How to understand this quote?

  • Thread starter Thread starter jesusmademe
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
J

jesusmademe

Guest
In the Book The Spiritual Life and Prayer: According to Holy Scripture and Monastic Tradition by Cécile Bruyère I read:

“In view of this it is important to observe how much more effectually the study of dogmatic theology transforms the soul than does the study of moral theology. Eminent missioners have observed this in the case of their pagan converts. The study of dogma raises the soul to higher regions, and shows it the divine Exemplar of the true, the good and the beautiful.”
What do you make of this?
 
Maybe because Dogmatic theology is about God Himself, but morality overlaps more with natural virtue?

Both are important.
 
In dogmatic theology I am seeing my Lover.
In moral theology I am seeing (comparing) myself.
“Falling in love” usually precedes working to figure out what gift to give my Beloved from out of what I am.
 
Last edited:
jesusmademe said:
…
Click to expand...
Dogmatic: the doctrines of faith.
Moral: actions and the means to the end.
Dogmatic theology has as its end the scientific discussion and establishment of the doctrines of faith, moral theology of the moral precepts. … The subject-matter of dogmatic theology is those doctrines which serve to enrich the knowledge necessary or convenient for man, whose destination is supernatural. Moral theology, on the other hand, is limited to those doctrines which discuss the relations of man and his free actions to God and his supernatural end, and propose the means instituted by God for the attainment of that end. Consequently, dogmatic and moral theology are two closely related parts of universal theology.
Click to expand...
Lehmkuhl, A. (1912). Moral Theology. In The Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company. http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14601a.htm
 
It doesn’t surprise me that pagan converts react that way. Moral theology can sound like “Do this because I say so,” while dogmatic theology is more like “This is how things work.” It’s more interesting, it’s meaty, it has more content.
 
The statement concerns me in that it sounds (granted, out of context) academic and thus sterile. What literally transforms the soul is supernatural grace. Theology offers words to help the soul organize and make “intelligible” the workings of that grace. “Study” does not transform - prayer (communion with God) enables transformation.
 
jesusmademe said:
What do you make of this?
Click to expand...
In a highly simplified, I admit, nutshell, it means that focusing on the nature of God is more likely to win hearts and minds than on obsessing on moral issues. A lot of people have been brought to God with the statement “God is love”, and a lot of people have been turned off by focus on selected issues in sexual morality.

Bartholemew B makes a good point.
 
I guess we are talking about focusing on the end, God, and only then what to do in our lives.
Don’t focus on actions or prayers forms. Focus on God and live a prayerful life.
 
Last edited:
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top