Transcendent and Immanent in the Orthodox Theology

Author(s): Gheorghe Istodor / Language(s): English Issue: 2/2016

Transcendent and immanent are not valued in Orthodox Theology as simple concepts and they give sense to existence and salvation only in a personalist register. Their existence, both in the plan of eternity, as well as temporary, it is professed by the Church, and in the manner of which they relate and co-exist is the determining factor for understanding and preaching the truth of the hypostatic union in Jesus Christ, real God and real Man. The absolutization of the transcendence and immanence by philosophy or ideology is not accepted by Theology for the harmful consequences with regard to God, man and creation; also, the absolutization of these two lead to the elimination of Christ’s deity, reduced to a historical condition, marked either by the genius, or by the powerlessness and instinctually. From missionary perspective, distortion of the relationship between transcendence and immanence leads to the intensification of the process of secularization, but also to anti-Christian phenomena such as desacralization, indifference and unchristianizing.

Bierdiajewowska filozofia człowieka jako filozofia dialogu

Author(s): Piotr Domeracki / Language(s): Polish Issue: 15/2015

The author proposes an interpretation of Berdyaev’s philosophy as a philosophy of human being. He considers humanum as a model example of the philosophy of dialogue due to its importance. The author represents the view that the philosophy of dialogue by Nicholas Berdyaev is in many points consistent with the dialogism (heterology) by Emmanuel Levinas. He offers to recognize and study, as well as to popularize the Berdyaev’s philosophy as a representative of the European philosophy of dialogue, which contributes to it, but certainly brings also the disputable novetly. Автор предлагает интерпретацию философии Бердяева как философии человека. Важная роль в ней humanum позволяет ему предложить ее моделью философии диалога. Автор считает, что философия диалога Николая Бердяева во многих вопросах совпадает с диа-логизмом философии (гетерологии) Эммануэля Левинаса. Автор предлагает признать и изу-чать, а также популяризировать философию Бердяева как представителя европейской фило-софии диалога, который вносит в нее существенное, хотя и несомненно спорное novum.

Personalism in the Lublin School of Philosophy (Card. Karol Wojtyła, Fr. Mieczysław A. Krąpiec)

Author(s): Tomasz Duma / Language(s): English Issue: 2/2016

The article presents the conception of personalism and the understanding of human person developed by two Polish philosophers: Karol Wojtyła and Mieczysław A. Krąpiec, the framers and the main representatives of the Lublin School of Philosophy. The author comes to the following conclusions: (1) Wojtyła’s and Krąpiec’s conception of personalism comes from experience and seeks verification in experience; it does not accept any a priori explanations or theses, though it does not shy away from drawing upon different branches of knowledge in its attempts to broaden experience, being aware that not everything is given to immediate experiential perception; (2) Wojtyła’s and Krąpiec’s personalism wants to draw on the whole philosophical tradition, taking into account, at the same time, the findings of different sciences of man or humanities which broaden the experience of man or contribute something to the interpretation of experience; (3) bringing together genetic empiricism and methodical rationalism, Wojtyła and Krąpiec are able to avoid radicalism in the explanation of man, making a successful attempt to join in a complementary way these aspects of personal human being which carry some opposition; (4) Wojtyła’s and Krąpiec’s conception of person does not bear any traces of antagonism since it is not directed against anyone; in the light of this conception every human person has a character of the honest good which is the unconditional good, that is the highest and the ultimate good not competing with the value of anything else; (5) Wojtyła and Krąpiec prove that the conception of human person lies at the basis of understanding society, culture, ethics, law, politics, economy, art, and even religion.

RASPRAVA O SPREGNUTOSTI UMA S ČOVJEKOM

Author(s): Avempace Ibn Bagga / Language(s): Bosnian Issue: 2/2015

Ethos w filozofii helleńskiej

Author(s): Marian Wesoły / Language(s): Polish Issue: 2/2016

The article comprises fi ve thematic parts: (1) a peculiar confl uence (ēthos through ěthos); (2) a new research perspective (ancient philosophy as a way of life); (3) a concise insight in ancient philosophy; (4) the philosophical way of life; (5) the analogy of medicine. In ancient Greece culture the concept of ‘ethos’ not only provided the basis of the name ‘ethics,’ but was also a research object in rhetoric, poetry, and music. In general, the ethoses in ancient Greek philosophy concerned character types manifested in various human actions and attitudes. Following the new research perspective proposed in the paper, the so-called philosophical way of life is considered as most characteristic of ancient Greeks and Romans. The paper aims at a description of the significant differences in the Hellenic as well as Greek Roman approach to the philosophical way of life and it refers to selected source texts. The author refutes the belief that reflection, disquisition, and argumentation were not signifi cant component parts of the way of life advanced in the Pre-Socratic and classical Greek philosophy, focused on knowledge and truth. The thesis, widely accepted today, which holds that ancient philosophy was actually a spiritual exercise preparing the subject for wisdom is true about the Greek Roman period, or Late Antiquity.

CHARLES DARWIN AND LADY HOPE — THE LEGEND STILL ALIVE

Author(s): Grzegorz Malec / Language(s): English Issue: 29/2015

The theme of the present paper is the story of Darwin’s conversion as spread by Elizabeth Hope. Her article was published in August 1915. She wrote under the pseudonym “Lady Hope”, and her paper was titled “Darwin and Christianity”. Elizabeth Hope claimed that she visited Charles Darwin in autumn 1881, a couple of months before his death. Darwin during her visit was supposedly bedfast and reading Hebrews. During their conversation Darwin allegedly asked her to speak about Jesus Christ and sing some hymns in his summer house. I claim that (1) strong arguments exist that Lady Hope’s story is only the fruit of her imagination, and (2) all her adherents can only have hope that Darwin, renouncing his theory, returned to Christianity. Finally, I show some unpublished opinions of modern scholars which indicate that Darwin’s conversion never took place, and he never rejected his theory of evolution by natural selection.

Psalmy jutrzni i nieszporów w liturgii godzin – dobór, układ i znaczenie teologiczne

Author(s): Tomasz Bać / Language(s): Polish Issue: 2/2012

The selection of psalms for the Morning and Evening prayer of the Roman Liturgy of the Hours has been profoundly reconsidered on the basis of their clear literary, anthropological and theological criteria. Although both the Morning and the Evening prayers are based on the fundamental cosmic-anthropological symbolism: light and darkness, day and night, their genuine meaning is of theological and paschal nature. The psalms of the Morning prayer express the joy of Church on the threshold of a new day and the veneration of God for his creation of the world and salvation of people.

La Trinidad. El Dios experimentado y vivido por Santa Teresa de Jesús

Author(s): Rómulo Cuartas Londoño / Language(s): Spanish Issue: 2/2015

The God with whom Saint Teresa experiments, lives and communicates in her writings is the Trinitarian God, who is present in her life and acts in her from the beginning to the fullness of plenitude. This indicates that the Saint lived a special relation with each one of the Persons of the Holy Trinity, and with the Holy Trinity as a complete unit. The study highlights the life of the Saint from a theological- biographical, her doxological existence, and the ordinary experience of feeling herself to be inhabited by the Trinity. Special emphasis is put on the reality of this Trinitarian inhabitation in the ordinary life of the believer, as the testimony of Saint Teresa illuminates it.

L’esperienza della compassione di Dio Uno e Trino di Francesco d’Assisi

Author(s): Krzysztof Juzba / Language(s): Italian Issue: 1/2013

In this paper I focused on the St. Francis understanding of God`s compassion and mercifulness. Poverello`s idea of the purity and delicacy of God resulted in the description of God`s face as paternal and maternal at the same time. In such a way one and the same God, as portrayed by little poor man of Assisi, approaches each men and every creatures and loves them and compassionates for each His creatures. Trinitarian Compassion according St. Francis means God`s love which creates everything. From the other side all the creatures show God`s love. This love forms the basis of the compassion for man. St. Francis labels such comprehended One God in Three Person: Goodness and Source of all Goodness and Love. Motivated by such an experience of God`s love St. Francis gave away all his belongings to the fellow – creators. St Francis himself contemplated and experienced Divine Mysteries what he described afterwards. He asserted that if somebody loves actually, he is able to give himself to others like Jesus did. True love is the fruit of the act of giving. Francis` mystical experience of God in Three Person lead him to his own inter- trinitarian love. It is impossible to understand the phenomenon of St. Francis compassion to each man and every God’s creations without this Trinitarian dimension.

Konfrontacja ascetyki Hieronima ze Strydonu i Pelagiusza z Brytanii na podstawie wybranych dzieł

Author(s): Anita Mularczyk-Budzan / Language(s): Polish Issue: 2/2013

Jerome’s meeting with Pelagius could be chance for them, but unfortunately – missed this chance. Saint Jerome shaped by idea of the West theology, but deeply fascinated by East. While Pelagius – too far in his vision of human nature optimistic had strayed into. He became disillusioned with this many people together and instead of typing the current orthodoxy, always will be associated with the heterodoxy. A way of looking at the world and the life environment have an impact on the asceticism Jerome and Pelagius. Jerome’s asceticism was based on the allegorical reading and meditation of the Holy Scriptures, while Pelagius represented the moralistic approach to Bible and Christian life. Jerome postulated the way of Christian pilgrimage to God, where faithful tackling weaknesses by the grace of God and ascetic practice. The good Christian by Jerome should imitate Christ, by honest work, prayer and ascetic practice, consequently – the choice of monastic life. Pelagius the purpose of life – proclaim the glory of God, understood as performing good deeds and practical morality. He wasn’t a Christian understanding of prayer, in exchange for that – he put great emphasis on the obligation to give away all the goods, as a fundamental human ethical excellence. Pelagius postulated already in earthly the community a believer with God, but conditioned by moral perfection.

The Relation of Religion and Reason in the Transcendent Wisdom - A Look at the Necessity of Philosophical Investigation in the View of Mulla Sadra

Author(s): Husain Agha Shiraz / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2014

The relation of reason and religion is a very important topic indeed. It has always preoccupied the minds of thinkers from times immemorial. Not only have human beings delved into this subject, but God Himself has spoken at great length in religious texts concerning this issue. This topic can be examined from a number of different points of view. What concerns us specifically is the necessity of pure rational/philosophical investigation in the eternal/religious felicity of man. What is more, we will be more specifically concerned with the view of one school of thought, rather, the view of the founder of that school of thought, in this regard. Philosophical investigation has always met with mixed reactions amongst Muslim thinkers. A very novel view regarding the necessity of philosophical investigation is that of the famous sage, Mulla Sadra. He was of the opinion that, not only is philosophical endeavor a necessity to understand religion and that it is by means of reason (as well as mystical intuition) that human beings can prove the tenants of religion, but what is more, the eternal and religious felicity of human beings depends solely on the degree of acquaintance with philosophy. This paper will examine the view of this sage as can be found in the introduction of his philosophical encyclopedia, the Asfar. As will be seen Mulla Sadra presented an elaborate rational demonstration to substantiate his claim. However, no matter how precise it was this proof was internally flawed in that one of its premises rest upon an interpretation of a religious tradition using philosophical jargon that would only come into existence hundreds of years after this tradition was initially stated.

Spór o naturę aktów komunikacji językowej charakterystycznych dla buddyzmu tantrycznego

Author(s): Marek Szymański / Language(s): Polish Issue: 20/2016

Jedną z kwestii od dawna interesujących badaczy tantrycznego buddyzmu jest charakter aktów językowej komunikacji, do których odnoszą się sanskryckie nazwy sandhyā-bhāsa, sandhā-bhāsa, sandhyā-bhāsita itp. W literaturze naukowej zwykle traktowano te akty kompleksowo – jako przypadki użycia języka tajemnego, języka intencjonalnego czy języka półmroku – i uznawano za charakterystyczne dla wadźrajany (nieobecne w pozostałych postaciach buddyzmu). Funkcjonowały przy tym zasadniczo odmienne interpretacje rozpatrywanych aktów komunikacji. W artykule zostały przedstawione i poddane ocenie najważniejsze z tych koncepcji. Oceny dokonano w nawiązaniu do przełomowych ustaleń Michaela M. Broido. Wyniki badań Broida zostały zestawione z konstatacjami Christiana Wedemeyera. Pozwala to spojrzeć na te pierwsze w szerszej perspektywie i uniknąć formułowania wniosków z pominięciem innych ważnych zjawisk językowych występujących w tantrach.

La phénoménologie de l’amour de Jean-Luc Marion : l’expérience de la passivité en tant que dépassement de l’égologie

Author(s): Ilona Bala / Language(s): French Issue: 4/2015

The phenomenology of love, as developed by Jean-Luc Marion in his work Le Phénomène érotique (2003), is related to the concept of gift-giving, whose model is outlined in Étant donné and Réduction et donation. The act of receiving a gift (any kind of gift) is present in philosophers such as Husserl and Heidegger. J.-L. Marion’s new “erotic reduction”, radicalised through a phenomenological reduction, targets man as a human being and his ability to love. Thus, the author of Phénomène érotique defines the concept of the amorous phenomenon in a clear and rigorous way, moving towards the notions developed in his work Prolégomènes à la charité. The objective is to consider and, ultimately, to condemn the essential attribute of mankind, the cogito, since the ego is, above all, a person who loves, appearing as a freestanding category that stands beyond the features of a purely rational being, in the Cartesian sense. Behind Marion’s position emerges a heideggerian critique of Dasein that is not only a negation, but also a constructive elaboration of the ego amans (the lover, the amorous phenomenon), as well as a theological dimension of an iconic image that surpasses us, of the authenticity of human relationships, and of real love (for example, of God). Thus, we are at the intersection of phenomenology and theology.

Bóg, istnienie i miłość: ontologiczna i społeczna koncepcja Boga w "Dialogach" Plutarcha z Cheronei na tle greckiej tradycji teologicznej

Author(s): Kazimierz Pawłowski / Language(s): Polish Issue: XXI/2015

The paper deals with two inconspicuous theological ideas put forward by Plutarch of Chaeronea in his two dialogues of the so-called ‘Delphi series’: one is the ‘ontological’ idea, pertaining to being or existence (On the E at Delphi), and the other is the ‘social’ conception of god (On the Obsolescence of Oracles). In the former dialogue, Plutarch describes god as a fulfi lled, self-existent, and unchangeable being, in opposition to the incomplete, dependent, and changeable being of material things that are in continuous process of becoming. In the latter dialogue, Plutarch characterizes god as a being able to love and maintain social relationships marked by love. Both conceptions appear to anticipate theological ideas of some Christian philosophers. Plutarch’s theological conceptions are depicted against the background of Greek theological tradition.

EVOLUCIJA ILI EVOLUCIONIZAM, KREACIJA ILI KREACIONIZAM

Author(s): Robert J. Schneider / Language(s): Bosnian Issue: 20/2004

Some discussion over the relationship of the scientific theory of evolution to religious belief in creation has appeared in Bosnia and Herzegovina. To help clarify the issues, this article distinguishes the terminology of science from ideology and argues that when science and religion are understood for what each really is, and their boundaries are respected, they are not in conflict with one another. A brief summary of the modern scientific world picture of Big Bang cosmology and biotic evolution is followed by comments on challenges to this worldview by two forms of creationism found among American conservative, mostly Protestant, Christians: “young earth creationism” and “intelligent design.” The arguments of these groups are rejected by almost all scientists on scientific grounds, and by other Christians for theological reasons: both criticize creationism because it improperly crosses boundaries and mixes science and religion together. And, it subordinates scientific knowledge to religious ideology.

Pseudo Dionisijo Ar Eopagiečio Įžvalgos Apie Gyvybę Dieviškosios Raiškos (Prohodos) Kont Ekste

Author(s): Rasius Makselis / Language(s): Lithuanian Issue: 88/2016

The article presents an analysis of the notion of life as one of the divine names in the context of the doctrine of the Christian Neoplatonic philosopher traditionally known by the name of Dionysius the Areopagite. The analysis reveals that Dionysius accomplished a radical transformation of one of the essential concepts of Neoplatonic philosophy, that of „participation“. This important transformation of the Neoplatonic tradition allowed Dionysius to develop an original and philosophically efficient concept of „life“ as one of the gifts of divine prohodos, which are received by complex living beings.

Šventųjų Arkangelų Mykolo, Gabrieliaus Ir Rapolo Liaudies Pamaldumas Lietuvoje

Author(s): Alfonsas Motuzas / Language(s): Lithuanian Issue: 86/2016

Lithuania is famous for ethnic culture: songs, dances and hymns. It stands in to the Saints Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael folk piety practice of the worship. The aim – to reveal the Saints Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael respect for piety practices identities of Lithuania. The survey results revealed, that, first, the Saints Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael Saints Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael respect for piety practices origins of Christianity begins with the first steps, and later became of of the Catholic and Orthodox confession of faith of the saints actually in the world, along with Lithuania. Secondly, that folk piety practices esolution in Lithuania is revealed their assigned prayers (litanies) and songs (hymns). Third, the Saints Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael respect folk piety practice of literar and musical texts origins in Lithuania are of local origin, which justifies the work the beginning of the mentioned hypothesis, that the folk piety practice of the worship of Saints Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael in Lithuania stands uniqueness in the music.

Krist kao utjelovljeni Logos

Author(s): Danijel Časni / Language(s): Croatian Issue: 2/2015

The article provides the interpretation of the first verse in the Prologue of the first chapter of John's Gospel. Our starting point is the fact of pre-existence of Logos, as well as the phrase, “in the beginning”, as the fundamental expression of God's revelation. The question arises whether there was Logos or chaos in the beginning of time, and if there really was a chaotic cosmos, it doesn't exclude the existence of an eternal Logos, which has given purpose, order, and meaning to it eventually. The pre-existing Logos was incarnated and revealed in the person of Jesus Christ. In this way, the person of Jesus Christ also has a transcendent cosmological character. John claims that Logos is the eternal God, but that He is different from the Father God at the same time. We're covering the possible reasons why John the Evangelist is the only one using the word Logos, starting from the thought of OT wisdom to Philo of Alexandria. At the end of the article we outline the linguistic and stylistic characteristics of the passage, giving special attention to the interpretation of each word, having in mind their position within the sentence as a whole.

Paul’s Understanding of Death According to 1 Corinthians 15

Author(s): Ivan Karadža / Language(s): English Issue: 2/2014

Unquestionably, the doctrine of the resurrection is a foundation without which the Gospel message loses its purpose. However, the Corinthian epistle is an example that the message of the Gospel can be neglected. It happened to the church in Corinth because of the strong influence of the surrounding society. In this rich correspondence Paul’s approach is that of a spiritual father who worries about the condition of the church in Corinth. He writes from his own experiences and knowledge about the resurrection in order to bring them to soberness and to restore their ways of thinking. This article is a reminder of truths that are necessary for the life of believers and which can be found in Scripture. At that time, and because of the challenges of contemporary ways of thinking, the truth about the resurrection can be neglected. That is why this article should be observed as a reminder of primary components of the Christian faith.

Tikėti Bažnyčioje ir su Bažnyčia

Author(s): Mindaugas Ragaišis / Language(s): Lithuanian Issue: 78/2014

It might seem that the Faith, which is a personal relationship with God, does not require the Church. But in fact, the Church is essential for the Faith, because it is through the Church and within the Church alone that God’s Revelation can become available to us. The Church witnesses the Gospel both by the way of life and by proclamation. She also explains the Revelation and guards it from misinterpretations. It is in the Church that we celebrate our Faith and live it. Just as salvation is not found away from the Church, so too the living and true Faith is impossible without the Church.