D.B. Hart on Reason

I have not yet read David Bentley Hart’s The Beauty of the Infinite, though I have read his small book on theodicy and various articles of his, many of which can be accessed for free on www.firstthings.com. I find him to be an exhilarating writer and am often carried away by the beauty of his [...]

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Newman on Conscience (3)

Given what I posted earlier, it might appear as if Newman considers it acceptable to dissent from the Pope’s teaching provided it is not an infallible statement and he has often been recruited as an advocate for such a position. But Newman will have nothing to do with such an attitude and whilst he certainly [...]

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Newman on Conscience (part 2)

Newman’s conversion to the Catholic Church necessitated his defence of the doctrine of Papal Infallibility when it came against the attacks of erstwhile critics such as the great statesman and Prime Minister W.E. Gladstone. Newman was keen at all points to stress that the doctrine did not impinge on the rights of conscience and he [...]

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Newman on Conscience (part 1)

I haven’t posted anything for a while as I was on holiday. Anyway, here is a post on Newman’s attitude towards conscience and its ‘freedom’.
The role conscience played in religious life for Newman can hardly be understated. In fact, Henri Bremond goes so far as to say that “for him…the whole religious edifice rests on [...]

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The Venerable John Henry Cardinal Newman

John Henry Newman has been called the “father of Vatican II”, his work was introduced into Germany by such luminaries as Erich Przywara and was undoubtedly an intellectual giant of his age. In recent times, however, his light has been somewhat eclipsed. Even today though, many appeal to him for varied reasons: ‘liberals’ look to [...]

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John Milbank and the Theology of Religions (3)

To conclude this mini-series I offer some thoughts and criticisms on Milbank’s approach.
A major criticism of Milbank’s approach in general is that, despite his rhetoric about the possibility of harmonious difference, his assertion of theology (i.e. Christianity) as a master-discourse leaves little room for any other voices to co-exist. Milbank tells us that Christian theology [...]

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John Milbank and the Theology of Religions (2)

Here is the continuation of the post from yesterday:
Milbank is again demonstrating his conviction that it is Christianity alone which can ultimately serve the cause of justice which pluralism conspicuously fails to do. His view of Christianity as the ‘master discourse’ is never more apparent. In answer to the criticisms of Western imperialism, Milbank answers [...]

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‘Sleep’ – Charles Peguy

Human wisdom says Don’t put off until tomorrow What can be done the very same day.But I tell you that he who knows how to put off until tomorrowIs the most agreeable to GodHe who sleeps like a childIs also he who sleeps like my darling Hope.And I tell you Put off until tomorrowThose [...]

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John Milbank and the Theology of Religions

As is probably to be expected given Milbank’s views on Christianity as a ‘master discourse’ placing all other narratives, he does not have a very positive view on the so called ‘theology of religions’. This can be seen through an analysis of his essay entitled ‘The End of Dialogue’.
Milbank’s essay ‘The End of Dialogue’ appears [...]

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Simplicity Itself: John Milbank’s thesis in Theology and Social Theory

Fergus Kerr once remarked that John Milbank’s argument in his magisterial Theology and Social Theory could be described as ’simplicity itself’ (New Blackfriars 73 (1992)). This will be seen as an extremely odd claim for anyone who’s attempted to slog through the 400 plus pages of a book densely packed with references to just about [...]

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