The Mystery of ReasonGracewing Publishing, 2001 - 285 pages The Mystery of Reason investigates the enterprise of human thought searching for God. People have always found stepping-stones to God's existence carved in the world and in the human condition. This book examines the classical proofs of God's existence, and affirms their continued validity. It shows that human thought can connect with God and with other aspects of religious experience. Moreover, it depicts how Christian faith is reasonable, and is neither blind nor naked. Without reason, belief would degenerate into fundamentalism; but without faith, human thought can remain stranded on the reef of its own self-sufficiency. This book proposes that the human mind must be in partnership with the human heart in any quest for God. Paul Haffner is lecturer in systematic and dogmatic theology in Rome at the Pontifical Gregorian University, the Pontifical Lateran University and the Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum. In this series he has published The Mystery of Creation, The Mystery of Mary and The Sacramental Mystery. |
Contents
SCRIPTURAL SOURCES | 30 |
PATRISTIC PATHS | 55 |
MEDIEVAL MEANING | 82 |
MODERN MEANDERING | 112 |
SCIENTIFIC SCHEMING | 149 |
PROOFS FOR THE EXISTENCE OF GOD | 179 |
FAITH IS REASONABLE | 220 |
THE MIND AND THE HEART OF FAITH | 251 |
277 | |
Common terms and phrases
according act of faith affirmation analogy approach argument assent atheism beauty believe Book Catholic causality century certitude chapter Christ Church concept cosmos created creation Creator divine doctrine eternal evidence evil evolution exis expression fact faculty faith and reason Father Fides et Ratio God's existence grace Greek Guide Head of Jesus heart Holy human reason Ibid idea Idem II-II infinite intellect J. H. Newman John Duns Scotus Kant knowledge light means metaphysical mind moral motion mystery natural reason Newman object Pascal perfect person philosophy Pope John Paul principle proof proposed rational realism reality relation religion revelation S. L. Jaki Sacred Head scientific Scotus sense soul Spirit St Anselm St Augustine St Bonaventure St Thomas Aquinas Stanley Jaki Summa Contra Gentiles Summa Theologiae supernatural teleological arguments tence Testament things thought tion transcends true truth understanding universe Vatican wisdom word