Thoughts on Philosophy and its relation to faith?

[Hungry]

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?

I find looking at the world through another’s eyes is always beneficial. Since I have found Truth, I do not read for answers and hope to find meaning. We watch movies and television and read books because some people are very creative. Their eyes see things ours don’t and minds piece together logic according to their experience. Because my mind has concluded Yahweh is the Self Existant Creator and Christ is His Son our Lord, I have no fear there is an atheist argument that can sway me. It is only dangerous to impressionable people who have no convictions. Then by agreeing with the secular logic of ancient minds they fail to question their anti-Christian beliefs and are easily led astray.

In response to two logics. The Word of God (Logos), the devine principle is the reason we exist. Men who quantify a separate reason are merely looking at one or two puzzle pieces thinking they see the whole picture. They might be accurate about what they see but not the significance.

 

[p_rehbein]

Anyone here ever read the Jefferson Bible? I have not, but he wrote about the philosophy of Christ in it I am told.

The Life and Morals of Jesus of Nazareth,

(just wondering)

 

[Benadam]

Anyone here ever read the Jefferson Bible? I have not, but he wrote about the philosophy of Christ in it I am told.

The Life and Morals of Jesus of Nazareth,

(just wondering)

Jefferson didn't believe in anything beyond human reasoning.
He didn't believe in anything supernatural so He considered Jesus the greatest philosopher. He removed everything in the bible about Jesus that is supernatural ie: miracles, the virgin birth, the resurrection etc. Doing that reduced the biblical account of Jesus into something he could believe and that's the Jefferson bible.

 

[garee]

That's a gross misreading of the text.

It doesn't say, "Beware of philosophy!" It says, "Beware, lest any man spoil you through philosophy...."

Don't get your wisdom and understanding about God and His ways from philosophy; such things come from the Holy Spirit through Scripture. However, the wise Christian makes effort to understand the world in which he or she lives, requiring at least a basic understanding of the way non-Christian people think, which means understanding at least some philosophy.

Like? . "Beware, lest any man spoil you through a "certain kind of philosophy".? ..."or just philosophy? The opposite of faith .That which turns faith upside down ?

Isaiah 29:16 Surely your turning of things upside down shall be esteemed as the potter's clay: for shall the work say of him that made it, He made me not? or shall the thing framed say of him that framed it, He had no understanding?

Catholisicim performs that taking the philosophies of men (law of the fathers) calling them Sacred traditions. A Devine authority turning upside down the true "one" Devine authority (sola scriptura as it is written ) they make it without effect. No man can serve two teaching masters as one law.

Below. . . .The Catholic Bible. . . book of the law of men #80 the Sacred philosophies of faithless men.

CCC Search Result - Paragraph # 80
www.scborromeo.org/ccc/para/80.htm
Catechism of the Catholic Church. 80 "Sacred Tradition and sacred scripture, then, are bound closely together, and communicate one with the other. For both of them, flowing out from the same divine well-spring, come together in some fashion to form one thing, and move towards the same goal." Each of them makes present and fruitful in the Church the mystery of Christ, who promised to remain with his own "always, to the close of the age".


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.

 

[Dino246]

Like? . "Beware, lest any man spoil you through a "certain kind of philosophy".? ..."or just philosophy? The opposite of faith .That which turns faith upside down ?

Philosophy is not the opposite of faith, nor is it that which turns faith upside down.

Catholisicim performs that taking the philosophies of men (law of the fathers) calling them Sacred traditions. A Devine authority turning upside down the true "one" Devine authority (sola scriptura as it is written ) they make it without effect. No man can serve two teaching masters as one law.

Below. . . .The Catholic Bible. . . book of the law of men #80 the Sacred philosophies of faithless men.

CCC Search Result - Paragraph # 80
www.scborromeo.org/ccc/para/80.htm
Catechism of the Catholic Church. 80 "Sacred Tradition and sacred scripture, then, are bound closely together, and communicate one with the other. For both of them, flowing out from the same divine well-spring, come together in some fashion to form one thing, and move towards the same goal." Each of them makes present and fruitful in the Church the mystery of Christ, who promised to remain with his own "always, to the close of the age".


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.

Why do you waste your time telling me about the errors of Catholicism? I'm not Catholic, and don't get my ideas from Catholic sources.

 

[Diakonos]

the study of ancient or modern philosophy can weaken the Christian's faith

That depends on how much Godly wisdom the person has before they become acquainted with empty philosophy.

4 I say this so that no one will delude you with persuasive argument.
5 For even though I am absent in body, nevertheless I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good discipline and the stability of your faith in Christ.
6 Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him,
7 having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude.
8 See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.
9 For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form

Paul clearly communicated that there is a need to be established in the faith before learning the tactics and lies of the enemy, otherwise, that student has no defense for the firey arrows

 

[Prycejosh1987]

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?

There are various links into a belief of a "messiah" "Heaven" and a "Jesus figure" between religions, some of them that are older than Christianity like Hinduism, the members of that religion try to say the Christians used Hindu values. This is not true i believe that the Jewish faith is the oldest. Because the oldest religion would have to be the original one. Its impossible to say Hindu is the oldest but follow the Jewish faith, the Jewish faith would of had to be older.