Coffee House Sessions EP06 James Dolezal: Being, God and the Baptist Confession.
8 snips
Sep 12, 2023 
In this conversation, James Dolezal, a prominent theologian and author of 'All That Is In God,' delves into profound philosophical questions surrounding God's nature. He discusses the complexities of 'being' in relation to divine perfection, and the nuances of articulating God's essence through historical confessions. Dolezal highlights the relationship between philosophy and scripture, arguing for a return to deeper philosophical thought to enhance our understanding of faith. Tune in for insights that bridge contemporary skepticism and traditional metaphysics!
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God as Uncaused First Cause
- The confession assumes God is the uncaused first cause, absolutely independent and without parts or passions.
- Understanding causality and metaphysical simplicity is essential to denying God has composition or dependence on causes.
Varieties of Causality Explained
- Causality includes efficient, final, formal, and material causes, all answering the question "why?" differently.
- God alone is uncaused and has no formal, final, efficient, or material cause; He is the absolute first cause.
Modern Skepticism Alienates Metaphysics
- Modern skepticism, starting with Descartes and Hume, alienates us from natural knowledge and common sense metaphysics.
- This skepticism challenges our grasp of causality, making ancient and medieval metaphysical categories seem alien today.