Philosophy as Spirituality

[ialsop]

I know, the title is kind of weird, but wasn’t sure how to word it.

Anyways, when I study philosophy in the Christian tradition, it is not purely intellectual fun or mental work or academic study. For me, studying the lesser known ideas of Thomas Aquinas often helps a LOT with difficulties I have in my spiritual life and my progression to virtue. Like typically we think of prayer and study as separate, but for me studying Christian philosophy is a HUGE help to the spiritual life in a way that my youth group retreats and inspirational talks never will be. It provides answers to questions I have and amazing unheard insights. For example, logical reasons why we will be happy in Heaven or why we should love all people or why we ought to love God, or how God is not at all egotistical by being loved infinitely by Himself. Further in some of his comments on the nature of various vices and virtues I see I lot of helpful insights that the culture of inspirational quotes, apolegetics soundbites, and pump up talks have never given me. For me philosophy can be a sort of spiritual reading.

Anybody else feel the same way at all?

 

[PluniaZ]

Yes, definitely. We are rational creatures and need to have a rational understanding of the faith in order to sustain it. Emotions are important but they tend to burn out or fade away. Ultimately we will follow what we rationally believe to be true.

It’s a shame that there has been a war on the intellect since Saint Thomas Aquinas. Faith has been caricatured as something that should be purely affectionate or “spiritual” with increasing hostility over the centuries, to the point today where popular culture portrays religion as diametrically opposed to science.

Thankfully we received the written wisdom of Saint Thomas Aquinas right before the voluntarist onslaught began.

 

[Ontheway]

I know, the title is kind of weird, but wasn’t sure how to word it.

Anyways, when I study philosophy in the Christian tradition, it is not purely intellectual fun or mental work or academic study. For me, studying the lesser known ideas of Thomas Aquinas often helps a LOT with difficulties I have in my spiritual life and my progression to virtue. Like typically we think of prayer and study as separate, but for me studying Christian philosophy is a HUGE help to the spiritual life in a way that my youth group retreats and inspirational talks never will be. It provides answers to questions I have and amazing unheard insights. For example, logical reasons why we will be happy in Heaven or why we should love all people or why we ought to love God, or how God is not at all egotistical by being loved infinitely by Himself. Further in some of his comments on the nature of various vices and virtues I see I lot of helpful insights that the culture of inspirational quotes, apolegetics soundbites, and pump up talks have never given me. For me philosophy can be a sort of spiritual reading.

Anybody else feel the same way at all?

" On her part, the Church cannot but set great value upon reason’s drive to attain goals which render people’s lives ever more worthy. She sees in philosophy the way to come to know fundamental truths about human life. At the same time, the Church considers philosophy an indispensable help for a deeper understanding of faith and for communicating the truth of the Gospel to those who do not yet know it."

This is from Faith and Reason of JP II.
This pope always emphasized the importance of the sciences in relation to faith.

 

[Charlemagne_III]

Both philosophy and science have certain spiritual qualities that make them serve our interest in understanding the world and our place in it. However, at some point, intellect grasps the fact that it cannot answer all the important questions without the help of faith.
It is tragic that in our time philosophy and science have acquired a certain popular pre-eminence over faith and have contributed to making ours a post-Christian era. But actions have consequences. The Age of Faith has given way to the Age of Indifference, but indifference cannot rule forever without finally being indifferent to itself. At that point faith will return, and it will return with a vengeance.