Method of theology 463
Sku: 46300D0E060
Archival Number: A463 V61
Author: Lonergan, B.
Language(s): English
Decade: 1960
Open 46300D0E060.pdf
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Database and descriptions © Copyright 2010 by Robert M. Doran
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46300DT$060 / A 463
Revised transcription by R. Doran 3 Sept 2011
Method of Theology
Statement Crede ut intelligas Augustine, Anselms
Meaning Faith is measured not by human understanding but by God’s.
Hence, not believe if/because/inasmuch as you understand
but believe and then you may try to understand
imperfectly in this life
perfectly in the next
Supposition: Understanding and Assent are distinct.
One can understand Ptolemy, Copernicus, Newton, Laplace, Einstein, Fred Hoyle
One cannot agree with all.
One need not agree with any. epochē
[page 2]
What is understanding [direct]
Act: (1) highly satisfactory release from state of wonder puzzlement inquiry
(2) with respect to data/image – imagined not imagination
(3) ground of concepts, definition, considering, thinking
Content: an explanatory/intelligible unification
elementary – of thing/relationship
combine into structure –
sets of structures – sets of structures in motion
not the conceptual expression but the ability to express from any viewpoint
for any ?
knowing geometry is not knowing a series of theorems
it is such a mastery that any theorem any ? any application ? can be effected with ease.
Theology: God and all things in relation to God
Specific, proper contribution: the unified vision
Theologian will assert God, attributes, Trinity, Incarnation
but so also will believers
Theologian contributes the unified vision
believer qua believer Est Est, Non Non
[page 3]
The unified vision: is term of a movement
Term
Parallel in natural science
NS ? that it all depends on data/observation/experiment
textbook: physica – (1) the maths you have to know
(2) conclusions from the maths
chemistry: periodic table – what it means
it. relation[?] to 3 x 1005 compounds
via inventionis – discovery
via doctrinae – teaching begin from simplest (not easiest)
e.g., Trinity: NT missions of Son, Spirit
4th [century?] consubstantial
properties – Cappadocians
relations – Cappadocians and Augustine
12th century
psychological analogy
27-43 ps. anal à proc à relations à persons
Significance of point of inflection: return to NT – understanding of faith
vs drawing conclusions
Difference from NS
(1) mystery – special case of inverse insight irrational
transcendentals
law of inertia
special relativity
probability
dialectic
(2) not constitutive of object – not towards truth
but understanding of object – but of truth
[page 4]
MOVEMENT = understanding identity of faith in development of dogma
relation of theology àdogma àgenesis of
à ?
àrevelation
àteaching catechism
? work, conversion
devotional, moral life
àunity of theology
àcultural differences
Where does movement occur
Levels of understanding
symbol
word differences in viewpoint/ explicit & implicit - distinctions
sign effectiveness
What has theologian to do about it
(1) to understand it
(2) Hence, any needed proofs, regulations[?] etc.
not anachronism
not archaism