Saint Augustine’s Philosophy: Faith, Reason, and Humanity
1. Relationships Between Faith and Reason
In principle, faith and reason are two opposing concepts:
- Faith: Believing in what we *do not* see. It can be the basis for a theory to be proven.
- Reason: A basis founded on experiments and demonstrations.
Saint Augustine tries to reconcile faith and reason, attempting to convince people that the Christian religion is the best and providing arguments to support its believers. He links the advantages obtained over other religions to the prevailing belief that
Read MoreWilliam of Ockham: Philosophy and Political Thought in the 14th Century
William of Ockham: A Revolutionary Thinker of the 14th Century
Life and Context
William of Ockham (1298-1349) lived during a time of profound change. Scholastic philosophy was in crisis, medieval political and religious structures were beginning to decompose, and significant changes were laying the foundation for a new era. Ockham’s work marked a turning point in Western philosophy. Instead of continuing to renew earlier systems, he undertook a systematic and radical critique of everything that had
Read MoreSaint Thomas Aquinas: Historical and Philosophical Context
Saint Thomas Aquinas: Historical, Sociocultural, and Philosophical Context
The Middle Ages: A Time of Transition
During the Middle Ages, the former Roman Empire existed in three distinct sociocultural forms: the Byzantine Empire, the Western Christian kingdoms, and the Islamized territories.
In 711, Muslims entered Europe through the Iberian Peninsula but were halted in the Pyrenees at the Battle of Poitiers in 732. The Christian kingdoms fought against the Muslims, and from the 11th to the 13th centuries,
Read MoreSaint Augustine of Hippo: Life, Philosophy, and Theology
Saint Augustine of Hippo: Life and Historical Context
Born in Tagaste in 354 AD, Saint Augustine lived during the decline of the Western Roman Empire. Following the death of Theodosius, the empire was divided in two. Barbarians resided both inside and outside the Roman frontiers. The empire suffered a significant economic crisis and witnessed the sack of Rome by the Visigoths.
Historical Context
- Religious Context: In 380 AD, Christianity became the official religion of the empire. The influence of
Ancient Israel: History, Faith, and Legacy
1. Abraham’s Migration
Pastoral tribes’ economy: Households were located at various locations in the region, moving with their herds to villages. These groups, related by ties of kinship, followed the usual trade routes. International trade led to a semi-nomadic life because of the need for grazing and frequent droughts.
2. Causes of the Exodus
Flight
Under Ramses II, the leader Moses led distinct clans that would later form the tribes of Manasseh, Benjamin, and Levi. The flight was caused by the harsh
Read MoreChurch History in Africa: Key Developments and Figures
The Foundation of Faith
- Primary Focus: God and the coming of His Son, Jesus Christ, empowered by the Holy Spirit.
- Reasons to Study Church History:
- Scripture encourages the study of history.
- We can be inspired by the faith of those who came before us and learn from their mistakes.
- Studying history reveals God’s purpose for humanity.
Key Theological Concepts
- Pneumatology: The study of the Holy Spirit.
- Missiology: The study of God’s mission.
- Ecclesiology: The study of the church.