THE Christian Philosophy

[Josheb]

A person can know the Christian philosophy, practice the Christian philosophy, live according to the Christian philosophy without ever knowing it was called that. They can even believe THE Christian philosophy, which would have been much better stated as what is the starting point of Christian philosophy, and not know to call it by that name or that anyone ever had philosophized the Christian Faith. In fact, if they do not, they likely are not Christian. To philosophize within the Christian faith is one thing, to arrive at it the Christian faith through philosophy is another.

It is a bit disingenuous to ask what THE Christian philosophy is, and then criticize all replies for not being the one above, as if there is only one valid answer. And the one that is given is just as "flawed" and in the same way, as some to the others were said to be. Many religions would claim the same thing, and claim that they do have faith in God and trust what he has promised is true. Certainly the Jewish religion did.

I disagree and believe the posts prove the point.

So what are the two things that are different about Christianity from all other religion and all other philosophy?

1. The Bible is the inspired word of God in all its words and all its parts.
2. Jesus is God incarnate.

It is true Christians do hold those two beliefs. Their relevance has previously been addressed: 1) Those are predicate facts not a system of thought, and 2) the first point is not unique to Christianity. Lots of cults also hold the Bible to be the inspired word of God in all its words and parts. LDSes and JWs even call themselves Christians and would lay claim to a Christian philosophy for those reasons.

 

[Josheb]

They're not in the habit of thinking about philosophy.

Why are Christians not in the habit of thinking about philosophy?

Why would a discussion board have such a board given that condition and the conditions evidenced in this thread?

I know that last question entails conjecture but indulge the inquiry .

 

[Arial]

I disagree and believe the posts prove the point.

It is your right to do so. I disagree that they do prove he point.

It is true Christians do hold those two beliefs. Their relevance has previously been addressed: 1) Those are predicate facts not a system of thought, and 2) the first point is not unique to Christianity. Lots of cults also hold the Bible to be the inspired word of God in all its words and parts. LDSes and JWs even call themselves Christians and would lay claim to a Christian philosophy for those reasons.

They are the system of thought that all the rest flows out of. Now I suppose we must have posts dealing with the meaning of "system of thought" chewed over like a dog with a bone until the OP is lost? The predicate leads to the content----the philosophies of the Christian religion. You asked for The Christian philosophy, and criticized all the content that was presented as merely the content the THE.

It does not matter what cults claim. They interpret the word of God in an antithetical way to the word of God, to suit the cult narrative. They are not Christian, even if they call themselves Christian. Anymore than Unitarians are. They merely adopt portions of the Christian philosophy.

 

[David1701]

Why are Christians not in the habit of thinking about philosophy?

I suspect that there are several factors involved. Philosophy is often seen as a purely academic subject; discussions about it being limited to ivory towers, in which reside those who have the intellectual capacity, inclination, and time to indulge in such pursuits. It is also often not thought of as something that is particularly relevant to Christians. The trials and tribulations of their everyday lives are quite enough to be going on with.

Why would a discussion board have such a board given that condition and the conditions evidenced in this thread?


I know that last question entails conjecture but indulge the inquiry .

There are clearly some who think it a useful subject, in which there could be some interest. It could help those who want to, to learn about it. It could be beneficial, in thinking about how to approach various issues that crop up (e.g. freedom of speech, vaccine mandates, civil disobedience to anti-Christian laws, etc.).

 

[Eleanor]

Relevance?

What is it that separates a Christian philosophy, the Christian philosophy, from all other theisms?

The following facts (post #57) are what separate the Christian philosophy from all other theisms?

1) What God requires of us, he provides for us.
2) Every precept is a promise.
3) God crowns his own grace and work in us.

In what theism, other than Christian, does God himself enable the believer to obey/please him?

 

[Josheb]

What is it that separates a Christian philosophy, the Christian philosophy, from all other theisms?

Those facts (post #57) are what separate the Christian philosophy from all other theisms?

In what theism, other than Christian, does God himself enable the believer to please him?

As has already been stated, neither constituent facts, nor tasks to be performed are a philosophy. The latter would be part of ethics, not the governing system of thought begetting the supporting conduct.

 

[Eleanor]

As has already been stated, neither constituent facts, nor tasks to be performed are a philosophy. The latter would be part of ethics, not the governing system of thought begetting the supporting conduct.

Then I leave it to you to frame the principle I presented into a "philosophy."

 

[Josheb]

I suspect that there are several factors involved. Philosophy is often seen as a purely academic subject; discussions about it being limited to ivory towers, in which reside those who have the intellectual capacity, inclination, and time to indulge in such pursuits. It is also often not thought of as something that is particularly relevant to Christians. The trials and tribulations of their everyday lives are quite enough to be going on with.

Yes! I would go so far as to say many, if not most, believers do not have any particular bend for philosophy, and this is often articulated as either a disdain for theology or the view theology is not necessary - even though every Christian is a theologian to some degree. Everyone has a philosophy by which the trials and tribulations - as well as its joys and successes - is negotiated. When Paul mocked the philosopher and admonished the philosophies of men the implication is that there is an alternative philosophy by which a person can think and form sound doctrine and practice.

There are clearly some who think it a useful subject, in which there could be some interest. It could help those who want to, to learn about it. It could be beneficial, in thinking about how to approach various issues that crop up (e.g. freedom of speech, vaccine mandates, civil disobedience to anti-Christian laws, etc.).

One of my favorite definitions of Christian theology (philosophy as it applies to the God of the Bible) is that of the explorer. Most folks are okay with walking the shoreline, but some are moved to leave the shore and explore the vastness of the ocean. They return, compare notes, and the knowledge of God and His creation is expanded.

Which is sort of one of the op's aspirations, to see that there is one "map," not many.

 

[Arial]

As has already been stated, neither constituent facts, nor tasks to be performed are a philosophy. The latter would be part of ethics, not the governing system of thought begetting the supporting conduct.

Are:

Therefore, a definition of the Christian philosophy would be something like, "Have faith in God, and trust what He has promised is true."

constituent facts and tasks to be performed?

philosophy /fĭ-lŏs′ə-fē/

noun​

1. The study of the nature, causes, or principles of reality, knowledge, or values, based on logical reasoning.
2. A system of thought based on or involving such study.
   "the philosophy of Hume."
3. The study of the theoretical underpinnings of a particular field or discipline.

THE Christian philosophy is based on a unique starting point. Its content flows entirely from the Bible and what is in the Bible. That being that the full canon of the Scripture is the word of God, and therefore we believe and obey that word, not just in religion but in our entire world view. It does not separate the two. (#3 with the exception that it is not considered theoretical by Christianity, but absolute fact.) And it presumes of the Christian that he already has faith and trusts God, and whatever reasoning is involved is reasoned from what is revealed of God and mankind and creation, in his word. It does not pit, for example, science against revealed truth. It does not present situational ethics, cultural norms against the commandments of God, or integrity against self benefit.

When it comes to Christ and salvation, it reasons from the content of Scripture that God is triune and Jesus is God incarnate. Something that can only be reasoned from Scripture through the eyes of faith. So THE philosophy of Christianity begins with "God is who he reveals himself to be, the Bible is his word regarding who he is and and all ethics are derived from the ethics of God's character and our ethics are as his image bearers. But there is much more to it than just ethics.

 

[David1701]

Yes! I would go so far as to say many, if not most, believers do not have any particular bend for philosophy, and this is often articulated as either a disdain for theology or the view theology is not necessary - even though every Christian is a theologian to some degree. Everyone has a philosophy by which the trials and tribulations - as well as its joys and successes - is negotiated. When Paul mocked the philosopher and admonished the philosophies of men the implication is that there is an alternative philosophy by which a person can think and form sound doctrine and practice.

One of my favorite definitions of Christian theology (philosophy as it applies to the God of the Bible) is that of the explorer. Most folks are okay with walking the shoreline, but some are moved to leave the shore and explore the vastness of the ocean. They return, compare notes, and the knowledge of God and His creation is expanded.

Which is sort of one of the op's aspirations, to see that there is one "map," not many.

This seems to be reasonable.