As iron sharpens iron,
one person sharpens another. (Proverbs 27:17)
“Augustine would never have been considered a Platonist in antiquity. He belonged to a different, rival school—the Christian school—and he was keen to present his philosophy as superior in all respects.” - Credo
By Jonathan Moreno. From DBSJ 22 (2017): 75-90. Republished with permission. Read the series.
In an effort to present the greatest-glory defense with sharper clarity, this section will seek to address three objections that may be levied against it. Although this defense may encounter countless additional objections, the three selected seem to be the most pertinent to the discussion.
By Jonathan Moreno. From DBSJ 22 (2017): 75-90. Republished with permission. Read the series.
The purpose of this section is to present a viable theodicy.36 However, before embarking upon this endeavor, it will be helpful to temper expectations by briefly considering the parameters and limitations of any conclusions that are drawn.
By Jonathan Moreno. From DBSJ 22 (2017): 75-90. Republished with permission. Read the series.
Grappling with the problem of evil is a notoriously dubious endeavor due in part to the complexity of the problem. Therefore, if any viable solutions are to be reached, the specific kind of evil must be recognized and defined, and the theological system in which that evil resides must be identified.
“For an ancient philosophy, Stoicism is wildly popular right now. Silicon Valley tech barons and young men in weight rooms across the country are searching for guidance, and they often find it among the maxims of Epictetus, Seneca, and Marcus Aurelius.” - Acton
“Famously, he insisted that faith and reason are in harmonious partnership, integrating the known science, philosophy and theology of his day into a comprehensive, interconnected system. All this helps explain why his work has maintained an enduring appeal, even as equally brilliant medieval thinkers have sunk into oblivion.” - RNS
“ ‘No Plato, No Scripture’—the second chapter of Hans Boersma’s Five Things Theologians Wish Biblical Scholars Knew—is a clever title for continuing the Christian Platonist project. But how seriously should we take its underlying arguments?” - Christ Over All
Michael Otazu
Discussion