Philosophy and Christian Theology

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses how it has been acknowledged widely among scholars that later Greek philosophy and Christian theology share a close relationship and how Neo-Platonism, as represented by Plotinus and its pioneer Philo, developed along with Christian theology in almost the same political, economic and cultural context. The paper contends that the greatest difference in philosophy and Christian theology is that philosophy seeks to 'explain' God while Christian theology seeks to 'know' God and to align with the power, love, and will of God and that it ultimately seeks to have spiritual union with God.

Outline:
Introduction
The Philosophical System of Plato, Philos, & Augustine
The Trinity in Philosophy and Christian Theology
The Superiority of Christian Theology
Summary and Conclusion

From the Paper:

"A proposal of the early Pythagorean School was that the number three or the three realities, the One, Nous, and the Soul, all arise from the One. Augustine articulated the doctrine of the Trinity, or the Father, Son and Holy Spirit in a theology that had no basis in Greek philosophy Certainly there are references in the scriptures that refer to some type of triadic formulation of God, Son, and Holy Spirit, however these references, aside from the instruction of Baptism given by Jesus stating to "baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit" do not specifically tie the three into a Trinity and as stated in the work of Tobin (2000)"The Christian concept of the triune godhead did not come 'pre-packaged' in the teachings of Jesus, Paul, or the Bible." (Tobin, 2000) "

Sample of Sources Used:

• Paijn, Dusan (2007) Remembrance and Recognition in Plato, Abhinavagupta and Proust. New Aesthetics Vol. 1. 2007 Online available at: http://www.svabhinava.org/abhinava/DusanPajin/RemembranceRecognition-frame.php
• Mingson, Fan (nd) Later Greek Philosophy and Christian Theology. Chapter VI Online available at: http://www.crvp.org/book/Series03/III-10/chapter_vi.htm
• Tobin, Paul N. (2000) God and Christian Theology. The Rejection of Pascal's Wager: A Skeptics Guide to Christianity. Online available at: http://www.geocities.com/paulntobin/god.html
• Argyll, Duke of George Douglas Campbell (1896) The Philosophy of Belief, Or, Law in Christian Theology. 1896 J. Murray. New York Public Library. Online available at: http://books.google.com/books?id=C8VgYb8ZA7sC&dq=philosophy+and+christian+theology

More papers on Philosophy and Christian Theology:

• Essay # 54553 : "Rene Descartes, Rationalism, and Christianity"
• Comparison Essay # 62570 : "Plato and Luther"
• Essay # 65594 : "The Life and Theology of Thomas Aquinas"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: