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Great analysis Robin. I have been playing with a synthesis for some time that I wanted to get your input on. On one hand we have a dualism of matter v. spirit. I philosophical terms the West has been plagued by the dualism of Realism v. Nominalsim. Regarding salvation and the nature of God we are faced with a dualism of Predestination v. Free will.
ReplyDeleteI have been suggesting a middle way, a via media, between these opposite poles properly understood as "Covenantalism" but it is a covenantalism informed by a catholic sacramentalism. One of the geniuses of the catholic synthesis is to be careful of over exclusive definitions. One of the problems that has plagued philosophy and especially theology is an "either... or..." approach v. a "both... and..." approach. One has to be very careful because because I do not mean the synthesis of mutually exclusive categories. But I see in a sacramental "covenantalism" a means of bringing these philosophical problems together in the same way the hypostatic union of Christ's dual nature solves many insolvable problems, as the Trinity solves the philosophical problem of the "one and the many."
I know this is rather spacey and unformed but I'd love your input and expecially any historical light you can shed on this core idea.
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I think you're right on there Father Phil. If you look at the history of heresy, and especially the early Christeological heresies, it almost always results from a failure to preserve a dialectical balance. Certainly the sacramental mysteries can act as a hedge to the types of over-exclusive definitions that Westerners love, which is precisely why people are uncomfortable with a high-sacramentalism.
ReplyDeleteRead G.K. Chesterton's chapter in Orthodoxy about the mad man if you haven't already.
So do you think Post-modern Westerners will be as uncomfortable with "high sacramentalism" as Modern Westerners? As much as I hate much of the relativism of Po-mo thinking we might have a window here of opportunity. The problem is an inherent suspicion of any real "priesthood" in terms of human freedom and liberation. Do you think there is the same "knee-jerk" reaction? I see a future for a "Fellowship of St. Alfred" which could build new parishes or revive old and moribund ones along classical Reformed-catholic or Evangelical-orthodox lines.
ReplyDeletePML+