Faith and Reason: Insights from Scholasticism

 

Summary

In this exploration of Scholasticism, we delve into the intricate relationship between faith and reason, a question that has long intrigued the church. Scholasticism, often misunderstood, was a significant intellectual movement in the Middle Ages that sought to reconcile these two elements. Anselm of Canterbury, a pivotal figure in this era, is celebrated for his theological contributions, particularly his ontological argument for the existence of God. This argument posits that God, being the greatest conceivable being, must exist because existence is a necessary attribute of greatness. While this argument has sparked debate among philosophers, it underscores the depth of Anselm's theological inquiry.

Anselm's work "Cur Deus Homo" further explores the necessity of the incarnation and atonement. He argues that humanity owed a debt due to sin that only the God-Man, Jesus Christ, could pay. This profound reflection on atonement emphasizes the necessity of Christ's work for salvation, a concept that has shaped Western theological thought.

Contrasting Anselm, Peter Abelard offered a different perspective on atonement, focusing on the love of God rather than a debt-payment model. Abelard's view, which sees Christ's death as a demonstration of divine love, challenges traditional notions and highlights the diversity of theological thought in the Middle Ages.

Peter Lombard, another significant figure, compiled "The Four Books of the Sentences," a foundational theological text that synthesized previous theological opinions, particularly those of Augustine. Lombard's work became the cornerstone of theological education in the Middle Ages, influencing countless scholars.

These theologians exemplify the vibrant intellectual life of the church during this period, as they grappled with profound questions about God, salvation, and the nature of theological inquiry.

Key Takeaways

- Scholasticism represents a crucial effort to reconcile faith and reason, a task that remains relevant today. It challenges us to consider how reason can support faith and vice versa, encouraging a deeper understanding of both. [00:31]

- Anselm's ontological argument for God's existence invites us to ponder the nature of God as the greatest conceivable being. This argument, while debated, pushes us to reflect on the attributes of God and the necessity of His existence. [04:09]

- The concept of atonement, as explored by Anselm, emphasizes the necessity of Christ's incarnation and sacrifice. It reminds us of the profound debt of sin and the unique role of Jesus as both God and man in bridging the gap between humanity and God. [09:26]

- Abelard's perspective on atonement, focusing on divine love, challenges us to consider the nature of God's love and the purpose of Christ's sacrifice. It invites reflection on how love and justice coexist in the divine nature. [16:49]

- Peter Lombard's "Sentences" highlights the importance of synthesizing theological thought and tradition. It underscores the value of engaging with historical theological insights to build a comprehensive understanding of faith. [19:59]

Youtube Chapters

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:31] - The Rise of Scholasticism
- [01:11] - Anselm of Canterbury
- [02:42] - Anselm's Theological Contributions
- [03:27] - The Ontological Argument
- [04:09] - Exploring God's Existence
- [05:42] - Philosophical Debates
- [07:55] - Cur Deus Homo: The Atonement
- [09:26] - The Necessity of the God-Man
- [11:42] - Eastern vs. Western Theology
- [12:24] - Abelard's Theological Contributions
- [14:04] - Sic et Non: Yes and No
- [16:49] - Abelard's View on Atonement
- [19:15] - Peter Lombard and the Sentences
- [22:47] - Conclusion and Reflection

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: Scholasticism and the Relationship Between Faith and Reason

Bible Reading:
1. Romans 1:20 - "For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse."
2. Hebrews 11:1 - "Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see."
3. John 1:14 - "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth."

Observation Questions:
1. What was the primary goal of Scholasticism in the Middle Ages, and how did it aim to address the relationship between faith and reason? [00:31]
2. How does Anselm's ontological argument attempt to prove the existence of God, and what are some reactions to this argument? [04:09]
3. What is the central theme of Anselm's work "Cur Deus Homo," and how does it explain the necessity of the incarnation and atonement? [09:26]
4. How does Peter Abelard's view on atonement differ from Anselm's, and what theological implications does this have? [16:49]

Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the ontological argument challenge or support one's understanding of God's nature as the greatest conceivable being? [04:09]
2. In what ways does Anselm's explanation of the necessity of the God-Man deepen our understanding of the atonement and its significance for salvation? [09:26]
3. How does Abelard's focus on divine love as the primary purpose of Christ's sacrifice influence our perception of God's nature and the purpose of the crucifixion? [16:49]
4. How does Peter Lombard's synthesis of theological thought in "The Four Books of the Sentences" highlight the importance of engaging with historical theological insights? [19:59]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your own understanding of the relationship between faith and reason. How can you apply the principles of Scholasticism to deepen your faith and intellectual inquiry? [00:31]
2. Anselm's ontological argument invites us to ponder the attributes of God. How can you incorporate this reflection into your daily prayer or meditation practice? [04:09]
3. Consider the concept of atonement as a debt that only the God-Man could pay. How does this understanding impact your view of Christ's sacrifice and your personal relationship with Him? [09:26]
4. Abelard's perspective emphasizes God's love. How can you demonstrate this love in your interactions with others, especially those who may not share your faith? [16:49]
5. Peter Lombard's work underscores the value of historical theological insights. How can you incorporate the study of church history into your spiritual growth and understanding of faith? [19:59]
6. How can the diverse theological perspectives of Anselm, Abelard, and Lombard inspire you to engage in respectful and meaningful theological discussions with others? [16:49]
7. Reflect on a time when you struggled to reconcile faith and reason. How did you navigate that challenge, and what did you learn from the experience? [00:31]

Devotional

Day 1: The Harmony of Faith and Reason
Faith and reason are often seen as opposing forces, yet Scholasticism demonstrates their potential for harmony. This intellectual movement of the Middle Ages sought to reconcile these two elements, showing that reason can support faith and vice versa. Anselm of Canterbury, a key figure in Scholasticism, exemplified this by using reason to explore theological concepts, such as his ontological argument for the existence of God. This approach encourages a deeper understanding of both faith and reason, challenging us to consider how they can coexist and enrich our spiritual journey. [00:31]

"For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding; he stores up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to those who walk in integrity." (Proverbs 2:6-7, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you use reason to deepen your faith today? Consider a specific area of your life where you can apply this harmony.


Day 2: The Nature of God as the Greatest Conceivable Being
Anselm's ontological argument invites us to ponder the nature of God as the greatest conceivable being. This argument suggests that God's existence is necessary because existence is a fundamental attribute of greatness. While philosophers have debated this argument, it pushes us to reflect on the attributes of God and the necessity of His existence. By contemplating God's nature, we are encouraged to deepen our understanding of His greatness and how it impacts our lives. [04:09]

"Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable." (Psalm 145:3, ESV)

Reflection: How does your understanding of God's greatness influence your daily life and decisions? Identify one area where you can acknowledge His greatness more fully.


Day 3: The Necessity of Christ's Incarnation and Sacrifice
Anselm's exploration of atonement emphasizes the necessity of Christ's incarnation and sacrifice. He argues that humanity owed a debt due to sin that only the God-Man, Jesus Christ, could pay. This profound reflection on atonement highlights the unique role of Jesus in bridging the gap between humanity and God. It reminds us of the profound debt of sin and the essential nature of Christ's work for our salvation. [09:26]

"For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time." (1 Timothy 2:5-6, ESV)

Reflection: How does the understanding of Christ as the mediator affect your relationship with God? Consider how you can live in gratitude for His sacrifice today.


Day 4: Divine Love and the Purpose of Christ's Sacrifice
Peter Abelard's perspective on atonement focuses on the love of God rather than a debt-payment model. He views Christ's death as a demonstration of divine love, challenging traditional notions and inviting us to consider the nature of God's love. This perspective encourages reflection on how love and justice coexist in the divine nature and how Christ's sacrifice reveals the depth of God's love for humanity. [16:49]

"But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8, ESV)

Reflection: How can you demonstrate God's love to others today, inspired by Christ's sacrifice? Identify one specific action you can take.


Day 5: Synthesizing Theological Thought and Tradition
Peter Lombard's "Sentences" highlights the importance of synthesizing theological thought and tradition. By compiling and synthesizing previous theological opinions, Lombard's work became a cornerstone of theological education in the Middle Ages. This approach underscores the value of engaging with historical theological insights to build a comprehensive understanding of faith. It challenges us to appreciate the richness of theological tradition and its relevance to our spiritual growth. [19:59]

"Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith." (Hebrews 13:7, ESV)

Reflection: How can you engage with theological traditions to deepen your faith? Consider one historical theological insight you can explore further this week.

Quotes


Well, at the end of our last lecture, we had just begun to look at the rise of the phenomenon of Scholasticism as a theological enterprise and I was trying to make the difficult argument that Scholasticism is really important and really valuable and shouldn't be dismissed as entirely negative movement. In fact it was a great effort on the part of great minds in the middle ages to wrestle with the question: What is the relationship of faith and reason? [00:00:31]

One of those are great works of his -- he lived from 1033 to 1109 -- so, we just sort of snuck over into our century, but he did a lot of his great work near our century and it's really quite foundational to it even in his own day. He was sometimes called the second Augustine. That's how highly regarded he was. He was a very pious man, very devoted to the Virgin Mary. [00:02:42]

The a priori ontological argument goes like this, if there were a God, in the nature of the case, wouldn't God be at least partially defined as that than which nothing greater can be imagined. I mean it isn't just in the nature of the case that if there is a God, he's got to be the greatest; he's got to be superior to all other things. [00:04:15]

Well, if there is no God but we can conceive of God, then must it not be that the being than which nothing greater can be conceived must have existence. Because of it doesn't have existence, we can think of something greater. So if you can think of a god that doesn't exist, but God by definition is the being than which nothing greater can be conceived, he must exist because existence would be greater than none existence. [00:05:18]

The work of his though that gets even more attention is the work entitled Cur Deus Homo, Latin title of the work which means literally "Why God man?" It can be translated "Why the God man?" or frequently translated "Why did God become man." Why God man? If we are agreed as the church was agreed that Jesus is the incarnation of the Eternal logos "become man." [00:07:29]

The brief sort of way of talking about what Anselm came to is this: "Man owe to debt but couldn't pay it." God could pay the debt but didn't know it and only the God-Man could both owe the debt and pay it. Now that's so simple, we're inclined to say "Well an idiot could have thought of that." Well, actually not. It took a lot of careful thought, a lot of careful reflection and it rests on this notion that sin is a debt that is owed. [00:09:26]

Abelard's basic position was there was no necessary debt that had to be paid. That's to misconstrue the nature of God is to undermine the love of God. It's to fail to appreciate the love of God. And Abelard said Jesus didn't become a man to pay a debt that we couldn't pay but the Logos became a man in order to show us the love of God and that the death of Christ then on the cross is not primarily a payment. [00:16:49]

The death of Christ on the cross is primarily a manifestation, an example of the love of God. And that point of view initially often seems very appealing. God isn't someone who needs to be appeased. Isn't that a terrible notion? But God is always loving, God is always caring and the death of Christ shows that. But the problem is, as Bernard for example, saw clearly and vigorously attacked the Abelard for his teaching. [00:17:39]

Peter Lombard was not the creative theologian that Anselm was, he was not the speculative theologian that Abelard was but he was a great gatherer of information, a great systematic mind and he produced what became the fundamental textbook in theology for the later medieval church. Lombard died in 1164 and he wrote a book that was entitled "The Four Books of the Sentences" it's usually translated. [00:19:15]

The interesting thing is that Lombard when he put together the four books of the sentences, about 80% of it, it's been estimated was taken from Augustine. It showed how much Lombard knew Augustine, how influential Augustine remained, but this book became the basics systematic theology textbook for the whole rest of the Middle Ages. Lombard was known as the "Master of the Sentences" and the first thing that you did as a theological student, thereafter, was to master the sentences and everything that was written theologically was written in dialogue with Lombard. [00:20:14]

So, as we come to a conclusion of this lecture, we see how there's a whole new vitality emerging in the theological life of the church. It'll be worked out and much more detail later. But here is a profound beginning and a very creative impetus coming in to the life of the church as people are thinking "How does theology teach us about God? How does theology lead us on to God? How does theology help us understand what God is all about?" [00:22:47]

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Transcript
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