An introductory chapter loads the scales in favour of an idealist approach in quasi-Quinean
sense, in that being is called in question, as it is throughout the book. After a chapter revising
the best expositions of faith as a possibly rational attitude the Christian discovery or intuition
of intra-divine events or processes, held compatible with divine infinity and immutability, is
treated under the rubric of a Trinitarian philosophy. This leads to analysis of notions of being
(identity in difference) and, above all, of creation, viewing this as freed from the historic
dualism which has contradicted the necessary infinity of the first principle. Creation is not
thereby denied but seen as truly a constituent of the divine life. The picture is thus monistic,
which is to say scientific as presenting a holistic system or way of seeing things absolutely or
beyond appearance merely.
The consequences for human metaphysical and moral nature are rigorously drawn, freed from
all anthropomorphisms so as better to illuminate the insights of religion and philosophy. The
relevance for contemporary movements from palaeontology to Church ecumenism is brought
out, while a concluding epilogue attempts to shed light on the vexed debate on Europe in
relation to the Christian inheritance. Other concluding chapters treat of both sacramental
religion and of dialectic as the method of reason, whether in theology or in the world. For the
world without the reason is not an object of thought, any more than you can wash the fur
without wetting it, in G. Frege’s words.
[...]
Table of Contents
PART ONE
Preface
Introduction: How Real Are We?
1. Faith as Thinking with Assent
2. Trinitarian Philosophy
3. The Identity of All Being(s)
4. Creation, Exemplarism and Divine Ideas
5. Creation stricto sensu
6. Metaphysics and Creation
7. Infinity and Created Being
8. Rethinking God
9. From Soul to Self
10. Transcendent Immanence, Immanent Transcendence
11. Precepts and Inclinations
12. Beyond Natural Law
13. How to Deconstruct Human Rights
14. Dialectical Reason
15. Grace and Ecumenism
16. Religion and Freedom
Epilogue: A Cultural Basis for the European Union?
PART TWO
1. Christian Traditions and Living Philosophy
2. Reintegration
3. Beyond the Sin-Paradigm
4. The Self-Explanatory?
5. The One and the Many
6. Absolute and Trinity: Logic at the Crossroads
7. From Shadows to Reality
8. Divine Simplicity - not so Simple?
9. Reconciliation
10. Where we may be at
11. Beyond Theism and atheism
12. Ideas or Spirits? Ideas as Spirits
13. Circularity, Series
14. On Fossils
15. Essence, Esse, Simplicity
16. Signum formale
17. Necessary Creation?
18. Beyond Infinity
19. Angelism
20. Becoming
21. Aboriginal Perennial
22. Infinite Incarnation
23. Eros
24. How it Might Be
25. Christianity without (or within) God?
Objectives and Topics
The work aims to perform an ultimate reintegration of monotheism—specifically the development of Judaism into Christianity—by interpreting it through a modern, scientific, and absolute lens. It explores the transition from traditional religious narratives to a more philosophically rigorous understanding of being, creation, and the divine, challenging historical dualisms and anthropomorphisms.
- The relationship between faith, reason, and rational assent.
- A re-evaluation of Trinitarian philosophy and the nature of divine infinity.
- The deconstruction of traditional concepts such as natural law and human rights.
- The philosophical implications of evolution on the understanding of the soul and human nature.
- The necessity of overcoming the conflict between transcendence and immanence to achieve reconciliation.
Excerpt from the Book
Preface
Monotheism might be regarded as the absolutisation of the absolute point of view with which both modern philosophy and modern science have striven to identify themselves, to the point of eschewing merely natural certainties. Thus it has in a sense preceded these two phenomena as condition for their birth, a condition they not unnaturally seek ceaselessly to improve upon, in an at least partial rejection. This is captured by the notion of differentiation and reintegration as one operation, arguably the essence of the ancient three-termed syllogism.
This book therefore attempts the ultimate reintegration of recasting the spontaneous religious movement of monotheism, of Judaism developing into Christianity, arguably a form of atheism, in scientific or absolute mode. Islam, where touched upon, is treated under its aspect, incidental it may be but undeniable historically, of one of the many variants upon Christianity. It does not ignore the previous attempt by Hegel to do precisely the same but rather builds consciously upon it. An experience of neo-Thomism virtually unknown to Hegel is also brought to bear, leading to the conclusion that it is Hegel rather than the neo-scholastics or Jesuits or even Kant who develops the Thomist Augustinian Aristotelian developments. If it was Kant who differentiated here then Hegel reintegrated, while we here have performed a further reintegration, centring ultimately upon Parmenides. The final position though, as stressing human command over the material presented to thought, freedom over being, is distinctively post-modern.
Summary of Chapters
Preface: The author introduces the central thesis, proposing a reintegration of monotheistic religious movements into a scientific and absolute philosophical framework, building upon Hegelian and Thomistic foundations.
Introduction: How Real Are We?: An inquiry into the nature of temporal reality compared to the timeless truth of ideas, questioning the special authority claimed by religious traditions.
Faith as Thinking with Assent: An exploration of the relationship between faith and reason, arguing that Christian belief invites rational evaluation and is not merely an act of blind submission.
Trinitarian Philosophy: A philosophical analysis of the Trinity, treating divine relations as compatible with divine infinity and immutability, moving away from solitary conceptions of God.
Key Keywords
Monotheism, Absolute Idealism, Trinitarian Philosophy, Creation, Hegel, Thomas Aquinas, Faith and Reason, Metaphysics, Resurrection, Incarnation, Dialectical Reason, Being, Essence, Finitude, Infinitude.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fundamental purpose of this work?
The book seeks to reconcile religious traditions—specifically monotheism—with modern philosophy and science, aiming to show that religious claims can be understood as expressions of absolute reason.
What are the primary thematic areas covered?
The work focuses on the nature of being, the coherence of the Trinity, the philosophical meaning of creation, the critique of human rights and natural law, and the interpretation of historical religious developments.
What is the author's primary research objective?
The objective is to reframe religious dogmas, such as the Trinity and Incarnation, as essential, rationally necessary moments within a broader, absolute dialectical process, moving beyond outdated dualisms.
Which scientific/philosophical methods are utilized?
The author employs a dialectical method, heavily influenced by Hegel and neo-Thomism, to analyze religious claims and interpret the "unfolding" of history as the manifestation of absolute spirit.
How is the "main body" of the work structured?
The main part of the book progresses from fundamental considerations of faith and Trinitarian philosophy into complex metaphysical discussions regarding the nature of creation, human identity, and the eventual transcendence of law in favor of love.
How would you characterize the work's primary keywords?
The work is anchored in theological, metaphysical, and philosophical terminology, focusing on the concepts of existence, the absolute, the relationship between the finite and the infinite, and the role of consciousness.
How does the author view the "resurrection" of Jesus?
The author views the resurrection not just as a historical or miraculous event, but as a symbolic and dialectical necessity that underscores the transcendence of death and the realization of human universality.
What is the author's stance on the traditional "sin-paradigm"?
The author considers the traditional "sin-paradigm" as historically conditioned and essentially a legalistic metaphor that can be superseded by a more profound, dialectical understanding of human nature and divine reconciliation.
- Quote paper
- Dr. Stephen Theron (Author), 2007, Unboundedly Rational Religion, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/86503
