The Meaning of Suffering & Human Flourishing w/ Fr. Gregory Pine, O.P. & Prof. Eleonore Stump
Jul 4, 2024
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Fr. Gregory Pine, O.P. and Prof. Eleonore Stump discuss the link between suffering and human flourishing, the role of stories in understanding life's arcs, and virtues like love and patience in connecting with God. They explore the impact of the Thomistic Institute in preserving Christian knowledge and delve into the significance of dependence on God and community for human well-being.
Understanding suffering is crucial for human flourishing, and stories play a vital role in conveying life's narratives.
Recognition of virtues and embracing suffering are essential for spiritual growth and deepening one's relationship with the divine.
Deep dives
Professor Eleanor Stump discusses the methodology in recent publications
Professor Eleanor Stump engages in a conversation about the approach and methodology she employs in her recent publications, such as 'Wandering in Darkness' and 'Atonement.' The discussion delves into the reverent approach she takes towards human experiences, particularly in addressing the pain and suffering present in human lives. Stump emphasizes the importance of understanding the depth of suffering and the narratives that reflect human flourishing.
Understanding truth as a person and the role of stories in knowledge
The conversation shifts to a profound exploration of truth as a person, notably exemplified by Christ as the embodiment of truth reflecting the mind of God. Stump highlights the significance of knowing persons through direct experience or stories, emphasizing how stories play a crucial role in transmitting knowledge about individuals and human experiences. Neurological experiments are alluded to, demonstrating the profound impact stories have on human understanding and social cohesion.
Exploring human suffering and the link to human flourishing
Professor Stump delves into the intricate connection between human suffering and flourishing, citing stories of great suffering as pathways to understanding human heroes and exemplars. Drawing on examples like Harriet Tubman, Stump showcases how suffering often intertwines with the nobility of human lives and underscores the pivotal role of enduring hardships in shaping individual narratives and character. The conversation underscores the transformative power of embracing suffering and its integral role in defining human greatness.
Embracing virtues and gifts of the Holy Spirit for spiritual growth
The discussion culminates in an exploration of virtues and gifts of the Holy Spirit as essential components for spiritual growth and genuine engagement with God and reality. Stump emphasizes the interconnected nature of virtues such as love, joy, peace, patience, and long-suffering in guiding individuals towards a deeper relationship with the divine. Through the lens of exemplary figures like King David, the conversation underscores the significance of recognizing human dependence on God and others in fostering spiritual enrichment and flourishing.
Join Fr. Gregory Pine, O.P. of Aquinas 101, Godsplaining, and Pints with Aquinas for an off-campus conversation with Prof. Eleonore Stump about the meaning of suffering, the link between suffering and human flourishing, and the role of stories in understanding the arcs of our lives.
About the speaker: Eleonore Stump is the Robert J. Henle Professor of Philosophy at Saint Louis University. She is also Honorary Professor at Wuhan University, the Logos Institute and School of Divinity at St. Andrews, and York University; and she is a Professorial Fellow at Australian Catholic University. She has published extensively in philosophy of religion, contemporary metaphysics, and medieval philosophy. Her books include Aquinas (2003), Wandering in Darkness: Narrative and the Problem of Suffering (2010), Atonement (2018), and The Image of God. The Problem of Evil and the Problem of Mourning (2022). She has given the Gifford Lectures (Aberdeen, 2003), the Wilde lectures (Oxford, 2006), the Stewart lectures (Princeton, 2009), and the Stanton lectures (Cambridge, 2018). In 2021, she was given the award of Johanna Quandt Young Academy Distinguished Senior Scientist by the Goethe University (Frankfurt, Germany). She is past president of the Society of Christian Philosophers, Philosophers in Jesuit Education, the American Catholic Philosophical Association, and the American Philosophical Association, Central Division; and she is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
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