"Sophia" Discourse from Antiquity to Christianity

Author(s): Yevhen Kharkovshchenko / Language(s): English Issue: 56/2019

Sophia doctrine was evolved in European philosophical and religious creativity and was developed in the pre-Christian period (Socrates, Parmenides, Plato), was represented in Gnosticism (Valentinus) and Neoplatonism (Plotinus), in the writings of prominent theorists of Christianity – the Fathers of the Church (Athanasius the Great, Gregory of Nyssa, Macarius the Great, Gregory the Theologian), the ancient teachers of Christianity (Hilarion, Klim Smoliatich). The doctrine of Sophia, The Wisdom of God is shown in the Proverbs of Solomon Biblical Book, and also in the non-canonical books of the Old Testamentum – Solomon’s Wisdom and the Jesus’ the son of Syrah Wisdom. The Sophia doctrine as mysterious wisdom is described in Kabbalah. It was also reflected in the temple architecture and iconography of the Orthodox East, in the wider use of it at the spiritual and moral level. This doctrine has got a systematic form represented by the doctrine of sophiology in medieval mysticism (M. Eckhart, J. Böhme, E. Swedenborg), and “philosophy of unitotality” (V. Solovyov, S. Bulgakov, P. Florensky). These periods of the Sophia doctrine’s development are inherent in such ideas as a natural philosophy’s theme of understanding the world as the integration, anthropological doctrine of the relationship between nature and the absolute, the existence of God in its close association with the world.

"Wiara i poszukiwanie Boga". Lumen fidei w perspektywie teologii religii

Author(s): Bogdan Ferdek / Language(s): Polish Issue: 1/2014

Lumen Fidei (The Light of Faith) is intended as the guiding magisterial document for the Year of Faith. Faith is the gateway to salvation. To reach eternal , it is necessary to have been baptized sacramentally and to die sincerely professing the Catholic faith.

(Christian) Bioethical Dilemmas in Using Synthetic Biology and Nanotechnologies

Author(s): Antonio Sandu,Ana Caras (Frunză) / Language(s): English Issue: 35/2013

Ethical dilemmas raised by the use of nanotechnology in medical practice can be viewed from several perspectives: religious spiritualist perspective, the perspective of human dignity (nanotechnologies can be thought of as an affront to human dignity), the issue of controversial choice. The article aims to expose some bioethical dilemmas in using synthetic biology and nanotechnologies. Nowadays is often brought into discussion the fact it is possible to appear in the future new human species resulted not via natural selection and evolution, but through the demiurgic effect of technology development in areas such as: synthetic biology, genetics, neurobiology and neurosciences, prosthesis technology and not least of artificial intelligence research. We will also refer into this paper at the possible raised challenges to ethicists who are oriented towards an ethics of species. Those challenges are raised right from the dawn of a consciousness of species, a social construction generated by changes of the meaning of belonging to humanity. During our article we argue that medical technology, especially genetics, medical assisted human reproduction and not least synthetic biology, require a rethinking ethical meanings of applying those technologies in everyday practices.

(rec.) Richard Swinburne, Czy Jezus był Bogiem?, tłum. Małgorzata Wiertlewska, Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Kazimierza Wielkiego, Bydgoszcz 2014

Author(s): Jacek Grzybowski / Language(s): Polish Issue: 4/2018

(rec.) Teresa Obolevitch, Filozofia rosyjskiego renesansu patrystycznego, Copernicus Center, Kraków 2014

Author(s): Justyna Kroczak / Language(s): Polish Issue: 1/2015

1949-1982 Yılları Arasında Din Psikolojisi Alanında Yazılan Eserlerin Doküman Analizi Nitel Bir Değerlendirme

Author(s): Beyazıt Yaşar Seyhan / Language(s): Turkish Issue: 13/2021

It has been tried to do document analysis together with content analysis about some terms in the works written between 1949 and 1982, which is assumed to be the first period of the psychology of religion. The terms researched are “şuur (consciousness)” and its derivatives in Ottoman, and “consciousness”, “subconscious”, “unconscious” terms which is the modern usage of the term “şuur” and “adolescent, puberty” terms of Western origin which correspond to the meanings of “ergen ve argenlik”. The frequency of the use of these terms in the books was determined and it was examined whether there was a change in time, and the scientific language in using the terms of the psychology of religion was tried to be understood in line with the qualitative method. As a result, the psychology of religion changes some of these terms over time, while others still use them. By examining whether the purposes and bibliographies of the early psychology books were similar or different, it was understood that these terms used in the books of the early psychology of religion kept pace with the language and psychology science language of that period and their changes over time. In addition, it is understood that the works written by theology-based religious psychologists do not only serve the science of psychology of religion, but also they have an individual, educational, political and social goals.

A Bigger God and the Pre-Creation Situation: Some Remarks Inspired by William Hasker

Author(s): Jacek Wojtysiak / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2022

In the present essay, while entering into discussion with William Hasker, I addressed two divine dilemmas in “the pre-creation situation.” My considerations focused on the reasons for creating a world—the love (grace) reason and the manifestation reason—which in some way prevailed over the reasons against creating a world (the no need reason and the imperfection reason) and whose concurrence prompted the image of an (rather relatively) optimal creatable world. It turns out that the latter resembles both our world and the world suggested by Hasker’s theism. In that world, God has brought to existence both what is unworthy (thus showing his grace in a special way) and what displays high degrees of excellence (thus manifesting his glory). On this view, the eschatological conclusion of the world would be the full actualization of divine grace and of the manifestation of God. In the final part of the essay, I attempted to show that my view does not entail the rejection of the idea of divine impassibility.

A cognitive analysis of the invented religions: the Flying Spaghetti Monster case

Author(s): Cosmin-Florentin Spaschi / Language(s): English Issue: 60/2021

In this paper, I am going to realize an analysis of the Flying Spaghetti Monster religion from a cognitive perspective. This invented religion, which began as a protest action in Kansas in 2005, has gained numerous followers worldwide. The first part of the article illustrates an analysis of the study discipline entitled the cognitive science of religion. In the second part, my study takes into account Justin Barrett’s taxonomy of religions, which depicts five necessary characteristics that a god needs to possess to become memorable: must be minimally counterintuitive (1), and an intentional agent (2); also must possess strategic information (3), act in detectable manners (4) and motivate practices that reinforce belief (5). In the third part, I prove that the deity of FSM religion possess these five attributes. Thus, my thesis is that this parodic religion has, from the point of view of the cognitive science of religion, a similar formal structure as the great historical religions of humanity. For the academic study of religion, this topic raises several interrogations regarding the general functions of these symbolic systems. Consequently, this paper establishes that the way we understand our society is related to the answers that we offer to these concerns.

A Comparative Study of "Godmanhood" (bogochelovechestvo) in Russian Philosophy. The Eighth Day in V. Solovëv, S. Bulgakov, N. Berdiaev, and S. Frank

Author(s): Katharina A. Breckner / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2013

A Comparative Study of the Foundations of Medical Ethics in Secular and Islamic Thought

Author(s): Mohsen Rezaei Aderyani,Mehrzad Kiani / Language(s): English Issue: 40/2015

The principles of medical ethics, common as they are in the world at the present time, have been formed in the context of Western secular communities; consequently, secular principles and values are inevitably manifested in all corners of medical ethics. Medical ethics is at its infancy in Iran. In order to incorporate medical ethics into the country’s health system, either the same thoughts, principles, rules, and codes of Western communities should be translated and taught across the country, or else, if the principles and values and consequently the prominent moral rules and codes of Western medical ethics are not consistent with the culture, customs, and religion of our country, then new principles and values should be formulated that are more in harmony with our society. According to the available literature in Iran, the four principles proposed by Beauchamp and Childress do not contradict the Islamic-Iranian culture and can thus be generally applied in the mentioned context. However, the application of these four principles and their derivatives (e.g. regulations and codes) requires careful examination and adaptation to Islamic ethics. A comparison of the ontological, anthropological and epistemological foundations of secular and Islamic attitudes shows the differences between these two attitudes to be deep-rooted. “Rationalism,” “scientism,” and “humanism” are the main foundations of secularism, whereas “Godcentrism,” “pure human servitude to God,” the belief in “returning of humans to God,” “resurrection day,” and also human’s accountability to God are all fundamental beliefs and principles of religion for Muslims of all cults and sects. It can thus be concluded that the principles of secularist thought are different from and to some extent inconsistent with the principles of Islam. Instructions derived from secular thought can therefore not be implemented in an Islamic community; rather, these communities should adopt Islamic foundations as the source for the norms and standards of their medical ethics. The capacities of religious thought (in particular, Islam) make possible the formation of an ethical system consistent with Islamic Ummah.

A Contextual and Philosophical Analysis of Aquinas’ Fourth Way

Author(s): Matthew W. Knotts / Language(s): English Issue: 59/2014

The task of this essay is a reconsideration and rehabilitation of the fourth way of Aquinas’ Summa Theologiae. The argument ex gradibus is first presented with attention to the philosophical-theological context of the five ways, in addition to matters of historical context. It will become clear that the arguments are enthymematic and should thus be read charitably in connection with other aspects of Aquinas’ philosophy (cf. Copleston 1976; Fogelin 1990; Kerr 2001). Moreover, in contrast to the prevailing sentiment that the fourth way should be read primarily in a Platonic light (cf., e.g., Van Steenberghen 1980), I argue that the fourth way should rather be read in connection with other crucial aspects of Aquinas’ metaphysics of being (cf. Urban 1984). Finally, I reconsider some of the fundamental aspects of the argument, e.g., the ‘principle of the maximum’ (cf. Flew 1966, Kenny 1969, Van Steenberghen 1980, Doolan 2008). The upshot is a clearer understanding of what Aquinas actually means in the fourth way, which in turn enables a more informed evaluation of the argument itself.

A Critical Evaluation of the Dominant Conception of God and Western Religion

Author(s): Dylan Lawrence Gibson / Language(s): English Issue: 60/2021

The content of this article draws its influence from the cultural context within which the debate around the secularity of religion - Secularisation versus Secularism - found its grounds in 1960s Europe after Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s prison writings. The concepts of Secularisation and Secularism serve as the focal point of this paper and will be subsequently analysed and critically evaluated in terms of their ‘usefulness’ for modern society. Commentary on the manner in which the ‘dominant’ conception of God is traditionally understood in Western culture and the way in which this dominant view is believed to have constantly shifted as guided by logic and rationality/reason will also be provided. Drawing influence from the field of the Philosophy of Religion, this article will attempt to discuss, expand on and reveal why the Secularisation of religion – not necessarily in opposition to Rodney Stark’s anti-Secularisation views – appears to be an inevitable and consistent product of human development, specifically in modern times. This acknowledgement of the dismissal of Secularism becomes especially important when one realises that scientific and religious questions can – and should – be meaningfully separated.

A MAN IS FREE AS HE IS THE IMAGE OF GODLY FREEDOM. FYODOR DOSTOEVSKY’S FURTHER CONSIDERATIONS ABOUT FREEDOM

Author(s): Iwona Magdalena Perkowska / Language(s): English Issue: 21/2013

The article presents Fyodor Dostoevsky’s considerations of freedom based on both The Brothers Karamazov and The Idiot. The writer shows, that dealing with own freedom is one of the greatest tasks in human life and man's future fate depends wholly on how he copes with this task. Freedom is a fundamental concept in a philosophical anthropology of the Russian novelist. According to his grasp of the problem of evil this is a man, who appears the source of all misery, which he brings upon himself, among which not atheism but false understanding of God is the greatest one.

A Neo-Lockean Theory of the Trinity and Incarnation

Author(s): Joseph Jedwab / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2022

I present two problems: the logical problem of the Trinity and the metaphysical problem of Incarnation. I propose a solution to both problems: a Neo-Lockean theory of the Trinity and Incarnation, which applies a Neo-Lockean theory of personal identity to the doctrines of the Trinity and Incarnation.

A New Supplement to Spiritual Leadership from Spiritual Intelligence Conceptions and Etymologic Research

Author(s): Michael Hagemann / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2022

In recent years, both the topic of "Spiritual Leadership" and "Spiritual Intelligence" have been described many times independently of each other. Furthermore, in none of the various studies is the original meaning of "spiritual" referenced, nor are the definitions of “Spiritual Intelligence" integrated into the concept of "Spiritual Leadership”. This study, therefore, pursues a twofold objective: First, commonalities between different concepts of "Spiritual Intelligence" are used to formulate a new construct with four main principles. Then, the origin and original understanding of "spiritual" will be researched and discussed. Both are applied to the concept of "Spiritual Leadership” and supplement its structural framework.

A Note on Theological Fatalism

Author(s): Alex Blum / Language(s): English Issue: 2/2007

We contend that a very seductive argument for theological fatalism fails. In the course of our discussion we point out that theological fatalism is incompatible with the existence of a being who is omnipotent, omniscient and infallible. We suggest that ‘possible’ formalized as ‘‘ is to be understood as ‘can or could have been’ and not simply as ‘can’. The argument we discuss conflates the two. We end by rounding out, hopefully, some left over corners of serious concern to the theist.

A posztmodern: átok vagy áldás? (1)

Author(s): Attila Daly / Language(s): Hungarian Issue: 05/2016

A propos de la décision chez A. Badiou ou peut-on être atheiste

Author(s): Jelica Riha / Language(s): French,Macedonian Issue: 1/2006

Je ne me propose pas d’éclairer la pensée d’A. Badiou. Le sujet est trop vaste pour être abordé de manière exhaustive. Il est nécessaire donc de trouver une approche, un angle d’attaque, si je puis dire, plus restreint. Le propos qui suit vise un point et un seul: le point où se dessine la ligne de partage entre la philosophie et l’antiphilosophie: la décision.

A Short Note on the Scientific Attitude, the Religious Attitude and the Surrational

Author(s): Bruno Marchal / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2016

We explain that the scientific attitude, with a “good understanding” of what is science, might be the most genuinely religious attitude, and that in fact, religion and science are much closer than what we are usually told. Nevertheless they cannot be identified effectively in any terrestrial applications without leading to inconsistency, but are truly, and thus non effectively, identical in the ever guessed true realm.

A Social Psychology of Religion with a Phenomenological Case Study

Author(s): Krynauw du Toit,Stephen David Edwards / Language(s): English Issue: 2/2022

This article defines religion in terms of some of its major characteristics. Special attention is paid to how religion is attuned to the structure of a prevailing social order. Religion renders valuable functions within the psyche of individuals and renders justification to the integrity of a community. A brief qualitative investigation utilizing interviews challenges Freud’s viewpoint about religion being a neurosis. It also illustrates that religion can be studied phenomenologically without having to bracket the concept, of God. Finally, people can live comfortably with paradoxes in their interpretations of reality. The awareness of personal limitations and the need for a sacred, embodied, immanent and transcendental world ensures the future of religion.