Christian epistemology and other Theological epistemologies. Critical discussions..


I started writing this a few years ago and then I put it on the backburner.  Now however I want to start sharing theological thoughts that interest me.  Originally the title was  


'Christian epistemology and Islamic epistemology. critical discussion.'

 Hold on a minute... The Gospel is supposed to be public knowledge that is open to all, no matter what religious background they have.  Over recent years I have got interested in the writings of Rabbi Sacks... He has an amazing intellect and I think we can all learn a thing or two from him. After all the Old Testament, Tevrat, Zebur,  The Torah . התורה
We share this... or shall I say we all agree that these are Holy Scripture given to us from God.  God is far bigger than we are yet He takes an interest in our puny lives or are they puny?

Dogmatic theology of religions is concerned with a dialogue that takes place with Christianity and Islam in a pluralist world. The usual starting point for the pluralist is the position of doubt. This paper is concerned with the reverse; Faith seeking understanding. It is assenting to the fact that although the West may have a strong tradition of 'neutrality' (no position as such exists!), there is also a strong position of 'faith' (a belief that there is a greater force controlling/guiding our destinies). Although the Marxist position calls this in our world 'a crutch', religion has the opposite view. That without the all merciful and all compassionate God we are on crutches!
But whether we are Christians, Muslims, Atheists, Marxists or whatever ‘ists’ we are; we share the same the world, breathe the same air and we are neighbours in this global village. Using scientific principles, we try to delve into the cosmos. On another level we say this is right and that is wrong. Even on another aesthetic level we call one object beautiful and another object ugly. Using this common ground that is open to all cultures we desire to learn more. This paper seeks to interrogate two of the world’s great religions into answer that all human persons ask: What is the reason for my being? In due course this question will be answered but before we start on our quest something needs to be said about the method that we are going to use. As you are aware the decision has been made to call this a 'Dogmatic Theology of Religions' rather than calling it a 'Systematic Theology of Religions'. The answer to this question at the moment is easy;
Where this questioning is going to lead 'I don't know!' When a scientist is interrogating his object he never knows when the breakthrough will come but eventually it comes! So in that sense this is the same situation.

Comments

Post a Comment

Yes

Popular posts from this blog

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1:1-5

Image
Last time we began to look at the opening of Genesis chapter 1. We learned that the elements which I believe came from nothing (ex nihilo), were the building blocks for the Lords big project of creation. These building blocks of matter are mentioned in many myths and legends from Egypt to Babylon. However, the Genesis account is a complete contrast to all of these other myths. Moses wrote in such a way that his account is completely different. A lot of scholars following Julius Wellhausen put the ideas from the Babylonia and near vicinities.  commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:2006-01-14_Surface_waves.jpg  (I like the above picture as a representation for chaos.  Although in the primeval period there was no light though. :)) I completely disagree. Israel ended up in a captivity twice. Once as a family and then as a nation; Egypt and Babylon. Genesis was written in the first phase and looks back to when Abraham was even in Egypt. At this early juncture according to the text...
Read more

The Holy Spirit works in all th saints,sharing diverse gifts with independent spontaneity and choice.

  9/10/2020 4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. 6 There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. 7 But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 8 For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills. 1 Corinthians 12:4-11
Read more

Herman Bavinck on the object of law: in relation to law of thoughts, civil law and natural law

Image
  04 08 2021 The Object of the Law (Reformed Ethics; Herman Bavinck; edited by John Bolt; pgs 224-226) I made these coasters last year by hand   As a generalized starting point, we begin by looking at our disposition in light of the law.   This is his general introduction to this section. The law then can only measure the outward disposition of the mind.   It cannot pass judgement on the inward disposition of the mind (Schleiermacher pg 224).   To a certain extent Bavinck agrees with this but not completely: “However, the law also regulates the essence, the nature of a human person.     Notwithstanding, there is some truth in Schleiermacher’s statement.”   The law for Bavinck is directed towards the human ‘will’ which is the ‘seat of morality’.    To a certain extent then it regulates ‘our essence and nature’ which comes from the actions we do.   For these reasons then the law does not care about what we look like or how tall...
Read more