Thoughts on Philosophy and its relation to faith?

I have come across a number of people, who seem to believe, that the study of ancient or modern philosophy can weaken the Christian's faith. While, in a certain sense this might be true, if presented in the way of strict atheism. However, many Christians throughout history, have found secular scholarship to be something helping one grow in faith. At the same time, I have come across many Christians, who use the figure of Plato, as a name for all that is wrong with said branch of Christianity, said Christian does not like. Why is that? In my own experience, such ancient texts have shown fruitful, in understanding the world around us; is this not the case, with philosophy?

Beware that you are not spoiled with philosophy and pointless deceits, which are after the traditions of men and the world, and not of God. ----Paul (paraphrased off the top of my head)

i think a lot of people that know very little of the Greek philosophers like Plato want to distance their faith from it because they have this misconception that it was polytheist.
Jesus said if you seek the Father He will lead you to Him. IMO this is what many of the Greek schools did. the Plato schools believed that there was more to it than Zeus, Apollo and poseidon, they seeked and were lead to ideas such as above all these greek gods their was a single being they called "the one", they also believed that this one created a perfect image of Himself and through that image all things were created. where have i heard that before?

Hello RexDi, I think it is philosophy that helps us understand how/why the world thinks the way(s) that it does, now, and throughout history. Dr. R. C. Sproul has several interesting teaching series that cover the various worldviews, which are important to understand, IMHO, especially if we want to engage those who still live in the world for Christ.

~Deut
p.s. - here are a couple of Dr. Spoul's teaching series that focus on this topic. Though a theologian and pastor, I believe he received his doctorate in philosophy. Both of these series are free to stream right now as a blessing to us from Ligonier during the COVID-19 sheltering. He also has a number of other teaching series that address similar topics concerning the field of philosophy. VERY fascinating stuff indeed, especially if you haven't studied all of it before from a Christian perspective.

In my walk I have come to believe there was only one philosopher, Socrates, the one who sought truth. After his quest others came along seeking truths relative to what he sought but never found. All of these so/called truths being "relative" cannot be absolute, thus they are not truth at all but convenient doctrines of well weaved untruths, lies
Truth can only be eternal. While in this age we do rely heavily on facts and data in general but we do not actually even come close to approaching any real truth without receiving it from our Maker.

From Scriptures:

Colossians 2:8 - Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

1 Corinthians 2:13 - Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

Titus 3:9-10 - But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain. (Read More...)

1 Timothy 6:20 - O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane [and] vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called:

1 Corinthians 2:1-5 - And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. (Read More...)

1 Corinthians 2:6-10 - Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: (Read More...)

1 Corinthians 1:21 - For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

Colossians 2:16-19 - Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath [days]: (Read More...)

Acts 17:18 - Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection.

Ecclesiastes 7:1-29 - A good name [is] better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one's birth. (Read More...)

Proverbs 25:2 - [It is] the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings [is] to search out a matter.

James 2:19 - Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

Ecclesiastes 5:1-20 - Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they consider not that they do evil. (Read More...)

Well one thing about Philosophy it certainly makes you think.

Anything that compliments the Word of God that I can bring a Earth example to bridge the gap in spiritual understanding, I will use it. It is like how Paul used the knowledge of Greek culture to parallel to the ultimate truth.

Egypt had its own monotheistic renaissance lead by Akhenaten. It was known as (I think) zep tepe meaning "law of one" . Egypt referred to the single created as the "All" and you can find these same principals in the Greek mystery schools. The Greeks had always claimed their wisdom came from Egypt.
Akhenaten is mentioned in the DSS, I also don't believe Moses and Akhenaten were the same person like many historians suggest.

The philosophers worked out a construct and a language that can help Christian theologians describe the Christian experience.

Philosophy cannot be fruitful for the simple reason that it does not contain the answers to man's deepest needs -- which are spiritual. Philosophy consists of the thoughts of men, some of which are true while others are not. And some early Christians who involved themselves with philosophy ended up with false beliefs.

God has given us DIVINE REVELATION, and our focus should be on the written Word of God. Even theology and theologians can be led astray, and lead others astray. Therefore the Divine Teacher of the Christian must be the Holy Spirit Himself, who will lead us into "all truth".

Socrates, Plato, Pythagoras, and Akhenaten all have one thing in common. All of them were pagans that worshipped demons and idols and they did not worship the Lord God.

It can weaken the faith.if you believe the wrong thing. But philosophy as according to the rules of logic are not a bad thing imo.

For example gnosotism,relativism,and so forth are bad theology's but the rules of logic are not.

The only problem is that divine logic transcends human logic. Paul says "When I am weak I am strong" but the logician would say "That's absurd".

What is divine logic in counter to human logic? Logic is a universal, meaning something that is logically necessary, is absolutely universally true, even in the mind of God. Now it is debatable, as to if there is any known "universals" aside from mathematics, but to say there is "two logics" is a false dichotomy.

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Isa 55:8,9)

An older fellow, at the end of a very long drawn out philosophy lesson blurted out “too much thinking”. That’s ALL I can remember from it 😂

Socrates was sentenced to death because he refused to teach or accept the Greek pantheon of gods. He believed there could be only one God and for that He was charged as an atheist.