fbpx
Wikipedia

Theistic rationalism

January 01, 1970

Theistic rationalism is a hybrid of natural religion, Christianity, and rationalism, in which rationalism is the predominant element.[1] According to Henry Clarence Thiessen, the concept of theistic rationalism first developed during the eighteenth century as a form of English and German Deism.[2] The term "theistic rationalism" occurs as early as 1856, in the English translation of a German work on recent religious history.[3] Some scholars have argued that the term properly describes the beliefs of some of the prominent Founding Fathers of the United States, including George Washington, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, James Wilson, and Thomas Jefferson.[4][5]

Definition edit

Theistic rationalists believe natural religion, Christianity, and rationalism typically coexist compatibly, with rational thought balancing the conflicts between the first two aspects.[4] They often assert that the primary role of a person's religion should be to bolster morality, a fixture of daily life.[4]

Theistic rationalists believe that God plays an active role in human life, rendering prayer effective.[4][5] They accept parts of the Bible as divinely inspired, using reason as their criterion for what to accept or reject.[6] Their belief that God intervenes in human affairs and their approving attitude toward parts of the Bible distinguish theistic rationalists from Deists.[7]

Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 3rd Earl of Shaftesbury (1671–1713), has been described[by whom?] as an early theistic rationalist.[8] According to Stanley Grean,

Both Shaftesbury and the Deists wanted to preserve theology while freeing it from supernaturalism; both denied the occurrence of miracles; both called for free criticism of the Bible and questioned the absoluteness of its authority; both shared a distrust of sacramental and priestly religion; and both stressed the importance of morality in religion. However, despite this broad area of agreement, Shaftesbury did not identify himself unreservedly with the developing Deistic movement, and he expressed some serious doubts about certain aspects of it... The Deists were wrong if they relegated God to the status of a Prime Mover without subsequent contact with the universe; Deity must be conceived as being in constant and living interaction with the creation; otherwise the concept is "dry and barren."[9]

Moral Law edit

Moral law of Theistic Rationalism chooses the highest good of being in general. It accepts, as a first truth of reason, that Man is a subject of moral obligation. Men are to be judged by their motives, that is, by their designs, intentions. If a man intend evil, though, perchance, he may do us good, we do not excuse him, but hold him guilty of the crime which he intended. So if he intends to do us good, and, perchance, do us evil, we do not, and cannot condemn him. He may have been to blame for many things connected with the transaction, but for a sincere, and of course hearty endeavour to do us good, he is not culpable, nor can he be, however it may result. If he honestly intended to do us good, it is impossible that he should not have used the best means in his power, at the time: this is implied in honesty of intention. And if he did this, reason cannot pronounce him guilty, for it must judge him by his intentions. Courts of criminal law have always in every enlightened country assumed this as a first truth. They always inquire into the quo animo, that is, the intention, and judge accordingly. The universally acknowledged truth that lunatics are not moral agents and responsible for their conduct, is but an illustration of the fact that the truth we are considering, is regarded, and assumed, as a first truth of reason. Moral law is a pure and simple idea of the reason. It is the idea of perfect, universal, and constant consecration of the whole being, to the highest good of being. Just this is, and nothing more nor less can be, moral law; for just this, and nothing more nor less, is a state of heart and a course of life exactly suited to the nature and relations of moral agents, which is the only true definition of moral law. Thus, whatever is plainly inconsistent with the highest good of the universe is illegal, unwise, inexpedient, and must be prohibited by the spirit of moral law.

Civil and family governments are indispensable to the securing of this end.

References edit

  1. ^ . The Claremont Institute. January 2005. Archived from the original on April 24, 2007. Retrieved 2008-01-14.
  2. ^ Compare: Thiessen, Henry Clarence (1979). "The Possibility and Divisions of Theology". Lectures in Systematic Theology. Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company. p. 17. ISBN 0802835295. Pantheistic rationalism is represented in Anaxagoras and the Stoics, and theistic rationalism appeared first in the form of English and German Deism in the eighteenth century.
  3. ^ "C.F.A. Kannis, 'Internal History of German Protestantism Since the Middle of Last Century', trans. Theodore Meyer (1856), p. 146".
  4. ^ a b c d Smith, Gary (2006). "George Washington and Providential Agency". Faith and the Presidency: From George Washington to George W. Bush. Oxford: Oxford University Press. pp. 25–26. ISBN 0195300602.
  5. ^ a b Smith, Gary (December 2006). "Will the Real George Washington Please Stand Up?". Grove City College – The Center for Vision and Values. Retrieved 2008-01-14.[permanent dead link]
  6. ^ Gregg L. Frazer, "The Political Theology of the American Founding" (Ph.D. dissertation), Claremont Graduate University, Claremont, California, 2004, pp. 11–12; also Frazer, The Religious Beliefs of America's Founders: Reason, Revelation, Revolution (University Press of Kansas, 2012)
  7. ^ Frazer, "The Political Theology of the American Founding" p. 6.
  8. ^ Frazer, "The Political Theology of the American Founding" pp. 243–247.
  9. ^ Stanley Grean, Shaftesbury's Philosophy of Religion and Ethics: A Study in Enthusiasm (Athens: Ohio University Press, 1967, pp. 61–62.[ISBN missing]

External links edit

  • "Gouverneur Morris, Theistic Rationalist"[permanent dead link], Gregg L. Frazer
  • "Conyers Middleton, Progenitor of Theistic Rationalism", Jonathan W. Rowe
  • "The Definition of Theistic Rationalism, Dispatches from the Creation Wars", Ed Brayton

January 01, 1970
theistic, rationalism, hybrid, natural, religion, christianity, rationalism, which, rationalism, predominant, element, according, henry, clarence, thiessen, concept, theistic, rationalism, first, developed, during, eighteenth, century, form, english, german, d. Theistic rationalism is a hybrid of natural religion Christianity and rationalism in which rationalism is the predominant element 1 According to Henry Clarence Thiessen the concept of theistic rationalism first developed during the eighteenth century as a form of English and German Deism 2 The term theistic rationalism occurs as early as 1856 in the English translation of a German work on recent religious history 3 Some scholars have argued that the term properly describes the beliefs of some of the prominent Founding Fathers of the United States including George Washington John Adams Benjamin Franklin James Wilson and Thomas Jefferson 4 5 Contents 1 Definition 2 Moral Law 3 References 4 External linksDefinition editTheistic rationalists believe natural religion Christianity and rationalism typically coexist compatibly with rational thought balancing the conflicts between the first two aspects 4 They often assert that the primary role of a person s religion should be to bolster morality a fixture of daily life 4 Theistic rationalists believe that God plays an active role in human life rendering prayer effective 4 5 They accept parts of the Bible as divinely inspired using reason as their criterion for what to accept or reject 6 Their belief that God intervenes in human affairs and their approving attitude toward parts of the Bible distinguish theistic rationalists from Deists 7 Anthony Ashley Cooper 3rd Earl of Shaftesbury 1671 1713 has been described by whom as an early theistic rationalist 8 According to Stanley Grean Both Shaftesbury and the Deists wanted to preserve theology while freeing it from supernaturalism both denied the occurrence of miracles both called for free criticism of the Bible and questioned the absoluteness of its authority both shared a distrust of sacramental and priestly religion and both stressed the importance of morality in religion However despite this broad area of agreement Shaftesbury did not identify himself unreservedly with the developing Deistic movement and he expressed some serious doubts about certain aspects of it The Deists were wrong if they relegated God to the status of a Prime Mover without subsequent contact with the universe Deity must be conceived as being in constant and living interaction with the creation otherwise the concept is dry and barren 9 Moral Law editThis section does not cite any sources Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed March 2024 Learn how and when to remove this message This section possibly contains original research Please improve it by verifying the claims made and adding inline citations Statements consisting only of original research should be removed March 2024 Learn how and when to remove this message Moral law of Theistic Rationalism chooses the highest good of being in general It accepts as a first truth of reason that Man is a subject of moral obligation Men are to be judged by their motives that is by their designs intentions If a man intend evil though perchance he may do us good we do not excuse him but hold him guilty of the crime which he intended So if he intends to do us good and perchance do us evil we do not and cannot condemn him He may have been to blame for many things connected with the transaction but for a sincere and of course hearty endeavour to do us good he is not culpable nor can he be however it may result If he honestly intended to do us good it is impossible that he should not have used the best means in his power at the time this is implied in honesty of intention And if he did this reason cannot pronounce him guilty for it must judge him by his intentions Courts of criminal law have always in every enlightened country assumed this as a first truth They always inquire into the quo animo that is the intention and judge accordingly The universally acknowledged truth that lunatics are not moral agents and responsible for their conduct is but an illustration of the fact that the truth we are considering is regarded and assumed as a first truth of reason Moral law is a pure and simple idea of the reason It is the idea of perfect universal and constant consecration of the whole being to the highest good of being Just this is and nothing more nor less can be moral law for just this and nothing more nor less is a state of heart and a course of life exactly suited to the nature and relations of moral agents which is the only true definition of moral law Thus whatever is plainly inconsistent with the highest good of the universe is illegal unwise inexpedient and must be prohibited by the spirit of moral law Civil and family governments are indispensable to the securing of this end References edit Founding Creed archived The Claremont Institute January 2005 Archived from the original on April 24 2007 Retrieved 2008 01 14 Compare Thiessen Henry Clarence 1979 The Possibility and Divisions of Theology Lectures in Systematic Theology Grand Rapids Wm B Eerdmans Publishing Company p 17 ISBN 0802835295 Pantheistic rationalism is represented in Anaxagoras and the Stoics and theistic rationalism appeared first in the form of English and German Deism in the eighteenth century C F A Kannis Internal History of German Protestantism Since the Middle of Last Century trans Theodore Meyer 1856 p 146 a b c d Smith Gary 2006 George Washington and Providential Agency Faith and the Presidency From George Washington to George W Bush Oxford Oxford University Press pp 25 26 ISBN 0195300602 a b Smith Gary December 2006 Will the Real George Washington Please Stand Up Grove City College The Center for Vision and Values Retrieved 2008 01 14 permanent dead link Gregg L Frazer The Political Theology of the American Founding Ph D dissertation Claremont Graduate University Claremont California 2004 pp 11 12 also Frazer The Religious Beliefs of America s Founders Reason Revelation Revolution University Press of Kansas 2012 Frazer The Political Theology of the American Founding p 6 Frazer The Political Theology of the American Founding pp 243 247 Stanley Grean Shaftesbury s Philosophy of Religion and Ethics A Study in Enthusiasm Athens Ohio University Press 1967 pp 61 62 ISBN missing External links edit Gouverneur Morris Theistic Rationalist permanent dead link Gregg L Frazer Conyers Middleton Progenitor of Theistic Rationalism Jonathan W Rowe The Definition of Theistic Rationalism Dispatches from the Creation Wars Ed Brayton Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Theistic rationalism amp oldid 1211801831, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

article

, read, download, free, free download, mp3, video, mp4, 3gp, jpg, jpeg, gif, png, picture, music, song, movie, book, game, games.