Rode suggests that the Religious need to adapt an appropriate contemporary philosophical approach in seeking for the Truth.
The Religious may also need to critically examine the collections of historical facts and accurately find the sources of historical Tradition. This logical approach will eventually guide the Religious to appropriately formulate interpretations to the guidelines of the Council’s reforms.
Just the Ideas, Please: Philosophy, History and Language about God in Priestly Formation[10]
In the same way, Fr. Brian E. Daley, SJ, tells about the value of using philosophy in the success of the theological pursuits in the formation of future priests in the seminary.
In his speech to the ACPA conference in Milwaukee, Daley emphasizes the importance of employing philosophy in understanding the knowledge of God.
Daley talks on the underlying conditions that occur in teaching theology in a seminary. He discusses the importance of formulations and interpretations. He explains the value of interpreting the Truth in a language that is applicable in the present time and culture.
Similarly, he articulates on education for future priests that will provide a skill of logical thinking. He explains how logical thinking must be used as tool in understanding the meaning of works like Summa Theologiae, Nouvelle Theologie, and Fides Et Ratio.
He concludes that the theological pursuits of the seminary should not struggle with just getting the ideas but must endeavor with logical interpretations to the Deposit of Faith.
From the related arguments presented in this paper, one may gain a better understanding of the relationship between philosophy and theology. With this point made, one may also find light for the awareness of possible philosophical pitfalls in the pursuit of Christian theology.
What's more, based from this awareness, one can draw possible solutions that may be useful and may serve as a guide in avoiding these pitfalls.
[1] John Paul II, Catholic Church Pope 1978-2005, “Chapter V”, in Encyclical Letter, Fides Et Ratio, Of the Supreme Pontiff John Paul II: To the Bishops of the Catholic Church on the Relationship Between Faith and Reason, ed. Daughters of Saint Paul (Boston, MA: Pauline Books and Media 1998), p. 66.
[2] John Paul II, Catholic Church Pope 1978-2005, “The Relationship Between Faith and Reason,” in Encyclical Letter, Fides Et Ratio, Of the Supreme Pontiff John Paul II: To the Bishops of the Catholic Church on the Relationship Between Faith and Reason, ed. Daughters of Saint Paul (Boston, MA: Pauline Books and Media 1998), ¶100, pp. 123.
[3] John Paul II, “The Relationship”, ¶42, pp. 57.
[4] Fr. Aidan Nichols, OP, “Thomism and the Nouvelle Theologie”, An Essay in “The Thomist 64 (2000)”, p. 1.
[5]Fr. Aidan Nichols, OP, “Thomism and the Nouvelle Theologie”, An Essay in “The Thomist 64 (2000)”, p. 5.
[6] Nichols, OP, “Thomism”, p. 11.
[7] Fr. Timothy Radcliffe, OP, “Overcoming Discord in the Church”, National Catholic Reporter Cover Story: Seeking Unity, May 5, 2006, pp.6-8.
[8] Fr. Timothy Radcliffe, OP, “Overcoming Discord in the Church”, National Catholic Reporter Cover Story: Seeking Unity, May 5, 2006, pp.6-8.
[9] Franc Cardinal Rode, CM, “Reforming Religious Life with the Right Hermeneutic,” http://whispersintheloggia.blogspot.com/2008/09/rode-at-stonehill.html (Accessed October 10, 2008).
[10] Fr. Brian E. Daley, SJ, “Just the Ideas Please: Philosophy, History and Language About God in Priestly Formation” (Speech Delivered to the ACPA Conference, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA, November 9, 2007).
[2] John Paul II, Catholic Church Pope 1978-2005, “The Relationship Between Faith and Reason,” in Encyclical Letter, Fides Et Ratio, Of the Supreme Pontiff John Paul II: To the Bishops of the Catholic Church on the Relationship Between Faith and Reason, ed. Daughters of Saint Paul (Boston, MA: Pauline Books and Media 1998), ¶100, pp. 123.
[3] John Paul II, “The Relationship”, ¶42, pp. 57.
[4] Fr. Aidan Nichols, OP, “Thomism and the Nouvelle Theologie”, An Essay in “The Thomist 64 (2000)”, p. 1.
[5]Fr. Aidan Nichols, OP, “Thomism and the Nouvelle Theologie”, An Essay in “The Thomist 64 (2000)”, p. 5.
[6] Nichols, OP, “Thomism”, p. 11.
[7] Fr. Timothy Radcliffe, OP, “Overcoming Discord in the Church”, National Catholic Reporter Cover Story: Seeking Unity, May 5, 2006, pp.6-8.
[8] Fr. Timothy Radcliffe, OP, “Overcoming Discord in the Church”, National Catholic Reporter Cover Story: Seeking Unity, May 5, 2006, pp.6-8.
[9] Franc Cardinal Rode, CM, “Reforming Religious Life with the Right Hermeneutic,” http://whispersintheloggia.blogspot.com/2008/09/rode-at-stonehill.html (Accessed October 10, 2008).
[10] Fr. Brian E. Daley, SJ, “Just the Ideas Please: Philosophy, History and Language About God in Priestly Formation” (Speech Delivered to the ACPA Conference, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA, November 9, 2007).
Cardinal Rode, Frank, CM. “Reforming Religious Life with the Right Hermeneutic”. http://whispersintheloggia.blogspot.com. Accessed on October 10, 2008.
Daley, SJ, Fr. Brian E. “Just the Ideas Please: Philosophy, History and Language About God in Priestly Formation”. Speech delivered to the ACPA Conference, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA, November 9, 2007.
Nichols, Fr. Aidan, OP. “Thomism and the Nouvelle Theologie”. An Essay in The Thomist 64.
Paul, John II. “On the Relationship between Faith and Reason”. In Encyclical Letter Fides Et Ratio, Of the Supreme Pontiff John Paul II, To the Bishops of the Catholic Church on the Relationship between Faith and Reason. Boston, MA: Pauline Books and Media, 1998.
Radcliffe, Fr. Timothy, OP. “Overcoming Discord in the Church”. National Catholic reporter Cover Story: Seeking Unity, May 5, 2006.
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