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Busyminds's avatar

Well done. These are very fine and noble reasons for getting a PhD in Philosophy. Indeed, 'Philosophia Ancilla Theologiae.'

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Greg Enas's avatar

God knows I am a Christian before he created me a human; I am human before I recognize that I am a Christian; so anthropology precedes

philosophy precedes theology?

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Joel Carini's avatar

Depending if you meant to say human before Christian!

One of the Stoic philosophers or someone said, I am first man and then philosopher. I think the same applies to Christians, we are first humans and then Christians. Grace restores nature, so anthropology precedes Soteriology, and yes, philosophy precedes theology!

Though in the order of being, of course, God precedes man.

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Greg Enas's avatar

Yes as I said - from my position I am first human then Christian…..From God’s election before the foundations of the created order, his perspective is I am first Christian before creation as human

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Joel Carini's avatar

Ha, nice - that's some beautiful Supralapsarianism :)

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Amod Sandhya Lele's avatar

Beautifully expressed. The world needs more people who are willing to defend their paradigm to people who aren't already convinced by it. That's true whether the paradigm in question is evangelical Christianity, New Atheism, or the social-justice movement.

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Joel Carini's avatar

Thank you. Yes, and of course, not just to defend one’s existing views, but to be willing to persuade and be persuaded. That means articulating one’s views in the terminology, and on the basis of what others already accept.

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Amod Sandhya Lele's avatar

Exactly. I'm no Christian, but I'm interested in listening to people who are - when they are themselves interested in a real conversation.

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Sid Davis's avatar

I hadn’t seen a post from you in a hot minute! Glad you’re back!

Absolutely love that you want to bring new ideas to the discussion!

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