How to do theology – KBGF 3
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In this third class of the seminar with Dr. J. Isaac Goff over the book of Fr. Peter Damian Fehlner The Theologian of Auschwitz, we look at what it means to do dogmatic theology. We particularly look three figures through the history of theology to help us understand what dogmatic theology is based off of and how it is pursued.
Find the book here: https://www.lectiopublishing.com/book...
Dr. Goff refers to an article in this book: https://academyoftheimmaculate.com/co...
First we look at Vincent of Lerins, a Church Father from the early 400's, who gives an early example of how to determine what indeed is the Church's doctrine and how it can develop in continuity. Second we look at Melchior Cano, a Dominican theologian who listed out the sources of good dogmatic theology in the context of the Protestant Reformation's attach on Church teaching, and individuated 9 different sources used for theology, while Dr. Goff also explains how the Liturgy is in a unique relation to theology as it sums up Scripture and Tradition in the now of the Church's worship and preaching, which is Christ himself worshiping the Father and preaching to us. Third, we look at St. John Cardinal Newman's notes (characteristics) of true doctrinal development.
Then we look particularly at the theological method of Fr. Peter Damian Fehlner in order to make the final preparation to engage the book The Theologian of Auschwitz. Following the very first systematic theologian, St. Iraneaus of Lyon, Fr. Peter uses a method of typology. This is based off of a metaphysic of exemplarism, which sees the created world in relation to the exemplary (or creative) ideas eternally present in the mind of God as his goodness reflected in finite ways, and in relation to the divine will freely and wisely choosing to created some of these. So from understanding the truth about creation in relation to the goodness and wisdom of God, we use the same method of comparison for revelation itself, seeing how through concrete individual persons in history (starting from Adam and Eve, going up to Jesus and Mary), the goodness and wisdom of God is manifested and communicated to us. In theology, this method looks for how everything fits together into a harmonious and beautiful whole, called the analogy of faith.
Within this are two different spirals heading in a distinct direction.
The first spiral is called capitulation and recapitulation. Capitulation means some principle or head (caput in Latin), and recapitulation is to bring that whole under a new head. The greatest example is how Jesus Christ recapitulates or re-establishes humanity in himself (Ephesians 1:10), and the closest example is our conversion where we bring our whole self under and into Christ.
The second spiral is circulation and recirculation. While the first refers primarily to the progressive elevation of creation into God, this speaks to the actual historical working out of God's plan in rhyme. Adam and Eve are created and fall, God resets with Noah and the flood, but Noah falls too, and the same themes are presented time and time again throughout the Old Testament. Fr. Peter takes these two outstandingly Scriptural and Patristic interpretations of God's action, based in wisdom or, philosophically, a metaphysic, but only manifested through history in concrete persons. When we put this together, we see God's plan of lifting up humanity to himself in the Church through the New Adam and New Eve.
This leads into our final point, is theology about thinking or doing? The Franciscan answer is that it is about doing, but doing wisely. Therefore, it requires the sanctification both of our intellects and our wills. This starts in the act of faith in the teaching of the Church and in living that faith within the Church by the sacraments, this is called symbolic theology by Bonaventure, or to speak in English instead of Greek, speaking correctly about all divine things put together in the one whole of the faith believed, celebrated, and lived. We then apply our intellects to understand better, and this is theology proper. This is the domain of the academic theologian. Finally is the movement into God, to go from knowing God to touching and "tasting" him in the full flowering of the Christian life in mystical theology.
Ave Maria!
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