Medieval Philosophy: New Concepts from Biblical Revelation
While Christian philosophers make use of many concepts used by the Greeks, adapting them to a new vision of reality (being, beyond, causality, soul, immortality, virtue, happiness, etc.), they also incorporate new ways of understanding the world, the fruit of biblical revelation.
1. Monotheism
Christian monotheism, based on the Bible, demonstrates the rationality of the existence of one God. The problem of whether there is one or more gods was addressed in Greek philosophy. The Bible unequivocally
Read MoreRenaissance and Reformation: Art, Culture, and Religion
Renaissance and Reformation: Key Concepts
- Chiaroscuro: The use of strong contrasts between light and dark to achieve a sense of volume in modeling three-dimensional objects and figures.
- Humanism: A philosophical and cultural movement that spread through Europe in the 15th century.
- Renaissance: An art movement that sought an ideal form of beauty, using the classical world, such as Greece and Rome, as inspiration in the 15th and 16th centuries.
- Patron: Wealthy noblemen and burghers who supported artists
Saint Augustine and Saint Thomas Aquinas: Shaping Western Thought
Saint Augustine: Shaping Western Thought
Saint Augustine, a father of the Church, was highly influential. He gave Western thought its way of seeing the human world through a synthesis of two cultures. Born in North Africa, he was influenced by Hellenistic philosophy. He found in Manichaeism an explanation for the problem of evil (darkness and light). After a skeptical stage, he realized that only through the grace of Christ could humans overcome their passions and evil. Therefore, philosophy could
Read MoreTheological and Cardinal Virtues: Understanding Conscience and Marriage
Theological Virtues
Virtues are dispositions that help us to pray well, according to right reason.
- Faith: The light that guides us on the path to Heaven by believing in God and all He has revealed and proposes to His Church.
- Hope: The virtue by which we hope to achieve salvation and be eternally happy in Heaven.
- Charity: The virtue by which we love God above all things and our neighbor as ourselves for love of God.
Cardinal Virtues
- Prudence: Consists of thinking and acting with caution to avoid damage.
Human Dignity and Social Doctrine: A Christian Perspective
The Inherent Dignity of the Human Person
Human dignity is rooted in the belief that each individual is created in the image and likeness of God and is destined for a supernatural end that transcends earthly life. As intelligent and free beings, possessing inherent rights and duties, humans are at the heart of the Church’s social doctrine.
The Church has consistently denounced all forms of slavery, exploitation, and manipulation, not only in the political and economic spheres but also in the ideological
Read MoreMartin Luther, Council of Trent, Baroque Art, Missions, and the Enlightenment
Martin Luther
Born in 1483 in Eisleben, in the German region of Saxony. At that time, funds were being raised for the construction of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. Luther rebelled against the sale of indulgences, advocating that salvation is a gift from God attained through faith, not by payment. In 1517, he published his 95 theses, arguing the uselessness of indulgences, and proposed them for debate at the University of Wittenberg. Despite popular support, Church authorities condemned him in Rome
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