Cardiff, Wales (photo from trekearth.com)
I am back in BC. For the article concerning my Western United States trip, please see here (after you read this short post...I hope).:)
Phoenix and LA LA land
Also, both my blogs have new profile photos with my PhD man viva suit that I wore in Wales. The photos were taken in Arizona.
Comments much appreciated.
Augustine was documented to have been influenced by Platonic philosophy. MacDonald (1989: 485-486). Jordan (1996: 52). Scott MacDonald explains in his article ‘Augustine’s Christian-Platonic Account of Goodness’ that Augustine held views influenced by Platonic thought. MacDonald (1989: 485-486). Platonic philosophy was largely created by Plato (427-347 B.C.). Pojman (1996: 6). Richard Kraut (1996) notes Plato was a preeminent Greek philosopher who conceived the observable world as an imperfect image of the realm of the unobservable and unchanging forms. Kraut (1996: 619-620). Plato, in Timaeus, written in 360 B.C, viewed these forms as divinely moved objects. Plato (360 B.C.)(1982: 35). Mark D. Jordan notes Augustine was primarily affected by Neoplatonism before his conversion to Christianity. Jordan (1996: 52). Augustine (398-399)(1992) states in Confessions he examined Platonist writings that supported his Biblical understanding of the nature of God. Augustine (398-399)(1992). Jordan states the Platonic writings helped Augustine to conceive of a cosmic hierarchy in the universe in which God was immaterial and had sovereign control over his material creation. Jordan (1996: 53).
However, very importantly, Jordan states Augustine saw philosophy alone as being unable to change his life as only God himself could do. Jordan (1996: 53). Augustine’s use of Plato does not in itself invalidate his understanding of Biblical writings where the two may happen to be in agreement. Augustine (398-399)(1992). From my overall research of Augustine and his free will theodicy, he places much emphasis on Biblical theology as primary. Augustine (398-399)(1992). And therefore although it is possible he could read Neoplatonism into his understanding of theodicy, it is also very likely he rejects Neoplatonism where it contradicts his Scriptural findings through in depth study. Augustine (398-399)(1992).
AUGUSTINE (398-399)(1992) Confessions, Translated by Henry Chadwick, Oxford, Oxford University Press.
JORDAN, MARK D. (1996) ‘Augustine’, in Robert Audi (ed.), The Cambridge Dictionary of Philosophy, pp. 52-53. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press.
KRAUT, RICHARD (1996) ‘Plato’, in Robert Audi (ed.), The Cambridge Dictionary of Philosophy, Cambridge, pp. 619-629. Cambridge University Press.
MACDONALD, SCOTT (1989) ‘Augustine’s Christian-Platonist Account of Goodness’, in The New Scholasticism, Volume 63, Number 4, pp. 485-509. Baltimore, The New Scholasticism.
PLATO (360 B.C.)(1982) ‘Timaeus’, in Process Studies, Volume. 12, Number 4, Winter, pp.243-251. Claremont, California, Process Studies.
POJMAN, LOUIS P. (1996) Philosophy: The Quest for Truth, New York, Wadsworth Publishing Company.
Jugisland, BC (photo from trekearth.com)
34 comments:
An interesting observation, Augustine a Christian theologian studied non christian thinkers and their writings. I think this is good way of learning and understanding other points of view. In the end their could be good influences and ideas added to a Christian's thoughts and perceptions.
-Just a Thought-
Do Neoplatonists like Neapolitan ice cream? Just wondering.
I agree, JAT.
Philosophy of Religion has its good points.
Chucky,
Perhaps one will find Neoplates with secret messages on them...
My head!!
Having read City of God, it is clear that Augustine wrote this as a rebuttal to pagan philosophy and religion due to their blaming the sack of Rome on Christians. He spends extensive amounts of writing comparing and contrasting pagan ideas with Christianity, while showing himself to be thoroughly familiar with paganism. In this there are quotes from many sources so that it is difficult to even follow unless you have a good grounding in classical Roman and Greek religion, history, literature and philosophy, along with the Bible.
Do you think it makes sense to reduce all this to "Augustine was influenced by Platonic thought"?
'Having read City of God, it is clear that Augustine wrote this as a rebuttal to pagan philosophy and religion due to their blaming the sack of Rome on Christians. He spends extensive amounts of writing comparing and contrasting pagan ideas with Christianity, while showing himself to be thoroughly familiar with paganism. In this there are quotes from many sources so that it is difficult to even follow unless you have a good grounding in classical Roman and Greek religion, history, literature and philosophy, along with the Bible.
Do you think it makes sense to reduce all this to "Augustine was influenced by Platonic thought"?'
Thanks, Looney.
This is from my PhD work in regard to Augustine and free will theodicy.
Yes, it appears Augustine was influenced by Platonic thought.
Augustine still appears to place great emphasis on understanding the Bible on its own/in context.
I reason his theology and Christian philosophy is more so orthodox/traditional than Platonic.
My favorite Augustine quote on this subject:
"Now, against the sacrilegious and impious darings of reason, we assert both that God knows all things before they come to pass, and that we do by our free will whatsoever we know and feel to be done by us only because we will it." - Augustine, City of God, V.9
Probably would be fun to read your dissertation when you are done.
Cheers.
Books from my PhD Bibliography:
AUGUSTINE (388-395)(1964) On Free Choice of the Will, Translated by Anna S.Benjamin and L.H. Hackstaff, Upper Saddle River, N.J., Prentice Hall.
AUGUSTINE (398-399)(1992) Confessions, Translated by Henry Chadwick, Oxford, Oxford University Press.
AUGUSTINE (400-416)(1987)(2004) On the Trinity, Translated by Reverend Arthur West Haddan, in Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Series One, Volume 3, Denver, The Catholic Encyclopedia.
http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/130104.htm
AUGUSTINE (421)(1998) Enchiridion, Translated by J.F. Shaw, Denver, The Catholic Encyclopedia.
http://www.knight.org/advent
AUGUSTINE (426)(1958) The City of God, Translated by Gerald G. Walsh, Garden City, New York, Image Books.
AUGUSTINE (427)(1997) On Christian Doctrine, Translated by D.W. Robertson Jr., Upper Saddle River, N.J., Prentice Hall.
AUGUSTINE (427b)(1997) On Christian Teaching, Translated by R.P.H. Green, Oxford, Oxford University Press.
In continuation of Chucky's remark about Neoplatonists and Neapolitan ice cream (which made me laugh, even though I usually don't laugh at corny remarks), here is where you can find Augustine Ice Cream.
We could hit it after catching a Jacksonville Jaguars game.
Hey Russ,
As you have stated: Augustine still appears to place great emphasis on understanding the Bible on its own/in context.
I appreciate that about him.
Glad you got back home safe and sound :)
Cheers, Tammy.
Augustine is helpful on several points.
I received this forwarded e-mail. From my studies of Islam, I would have to agree with this:
In light of the murders at Ft. Hood by a Muslim Officer (who had sworn to defend the people, our Constitution and the United States) this article becomes more timely and real than ever.
"Can a good Muslim be a good American?"
I sent that question to a friend who worked in Saudi Arabia for 20 years. The following is his reply:
Theologically - no. Because his allegiance is to Allah, the moon god of Arabia.
Religiously - no. Because no other religion is accepted by his Allah except Islam.
Scripturally - no. Because his allegiance is to the five pillars of Islam and the Quran (Koran).
Geographically - no. Because his allegiance is to Mecca, to which he turns in prayer five times a day.
Socially - no. Because his allegiance to Islam forbids him to make friends with Christians or Jews.
Politically - no. Because he must submit to the mullah (spiritual
leaders), who teach annihilation of Israel and Destruction of America, the 'Great Satan.'
Domestically - no. Because he is instructed to marry four women and beat and scourge his wife when she disobeys him.
Intellectually - no. Because he cannot accept the American Constitution since it is based on Biblical principles and he believes the Bible to be corrupt.
Philosophically - no. Because Islam, Muhammad, and the Quran do not allow freedom of religion and expression. Democracy and Islam cannot coexist. Every Muslim government is either dictatorial or autocratic.
Spiritually - no. Because when we declare "one nation under God," the Christian's God is loving and kind, while Allah is NEVER referred to as heavenly father, nor is he ever called 'love' in the Quran's 99 'excellent names.'
Therefore after much study and deliberation.... perhaps we should be very suspicious of ALL MUSLIMS in this country. They obviously cannot be both "good" Muslims and good Americans.
Call it what you wish.... it’s still the truth.
Cheers, Jeff.
My first loyalty is to God, and then family/friends followed by countries as in Canada and UK.
Thankfully Christianity, Biblically understood, is not requiring me to overthrow any government or political system.
I can be a Christian and Canadian/British without contradiction.
Has the USA built their philosophy on nationalism in the hopes that people of all religions that dwell within the walls of America will put their religions second place to the will and way of the United States?
-Curious Mind-
Thanks,
I think serious people of faith will put religion before state almost every time.
I think serious people of faith will put religion before state almost every time.
See, that's one thing that most people in the West don't understand about Islam. In the West, we talk about a wall of separation between church and state. In Islam, there is no distinction between religion and state, as there is in the West. In Islamic culture (Shari'a law), Islam is the state. Islam is an entire civilization. It's a culture, a legal system, a thought system, and an ethical system. Islam is all-encompassing. The most important fact about Islam is that it is a political ideology. The religion is of secondary importance. Islam is primarily a political doctrine, not a religious doctrine. For instance, the Qur’an is more concerned with the unbeliever---the kafir (infidel)---than it is the believer. It spends 61% of its time discussing the kafir; only 39% of the Qur’an is about Islam and the Muslim. Islam is based upon submission and duality. Submission, because the word 'Islam' means 'submission,' and that all others must submit to Islam. ‘All others having to submit to Islam’ is a political statement. The political aspect of submission is that the kafir must submit to the Muslim and Islam.
Islam is the most successful political system on the face of the earth. For 1400 years, Islam has slowly expanded. In only two cases, in the whole history of Islam, has it ever been driven back. Both of those occurred in Europe---one in Spain, the other in Eastern Europe. Other than those two times, Islam keeps expanding.
Democracy is only 200 years old, whereas political Islam is 1400 years old. And, once it is in place, it always stays in place. Once a nation becomes Islamic, the only thing that can change it is force from the outside, as occurred in Spain, where the Moors were driven out of Spain. Otherwise, there has never been a case of a revolution inside of an Islamic country. By 'revolution' I mean one that eliminated Islam as the driving political force, not a change of rulers.
Since Islam is a complete civilization---since Islam contains everything that it needs within itself---it has no need of the kafir civilization. It annihilates the kafir's civilization. In every case, once Islam rises to political power in a country, the original civilization is annihilated. When you go to Egypt today, you do not see any sign of the original Coptic or Christian civilization that was in Egypt. It’s gone. Everything about it has disappeared. Even the names that people use---the names for cities---all change. Islam is a complete civilization and therefore, when a country becomes fully Islamicized, there is no trace whatsoever of the original civilization, and that is one of the marks of Islamic politics.
My previous comment is in a Western context.
'In Islam, there is no distinction between religion and state, as there is in the West. In Islamic culture (Shari'a law), Islam is the state. Islam is an entire civilization. It's a culture, a legal system, a thought system, and an ethical system. Islam is all-encompassing.'
Yes agreed, but at times there are those within Islam that wish to have a different type of Islamic rule I reason. This would explain civil war.
In the West, without the church/state connect those serious about their religious convictions would generally be loyal to religion over the secular state.
My previous comment is in a Western context.
I suspected that might be the case.
Yes agreed, but at times there are those within Islam that wish to have a different type of Islamic rule I reason.
Most definitely---especially the women, who are often beaten on a daily basis and are subjugated as being equivalent to a pet or animal. But there have been written letters coming out of Islamic countries that have stated the person feels completely trapped. For example, in Shari'a law, no questioning of Islam is allowed, and even questioning it can lead to physical punishment. Mocking Muhammad can lead to death. Leaving Islam (i.e., apostasy) is a capital crime, punishable by death. Nevertheless, I have read where, in certain countries, some Muslim women are driving cars, even though this is forbidden in Islam. Others have rebelled against wearing the burqa (the most concealing of all Islamic veils, which covers the entire face and body, leaving just a mesh screen to see through). My guess is that they are being influenced by the West. Nevertheless, as you have shown in your past articles, Russ, the West is most definitely being slowly overpowered more and more by Islam. Thankfully, however, at the same time, tens of thousands, or possibly millions, of Muslims are coming to Christ every year.
In the West, without the church/state connect those serious about their religious convictions would generally be loyal to religion over the secular state.
Agreed.
Jeff, have you seen this one?
Another problem for Mr. Obama
This guy is crazy...
(warning re: language)
Urban Sprinting
Burger Bowl-off
Big Stranger Rodeo
Thanks, Sir Chucklins.
That second guy takes risks on the street.
Religion always out weighs the voice of state, but sometimes nationalism is the religion for a group of people which can create some interesting history.
-eye spy-
Yes, with religion/state political connections,for example, historically.
Thanks, my friend.
I have shown this on my blogs a couple of times before, but I like to feature it around Winter time.
Lefortovo Tunnel, Russia
Oral Roberts dies at age 91:
Oral Roberts
Your thoughts are elegant..your heart simply wise and lovely....
Aloha, Friend!
Comfort Spiral
Thanks, Cloudia.
Praise God.
Merry Christmas
Wow, what horrible footage of car accidents in the Russian tunnel!!
Human nature is sometimes a mystery,
there are so many accidents caught on video in this particular tunnel, why don't people slow down and drive safer??
-Walter U No Who-
Thanks.
I reason that the government (s) should do something about the leaking river water above the tunnel, if they have not already.
Happy Holidays
wiki
'Lefortovo tunnel (Russian: Лефо́ртовский тоннель) is a road tunnel in the Lefortovo District in Moscow, Russia, opened in 2003. It is a part of the Third Ring Road. At 2.2 km (1.4 miles) long, it is the seventh longest in-city tunnel of Europe (after the Södra länken in Stockholm at 4.7 km, the Dublin Port Tunnel at 4.5 km, the Giovanni XXIII Tunnel in Rome at 2.9 km, North-Western Tunnel in Moscow at 2.8 km, the Leopold II tunnel in Brussels at 2.7 km and the Prado-Carénage Tunnel in Marseille at 2.45 km).
The tunnel runs under the Yauza River, and water leaks in at some points. The temperature can reach as low as −38[citation needed] degrees Celsius (as during the winter of 2005), causing the water on the road's surface to freeze.
It has been nicknamed "The Tunnel of Death" due to its high accident rate and a video circulating around the Internet compiling footage of vehicle accidents recorded by monitoring cameras.'
Iran Funding Universities and Professors in U.S.
This is part of jihad through money: buying endowed chairs in universities, for example, to help spread a positive message of Islam to Westerners. As well, in certain schools in America, Canada and England, they teach children to wage war for Islam. Usually, however, it is Saudi Arabia that donates money to American universities.
'The report says that the Alavi Foundation donated $100,000 to Columbia University after the school agreed to host Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as a speaker in 2007.'
Interesting. Cheers.
Islamic mosque built at 9/11 Ground Zero
Thanks, Jeff.
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