Thomas Aquinas and the Analogy of Being: Credo Colloquy with James Dolezal and Matthew Barrett
May 28, 2024
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James Dolezal and Matthew Barrett delve into the analogy of being in theology, contrasting analogical and univocal knowledge of God. They discuss Thomas Aquinas' teachings, differences in theological perspectives on univocity, the impact of Nominalism, and theological developments among Reform Scholastics.
Analogical language for God emphasizes the complexity beyond human expression.
Thomas Aquinas's analogy of being clarifies diverse entities' descriptions to differentiate theological language.
Rejection of analogy impacts divine simplicity, highlighting different approaches on essence and attributes.
Deep dives
God's Nature and Human Language
God's divine nature, especially the concept of God being love, presents a challenge in expressing the complexity of God through human language. The distinction between God's essence and His attributes brings about the topic of doctrine's importance.
Importance of Aquinas's Concepts
Philosopher and theologian James Dolezal explores the significance of Thomas Aquinas's ideas and his influence on Protestant theologians. Concepts like participation in the likeness of God and the analogy of being are discussed as essential for theological understanding.
Analogy of Being in Theology
Thomas Aquinas's notion of the analogy of being is vital in theological discussions about God and creatures. Understanding how language like 'being' is used to describe diverse entities, from human beings to attributes, helps differentiate between univocity and equivocity in theological language.
Challenges of Univocity and Divine Simplicity
The rejection of analogy in favor of univocity can impact the understanding of divine simplicity. The discussion delves into the complexity of expressing the relationship between God's essence and attributes, emphasizing different approaches between theologians like Aquinas and Duns Scotus.
Voluntarism and Nominalism Impact
The philosophical perspectives of voluntarism and nominalism influence interpretations of God's existence and knowledge, especially challenging traditional concepts of divine simplicity and relations within the Trinity. These debates also extend to issues of anthropology, soteriology, and the implications of nominalism on theological reasoning.
Effects on Doctrine and Theological Development
The historical debates surrounding philosophical schools of thought such as nominalism and voluntarism have had substantial effects on theological doctrines and the development of theological ideas within Protestantism and Catholicism. Understanding these influences provides insights into the diverse theological perspectives present in theological discourse and reasoning.
What is the analogy of being and why is it so essential to the Creator-creature distinction? In Part 2 of this Credo Colloquy, James Dolezal and Matthew Barrett continue their… Download Audio
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