Nostra Aetate's philosophical insights

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thinkandmull

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Vatican II says the following:

Buddhism,** in its various forms**, realizes the radical insufficiency of this changeable world; it teaches a way **by which **men, in a devout and confident spirit, may be able either to acquire the state of perfect liberation, or attain, **by their own efforts **or through higher help, supreme illumination.

Now supreme illumination is the Beatific Vision. The perfect liberation part could mean the Nirvana feeling attained by a Buddhist who follows the natural law. Shouldn’t we interpret “by there own efforts” to mean without conscious awareness of God? Right before it spoke on Hindus’ flight to God with love and trust. So I think that is the answer we should give to traditionalist on this. Bob Sungenis’s take, that “teaches a way” means “thinks it has a way”, which is not hermeneutically sound.

Vatican II goes on to say:

*Likewise, other religions found everywhere try to counter the restlessness of the human heart, each in its own manner, by proposing “ways,” comprising teachings, rules of life, and sacred rites. The Catholic Church rejects nothing that is true and holy in these religions. She regards with **sincere *reverence those ways of conduct and of life, those precepts and teachings which, though differing in many aspects from the ones she holds and sets forth, nonetheless often reflect a ray of that Truth which enlightens all men.

The Council is taking these religions each as a whole. Is it really proper to have internal respect for something as a whole like that? Why not respect the good, hate the bad?

This is a good topic, should be a fun thread
 
The document acknowledges the Christ as “ray of truth” in these religious quests and respects that just as we should. It does not ask us to accept what seems in conflict without own teachings. But we can try to see Christ already present in traditions and religions that seem foreign to us.
 
it says it sincerely respects those things that ALTHOUGH differing in MANY ways from the Church, has a ray of like. It did not say it respected just the ray of light
 
thinkandmull said:
it says it sincerely respects those things that ALTHOUGH differing in MANY ways from the Church, has a ray of like. It did not say it respected just the ray of light
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You are correct,

"She regards with sincere reverence those ways of conduct and of life, those precepts and teachings

even though “differing in many aspects from the ones she holds and sets forth”

because they “often reflect a ray of that Truth which enlightens all men.”

Truth may shine through different “aspects”.
 
Take a Muslim. Can we say “I admire your way of life” instead of just saying “I admire your monotheism but not you having ten wives”
 
thinkandmull said:
Take a Muslim. Can we say “I admire your way of life” instead of just saying “I admire your monotheism but not you having ten wives”
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The document starts with:
  1. In our time, when day by day mankind is being drawn closer together, and the ties between different peoples are becoming stronger, the Church examines more closely her relationship to non-Christian religions In her task of promoting unity and love among men, indeed among nations, she considers above all in this declaration what men have in common and what draws them to fellowship.
I think that is something to keep in mind in reading the rest. We need to promote unity and love by celebrating what we have in common and then see our differences in a more respectful light, no necessarily agreeing or admiring but respecting their right to believe.
 
A “sincere respect” can be primarily external you are saying?
 
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