RUNNING HEAD: Philosophy and Theology 1. Christine Orsini RELS 111 Professor Fletcher March 21, 2012 Short Writing Assignment 2

Transcription

1 RUNNING HEAD: Philosophy and Theology 1 Christine Orsini RELS 111 Professor Fletcher March 21, 2012 Short Writing Assignment 2

2 Philosophy and Theology 2 Introduction In his extended essay, Philosophy and Theology, John Caputo presents four theses on the relationship between philosophy and theology, reviewing the role of each study within a historical context and leading up to the current postmodernism with its consequential impact on theology. Although Christians often shy away from the idea of adopting a postmodern perspective of philosophy and certainly theology Caputo introduces a thoroughly sound reasoning for a postmodern understanding of theology, drawing from the writings of the patristic St. Augustine and contemporary philosopher Jacques Derrida. Explaining the positive developments of theology within the postmodern context, Caputo demonstrates the irreducibility of philosophy and theology. He describes their integration, their separate uniqueness, and their power to inspire the awe and pursuit of the grand questions of life. Caputo s Four Theses Despite his weighty subject, Caputo begins innocently with a deceptively simple thesis addressing the importance of the single word and within the relationship of philosophy and theology. In many ways, philosophy and theology belong together both resonant studies concerned with questions of metaphysics and ontology and conversely, provide ample evidence of engaging in a historical power struggle, differentiated by their individual methods of communication. Their similarities and differences present equal opportunity for cooperation and conflict. Caputo captures a key instigator in the dynamics of the power struggle between philosophy and theology in his second thesis, describing the twist created by modernity: What happened in modernity is that the relationship between faith and reason was reversed, and now the principle that whoever is in power abuses it was visited upon the

3 Philosophy and Theology 3 church, and, what is much worse, since the church often enough deserves the grief it gets, upon God (Caputo, 2006, pp ). With this reversal, modernism attempted to reduce and force God into conceptual adherence to philosophical principles, exacerbating the differences in communication between theology and philosophy (Caputo, 2006, pp ). A modern understanding of theology placed its basis solely on unseeing or blind faith, with philosophy and sciences claiming the verifiable foundation of reason. Caputo debunks this perspective in his third thesis, explaining that both philosophy and theology require their own kind of faith, which he describes as two kinds of seeing as (Caputo, 2006, p. 57). One cannot reduce either of the two studies to pure reason or faith; they do not support such distinction. In his fourth and final thesis, Caputo reveals the shared beauty in both studies, describing them as companion ways in striving after the grand questions of life, those enigmas that drive us out of our human complacency and into transcendent passion. Understanding Postmodernism Caputo s third and fourth thesis rely on the worldview changes which occurred at the end of modernity. He describes several changes, or turns. Perhaps one of the greatest background forces which shaped the ideas of postmodernism was the linguistic turn, which destroyed the concept of reducing studies to a set of words. For example, Hegel, a modernistic German philosopher, conceded Christianity s moral and absolute values but reduced the faith to a pictorial form, a representation or a pretty picture (Caputo, 2006, pp ). Accepting the different languages of the separate topics of theology and philosophy, the end of modernism signified a worldview shift: the collective idea that human thinking turns on the ability to move

4 Philosophy and Theology 4 among shifting perspectives, vocabularies, and paradigms, none of which has dropped from the sky make up what we will call the postmodern turn (Caputo, 2006, p. 49). These postmodern turns identified the impact of projection; nothing can escape the projection of angles or the subjectivity of language not reason, not science, not religion. Caputo describes the subordination of our perspective to the choice of diction: Theologians give words to revelation by means of the words theologians are given to speak, and these words are given by the world in which they live (Caputo, 2006, p. 45). The revelation that hermeneutics and linguistics resists objectivity enables Caputo s claims, revealing the impossibility of a final interpretation. Thus, postmodernism places the previously regarded indisputable truth of reason and science on equal ground with questions of theology. Equalizing the playing field, the undeniable result of the postmodern turn was to make it possible for religious and theological discourse to assert its rights (Caputo, 2006, p. 53). Theology in the Postmodern Context The newly assert-able rights certainly play a powerful role in understanding new-found impact of theology within the postmodern context. Christians all too often shy away from the postmodern worldview because it breaks down the barriers of absolutism, posing a threat to the absolute truth of Scripture or the existence of God or any foundation and solid belief system. However, Caputo presents postmodernism as a positive development for theology, transforming this relative atmosphere into a theological advantage. First, postmodernism dissolves the necessity for certainty and opens up realms of possibility for exploration. The world is a lot more complicated than the moderns think, a lot messier, less well-programmed, less rulegoverned, more open-ended and open-textures (Caputo, 2006, p. 48). In this way, it destroys the false modern presuppositions that seeing equates believing or that science trumps faith.

5 Philosophy and Theology 5 Caputo writes, The idea is not to have a faith-free seeing the idea is to discern what to believe if we are to see (Caputo, 2006, p. 57). Secondly, postmodernism brutally exposes the limits and failures of human understanding, whether in scientific or theological discovery. With this revelation, theology gains a certain respect: From a religious point of view, does not postmodernism argue that God s point of view is reserved for God, while the human standpoint is immersed in the multiplicity of angles? (Caputo, 2006, p. 50). Finally, Caputo uses the philosophical examples of St. Augustine and Jacques Derrida to illustrate the thrill of theology within the postmodern territory. Both philosophers demonstrate a burning passion to pursue the questions of theology in spite of their limited abilities of understanding: The function of the name of God for Derrida is not to effect the peacefulness of rest, but to stir up still more restless inquiry, because the constancy of God for him does not have one settled and definite name (Caputo, 2006, p. 65). This is perhaps the most essential aspect of a postmodern perspective of theology. One can easily adopt the concept of the relativity of facts and the ambiguity of life as an excuse to abandon the struggle for understanding. This, however, would invalidate the useful purpose of viewing theology within the postmodern. It is the excitement of requiring an active and constantly inquiring faith that lends the postmodern perception of theology so ideal. Caputo describes this faith as the incredible pursuit for any surpassing quality in things that leaves us wide-eyed and breathless (Caputo, 2006, p. 68). This understanding of theology advantageously transcends human mediocrity to pursue a restless passion for life and the mystery of the divine. Conclusion In conclusion, Caputo s four theses present a dramatic and historical review of the theology and philosophy s relationship and the impact of the new postmodern worldview on the

6 Philosophy and Theology 6 human understanding of these studies. His understanding of postmodernism reveals the irreducibility of both philosophy and theology, dissipating the barriers of the historical powerplaying and loaded interpretations. Although postmodernism may appear dangerous because of its relative implications, Caputo turns this perspective on its head, demonstrating the newfound advantages that theology can enjoy. Because there can be no final interpretation, the postmodern perspective requires an eternal striving toward the great questions of life, whether philosophical or theological. Without the certainty of a scientific facts or systematic theology, postmodernism spurs the individual to inexhaustibly pursue God and how to love Him. Caputo s view of postmodernism thus presents an invaluable foundation for a recklessly active faith, inspiring individuals to overcome passivity and whole-heartedly pursue the tremendous questions of God and eternity.

7 Philosophy and Theology 7 Reference Caputo, J.D. (2006). Philosophy and theology. Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press.