Core principles

[mcteague]

mcteague
**
I am curious to observe a debate among Catholics about what is or is not essential. **

No doubt you are, but are you also eager to provoke a debate among Catholics?
]

You’ve figured me out. This is all part of my secret plan to ignite another reformation or scizim. Soon you will all be at each other with pitch forks.

Seriously though, religious belief is a deeply personal issue. It is not my intention to stir up trouble. But in a public forum where one hears term like “kitchen catholic”, or calls to excommunicate Catholic pro-choice Democrats, some discussion of what Catholic means seemed worthwhile.
For some, and I suppose you might fall into this category, it means a fairly strict adherence to the catechism. For others it might mean something else.
Asking what is core or essential should actually have a unifying rather than device effect. Since an agreed upon essence would include the most voices. Although for some it also might be difficult. Because they might be challenged to broaden their own definitions.

So no. I am not trying to stir up trouble. But I think it is good, if you are going to call yourself something, whether that be Catholic, Humanist, or Marxist, to step back and ask ourselves what does that really mean.

 

[Charlemagne_II]

mcteague

**So no. I am not trying to stir up trouble. But I think it is good, if you are going to call yourself something, whether that be Catholic, Humanist, or Marxist, to step back and ask ourselves what does that really mean. **

Respectfully, I don’t have to step back and ask myself what it means to be a Catholic. To be a Catholic is to submit to the teachings of Jesus and to the teaching authority of His Church.

ANYTHING OTHER THAN THAT IS PROTESTANT IN THE FULLEST SENSE OF THE WORD

 

[jochoa]

Since I did use religious nomenclature in my initial proposal, how about this:
The Guiding philosophy is determining how to achieve the greatest peace, happiness, and longevity.

The philosophical answer has 3 equal parts:

1. Always be patient and kind
2. Free will’s motivation must be an amazing balance of considering others, the self, and the “world” in entirety.
3. A perfect role model that is of the same human nature must demonstrate what exactly does always being patient and kind look like, and how that achieves the greatest peace, happiness, and longevity.

I look forward to hearing your thoughts!

 

[Spirithound]

Since I did use religious nomenclature in my initial proposal, how about this:
The Guiding philosophy is determining how to achieve the greatest peace, happiness, and longevity.

The philosophical answer has 3 equal parts:

1. Always be patient and kind
2. Free will’s motivation must be an amazing balance of considering others, the self, and the “world” in entirety.
3. A perfect role model that is of the same human nature must demonstrate what exactly does always being patient and kind look like, and how that achieves the greatest peace, happiness, and longevity.

I look forward to hearing your thoughts!

I would expect a Catholic philosophy to mention the afterlife, wouldn’t you?

 

[KevJohn]

I suppose it depends upon whether you are talking about metaphysics, or philosophical anthropology, or ethics, logic, or epistemology, or something else. I think that the basics are something like this:

1/ Things are as they seem
2/ Things, even though as they seem, participate in something which is the basis of them all.
3/ this something is mysterious, transcendent, unchanging, perfect, personal, and good. The source of all being, it is Being itself.
4/ Humans, as free, thinking, willing, feeling, sensing, agents, are able to apprehend something of this Good
5/ This involves living a life of love and virtue and the pursuit of truth, which through participation in Being opens our eyes to the true nature of things. As Marcel said, ‘sanctity is the key to ontology’.
6/ by some mysterious event, there entered freely into the world what is called evil. This does not compromise the goodness of Being, but is a force which seeks to draw people away from the good.
7/ The purpose of human life is to seek the fullness of Being by participation, and to lead others to do the same, avoiding evil and living according to the precepts of natural law which is enshrined in each heart.
8/ So doing he/she will attain - by cooperating with the life of Being, which is called grace - to eternal beatitude and communion with Being and with all those who have sought and lived the truth.

Though to attempt such an exercise without reference to the Most Holy Trinity, the Holy Cross, and the Bride of Christ is pretty tame. If it wasn’t, we wouldn’t need the Cross. Only the Cross reveals adequately the mysteries of existence. As Maritain said, a philosophy which has no place for mystery is no philosophy at all

Anyway, this is my lame take, I am definitely open to being shown the errors of my judgement, and receiving guidance from those more experienced and wise.

Blessed Be Jesus

 

[DianaCC]

You’ve figured me out. This is all part of my secret plan to ignite another reformation or scizim. Soon you will all be at each other with pitch forks.

I *knew *the Illuminati were behind this.

 

[jochoa]

I would expect a Catholic philosophy to mention the afterlife, wouldn’t you?

Based on my understanding, the afterlife would fall into the longevity aspect. Longevity refers to daily energy, earthly lifespan, legendary lifespan, offspring lifespan, and eternal lifespan.

 

[jochoa]

From a philosophical perspective, what would you say are the core principles or essential elements of Catholicism? I would think that these could be stated without reference to religious components. But that may reflect my intellectual bias, or a misunderstanding of Catholic philosophy. And may infact not be possible. But if you could sum up the essence of Catholic philosophy, what would you say it was?

I would enjoy hearing your thoughts of my understanding, but more importantly I wonder:

1. What do you think are the core principles?
2. What is your bias?
3. What do you think are some of your misunderstandings?

Thanks for your time, consideration, and thought-provoking question! I thoroughly enjoyed thinking about it!

 

[Spirithound]

Based on my understanding, the afterlife would fall into the longevity aspect. Longevity refers to daily energy, earthly lifespan, legendary lifespan, offspring lifespan, and eternal lifespan.

Excellent. That is just what I wanted to find out.