“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord.” (Isaiah 55:8)
Dear Friends:
You will not want to miss this teaching from our gifted resident theologian, John Rybicki Sunday evening at 6:00 p.m. Here is a prelude from John introducing The Philosophy of Religion…
Philosophy explores the process of thought, not so much what we think, but how we think. Do our beliefs make sense even to ourselves? Why do we have the beliefs that we have and do we have sufficient evidence on which to base our beliefs? Do we need any evidence?
We are about to begin a series on the Philosophy of Religion beginning on April 15th and continuing for four Sundays. The topics will include: God, Revelation, Scripture(s), and Morality. This is a Philosophy of Religion series … for believers … for theists. The “ultimate’ questions will make us think, analyze, and hopefully, reinforce our beliefs and make us feel more comfortable with what we can know, and understand better what and why there are details we can’t know.
The Philosophy of Religion is a field of philosophy which deals with some very tough questions. Is there a God? What is God like and what are His attributes? Do we simply accept what we are taught and why would we do that? Shouldn’t we analyze our beliefs?
The Philosophy of Religion differs significantly from the philosophy of certain other endeavors, such as science. Science relies on empirical (measureable) evidence, is repeatable, hypotheses are falsifiable, and experimentation generally results in consensus. Theology and religious belief structures do not fit this paradigm. The usual answer to this dichotomy in attaining knowledge and wisdom is … “faith.” But that is not an answer. Faith in what? I need to know something about what I have faith in. The questions simple never go away.
There is no consensus. Why are there so many belief systems? They can’t all be right.
Typically the theist answers … “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord.” (Isaiah 55:8) That doesn’t mean we don’t think about the tough questions. Theists also believe that God made us rational creatures with the ability to know Him, and serve Him.
If we want to quote from scriptures … which ones? How did the scriptures come to be? Revelation from God? How does revelation work?
In the Eastern Church there is often the argument of experientialism. I don’t so much “know” the truth as I “feel” the truth. Is that a legitimate response? Is discernment a part of the epistemological (theory of knowledge) process. What does the truth feel like?
We will explore the ultimate questions realizing that because this is philosophy we will not come up with the ultimate answers. In philosophy it really is about the questions. Come and explore your beliefs … hear how others deal with the same issues …
As Sarah Coakley… Anglican priest, systematic theologian and philosopher of religion at Cambridge University states … Letting God grasp you requires attention of the will. If God remains hidden, perhaps one has not gone far enough in the quest to find Him.
Thank you John, for planting seeds to help us ponder, search and explore how God is calling us through The Philosophy of Religion Sundays at 6:00 p.m. over these next four weeks.
Before Sunday evening, come Saturday morning. We’ll get down to some plain old fashioned hands on work as we gather for our Parish Work Day beginning at 8:00 a.m. Come for some, or for all, get dirty, meet new friends and help beautify God’s kingdom here on the corner.
Sunday celebrations continue as we witness the baptism of Wes Whittet, son to Ellen and John. Following worship young elementary school age children are invited to gather in Room 120 for one half hour of choir rehearsal with Caitlyn Smith. Kids will be singing on Family Worship May 6th. Also, older elementary kids are invited to gather in the worship space for Acolyte Training. Parent Support group meets at 5:00 p.m., just before “Philosophy of Religion”. Once again, we have a full weekend ahead of us!
God continues to bless Epiphany as we G.R.O.W. (God Reigns Over our Work).
Many blessings,
Hillary