THE Christian Philosophy

[Josheb]

1) Obedience to God .... Obedience is a measurement of love and faith. To the extent one obeys he also believes/loves.
Note: Obedience is actuated by the Spirit. We do not have 'free will' (self-determined desire) to obey.
2) We give God NOTHING as He is the source of all things.
3) God's way are not our ways, His thoughts not our thoughts. Thus, His instructions are often analogous. Rules for men don't apply to God.
4) Like God's reaction to Job's thoughts about God, God would be 'ticked' at Fastfredy0's thoughts about God.

Thank you.

Hey, I imagine you can articulate an excellent answer to your question.

I will but 1) I do not want to bias the offerings, and 2) I've been having this conversation for a while so it wouldn't be "fair" to post it until other have had the opportunity to contribute or give any appearance I know something no one else does. I will say that everyone will probably facepalm when they read my answer and those who've come the closest to what might accurately be consider the Christian philosophy.

I've been gone a day or two. I see many have weighed in but I have a few dozen notifications awaiting replies so give me a few minutes to wade through them and I'll post my answers.

 

[Josheb]

Love, Hope, Faith, Grace, Peace, and Charity...

If Fidelity is an Ethic, all of these are an Ethic...

Thank you.

 

[Josheb]

M answer?

I believe the Christian philosophy starts with faith, not love or any other work. Therefore, a definition of the Christian philosophy would be something like, "Have faith in God, and trust what He has promised is true."

Love is works (mostly) in scripture. Love is most often operationalized. It's not a warm fuzzy feeling in my chest (or loins) and it has no validity or veracity unless it is operationalized. This is why love cannot be the philosophy. It can be a core principle of ethics. I would also include justice.

I believe and, therefore, I act. I act loving and just in all my relationships, beginning with God and then others. A short list would include most of what everyone else has already listed.

 

[David1701]

Close. Lots of religions are theistic. Lots of religions teach very similar views about God. What is it that separates a Christian philosophy, the Christian philosophy, from all other theisms?

The Christian beliefs about God are true (because he has revealed them to us). Man-made religions' beliefs about God are idolatrous.

 

[David1701]

M answer?

I believe the Christian philosophy starts with faith, not love or any other work. Therefore, a definition of the Christian philosophy would be something like, "Have faith in God, and trust what He has promised is true."

Love is works (mostly) in scripture. Love is most often operationalized. It's not a warm fuzzy feeling in my chest (or loins) and it has no validity or veracity unless it is operationalized. This is why love cannot be the philosophy. It can be a core principle of ethics. I would also include justice.

I believe and, therefore, I act. I act loving and just in all my relationships, beginning with God and then others. A short list would include most of what everyone else has already listed.

Christian philosophy cannot start with faith itself, for the simple reason that faith requires an object; so, Christian philosophy must start with truths about that object (God).

 

[Josheb]

The Christian beliefs about God are true (because he has revealed them to us). Man-made religions' beliefs about God are idolatrous.

Thanks. Who here do you think does not already know and understand that? How is that germane to answering the specific question this op asks?

Christian philosophy cannot start with faith itself, for the simple reason that faith requires an object; so, Christian philosophy must start with truths about that object (God).

Yep. I do not read anyone even remotely suggesting that is not the case. What I am trying to get at with you, is something specific. What is THE Christian philosophy, not what is A Christian philosophy? Think how many Christians might say,

The Christian Philosophy is that God is and, as the Creator and Lord of everything, He is holy, loving, the truth, just, righteous, patient and deserving of our worship......

So, we must therefore....

1. Go protest at military funerals because America supports homosexuality.
2. Stay out of politics and never hold any political office.
3. Never let women speak in church.
4. Never allow a woman to have authority over any man.
5. Never salute the American flag (or any other flag).
6. Bomb abortion clinics.
7. Constantly tell everyone Jesus is coming back tomorrow (or the next day, or the next one, or....).

We're all already Christians here (with a few possible exceptions). We are all, therefore, starting from the only position possible: God exists. For us, that is a statement of fact, not a statement of philosophy. It's a given. Given that given....... what is THE Christian philosophy? Define it. I suggest a period should be placed very early on in your answer to the op.

The Christian beliefs.

That's it!

The Christian philosophy begins with belief, with faith. It does not start with predicate conditions, and it does not start with subsequent works. It ensues from the predicate conditions and begets its own ethics.




Note to the lurkers. I singled out @David1701's posts but these same concerns could have been brought to bear and several other posts. So, @David1701, I hope you don't mind my using Posts 44 and 45 as object lessons. Nothing personal nor divisive is intended. I trust you all understand the absurdity of my hyperbolic treatment. As I've endeavored to get definitions of the Christian philosophy from others I have been struck by the fact few people 1) don't seem to understand the question and 2) aren't able to define the philosophy.... but the attempted definitions tend to fall into two categories: 1) vagary and 2) works and very few mention faith or belief as the critical aspect of the Christian philosophy that separates our philosophy from all others. Here's a short exercise any of you can do to check on this. Just read through the posts and insert Islam, or Mormonism, or utilitarianism or any other philosophy/theology into the post and see how much overlap there is.


We can argue the shared content is because all truth is God's truth and only truth works so it is, therefore, not surprising that all other philosophies would mimic Christianity but that's not the point. This op is intended to get at the uniqueness, the "THE" of THE Christian philosophy. The thing(s) that makes us different, not the things where we're all alike.


Anyone want to go with me to Arlington Cemetary and heckle because that's the ethics of the Christian philosophy?

 

[Eleanor]

M answer?

I believe the Christian philosophy starts with faith, not love or any other work. Therefore, a definition of the Christian philosophy would be something like, "Have faith in God, and trust what He has promised is true."

I think the Christian philosophy must be, "Have faith in Jesus Christ and his atoning work, and trust what he has promised (Jn 3:18) is true."
That is the foundation of it all.

Love is works (mostly) in scripture. Love is most often operationalized. It's not a warm fuzzy feeling in my chest (or loins) and it has no validity or veracity unless it is operationalized. This is why love cannot be the philosophy. It can be a core principle of ethics. I would also include justice.

I believe and, therefore, I act. I act loving and just in all my relationships, beginning with God and then others. A short list would include most of what everyone else has already listed.

 

[Hazelelponi]

we must therefore....

1. Go protest at military funerals because America supports homosexuality.

No

1. Stay out of politics and never hold any political office.

No

1. Never let women speak in church.

No (I would preface to say during church)

1. Never allow a woman to have authority over any man.

Women have no headship over men of God.

1. Never salute the American flag (or any other flag).

The American flag acknowledges itself as being "under" the authority of "God" so it would be okay I imagine. .

1. Bomb abortion clinics.

Not just no but hell no.

1. Constantly tell everyone Jesus is coming back tomorrow (or t

We are to remind of both God's judgement and Mercy and mans depravity and inability.

 

[Josheb]

I think the Christian philosophy must be, "Have faith in Jesus Christ and his atoning work, and trust what he has promised (Jn 3:18) is true."
That is the foundation of it all.

Sure. If I understand that through what I happen to know about you given a few years history reading your posts that is a viable re-wording of what I said The Christian Philosophy is that God is; that he is holy, loving, the truth, just, righteous, patient, etc.; that he is the creator of all things and Lord over all; that he is deserving of our love, worship and obedience BUT if I read those exact same words through the lens of an LDS or JW then that is definitely NOT the Christian philosophy. It works for you and me because we're Trinitarian, but those same exact words said non-trinitarianly end up being a works philosophy.

Presups matter.

 

[Josheb]

No


No


No (I would preface to say during church)


Women have no headship over men of God.



The American flag acknowledges itself as being "under" the authority of "God" so it would be okay I imagine. .

Not just no but hell no.


We are to remind of both God's judgement and Mercy and mans depravity and inability.

We are to remind each other Post 46 is explicitly intended as rhetorical nonsense and, therefore, not something for which any of its absurd particulars require a response other than to call it what it is:

Foolishness​

Because Christianity is the only religion that is not works (or knowledge)* based the Christian philosophy starts with faith, not works. All theisms start with God (or gods). It is the specific God of the Bible upon which Christian philosophy is build and that God is not reachable by works (or special knowledge obtained thereof).










* Christianity is not Gnostic, either. I should perhaps cover this in greater detail, but I rarely read/hear anyone define the Christian philosophy in Gnostic terms. The definitions are usually works-based.
.

 

[Hazelelponi]

We are to remind each other Post 46 is explicitly intended as rhetorical nonsense and, therefore, not something for which any of its absurd particulars require a response other than to call it what it is:

Foolishness​

Because Christianity is the only religion that is not works (or knowledge)* based the Christian philosophy starts with faith, not works. All theisms start with God (or gods). It is the specific God of the Bible upon which Christian philosophy is build and that God is not reachable by works (or special knowledge obtained thereof).










* Christianity is not Gnostic, either. I should perhaps cover this in greater detail, but I rarely read/hear anyone define the Christian philosophy in Gnostic terms. The definitions are usually works-based.
.

Yep. It's getting people away from their works mind, and to faith in Christ.

You did help me understand the concept your illustrating when you say "Christian Philosophy"

Many do not understand what you mean in the first place. I answered you unsure what you were asking then went elsewhere just to see what they said and most do seem largely confused by the question itself, though the best answers are found here as here we were more centered on Christ.

You remind me of my husband saying my God requires nothing from men to accomplish His will, a god that requires men to accomplish what he cannot is no God at all ..

 

[David1701]

Thanks. Who here do you think does not already know and understand that? How is that germane to answering the specific question this op asks?

If you want a definition of the Christian philosophy, then it's a good idea to start at the beginning (with those beliefs that are paradigmatic), which is what I did.

Yep. I do not read anyone even remotely suggesting that is not the case. What I am trying to get at with you, is something specific. What is THE Christian philosophy, not what is A Christian philosophy?

There is only one genuinely Christian philosophy (i.e. in accordance with the Bible, rather than opinions of men).

Think how many Christians might say,

The Christian Philosophy is that God is and, as the Creator and Lord of everything, He is holy, loving, the truth, just, righteous, patient and deserving of our worship......

So, we must therefore....

1. Go protest at military funerals because America supports homosexuality.
2. Stay out of politics and never hold any political office.
3. Never let women speak in church.
4. Never allow a woman to have authority over any man.
5. Never salute the American flag (or any other flag).
6. Bomb abortion clinics.
7. Constantly tell everyone Jesus is coming back tomorrow (or the next day, or the next one, or....).

Ludicrous superstructures are not the fault of sound foundations.

We're all already Christians here (with a few possible exceptions). We are all, therefore, starting from the only position possible: God exists. For us, that is a statement of fact, not a statement of philosophy. It's a given. Given that given....... what is THE Christian philosophy? Define it. I suggest a period should be placed very early on in your answer to the op.

Philosophy is a set of beliefs that are regarded as authoritative in one's life. Do you regard belief in God as authoritative? Yes? Then it's a foundational part of the Christian philosophy and should be stated, not assumed.

That's it!

The Christian philosophy begins with belief, with faith. It does not start with predicate conditions, and it does not start with subsequent works. It ensues from the predicate conditions and begets its own ethics.

Try explaining your Christian philosophy to an outsider, by starting with faith and not the object of that faith. See what happens...

Note to the lurkers. I singled out @David1701's posts but these same concerns could have been brought to bear and several other posts. So, @David1701, I hope you don't mind my using Posts 44 and 45 as object lessons.

LOL!

Nothing personal nor divisive is intended.
I trust you all understand the absurdity of my hyperbolic treatment. As I've endeavored to get definitions of the Christian philosophy from others I have been struck by the fact few people 1) don't seem to understand the question and 2) aren't able to define the philosophy.... but the attempted definitions tend to fall into two categories: 1) vagary and 2) works and very few mention faith or belief as the critical aspect of the Christian philosophy that separates our philosophy from all others. Here's a short exercise any of you can do to check on this. Just read through the posts and insert Islam, or Mormonism, or utilitarianism or any other philosophy/theology into the post and see how much overlap there is.

I mentioned faith/faithfulness; but, and this is important, false religions have counterfeits of all aspects of Christianity, including faith. Ask a Mormon or a Muslim if he has faith in God, and he will be emphatic that he does. Ask him if he has love, or joy, or peace, or righteousness and he will say, "Yes." to all. Of course, he is mistaken; but, the point is that the difference between Christian philosophy and false religion is not only that Christians have real faith; it is also that they have real love, joy, peace, etc., and know what these are (false religions not only don't have them, but also don't understand them).

We can argue the shared content is because all truth is God's truth and only truth works so it is, therefore, not surprising that all other philosophies would mimic Christianity but that's not the point. This op is intended to get at the uniqueness, the "THE" of THE Christian philosophy. The thing(s) that makes us different, not the things where we're all alike.

Christian philosophy does not share one iota with any other philosophy. It might share some of the same wording, but none of the same meaning.

 

[Eleanor]

Sure. If I understand that through what I happen to know about you given a few years history reading your posts that is a viable re-wording of what I said The Christian Philosophy is that God is; that he is holy, loving, the truth, just, righteous, patient, etc.; that he is the creator of all things and Lord over all; that he is deserving of our love, worship and obedience BUT if I read those exact same words through the lens of an LDS or JW then that is definitely NOT the Christian philosophy. It works for you and me because we're Trinitarian, but those same exact words said non-trinitarianly end up being a works philosophy.

Presups matter.

Then preface it with, "In the terms of and understood in the light of the NT."

Every branch of knowledge has its own terminology.

 

[Eleanor]

Close. Lots of religions are theistic. Lots of religions teach very similar views about God.
What is it that separates a Christian philosophy, the Christian philosophy, from all other theisms?

God does it all (through his Holy Spirit), man contributes nothing to pleasing God.

Yep.

Which is why I asked for a definition or thesis statement and then a list of principles and applications.

One of the chief purposes of this op is to obtain, if possible, THE Christian philosophy.... to avoid relativism and subjectivity. Another is to explore any difficulty doing so. "What most people think" is the problem to be solved if what most people think is incorrect. Appeals to the consensus or majority are to be avoided if what the majority thinks is incorrect.

 

[Josheb]

Many do not understand what you mean in the first place.

Exactly.

How then can people know what they do not understand. How is it we live in a body where this answer is not commonly (and uniformly) known?

Ephesians 4:11-16
And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.

Has someone neglected their responsibility to the body of Christ? One forum in which I post has a board titled, "The Christian Philosophy and Ethics" and when I asked what that was the response(s) was not something I'd describe as Ephesians 4.

You remind me of my husband saying my God requires nothing from men to accomplish His will, a god that requires men to accomplish what he cannot is no God at all ..

Your husband sounds like a smart guy who both reads and understands the Bible .

 

[Josheb]

Christian philosophy does not share one iota with any other philosophy.

I completely agree.

Why then are so many sincere, earnest, devout Christians unable to articulate a commonly shared, unified, cohesive definition of it?

 

[Eleanor]

Close. Lots of religions are theistic. Lots of religions teach very similar views about God. What is it that separates a Christian philosophy, the Christian philosophy, from all other theisms?
Yep.
Which is why I asked for a definition or thesis statement and then a list of principles and applications.

That would be the secrets of the Kingdom:

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.

To wit:

1) He requires payment for our sin, he provides payment for our sin.
----He requires faith for salvation (Jn 3:18), he provides faith for salvation (Jn 6:65, Php 1;29, Ac 13:48 18:27, 2 Pe 1:1, Ro 12:3).

2) The precept, "Be ye perfect (complete)," (Mt 5:48) is a promise that we shall be perfect, complete (Heb 10:14)--sincerity is counted as gospel perfection.
The precept to persevere (Mt 10:22, Lk 21:19) is a promise that we shall persevere (Php 1:6, Heb 10:14, 6:17-20, Ro 8:38-39, 1 Pe 1:5) by use of the means to persevere (2 Pe 1:5-10).

3) See Php 2:12-13, Ro 1:17), which is why we will cast our golden crowns (rewards - 2 Tim 4:8, Jas 1;12, 1 Pe 5:4, Rev 2:10, 3:11) at the foot of his throne (Rev 4:4, 10).

 

[Arial]

I completely agree.

Why then are so many sincere, earnest, devout Christians unable to articulate a commonly shared, unified, cohesive definition of it?

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.

M answer?

I believe the Christian philosophy starts with faith, not love or any other work. Therefore, a definition of the Christian philosophy would be something like, "Have faith in God, and trust what He has promised is true."

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.

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.

 

[David1701]

I completely agree.

Why then are so many sincere, earnest, devout Christians unable to articulate a commonly shared, unified, cohesive definition of it?

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

 

[Josheb]

That would be the secrets of the Kingdom:

Relevance?