Reason and Faith
The Exemplar Symbol of Lucifer: The Conflict Between Reason and Faith in Gabriele Biondo’s Theology
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Vito Guida
This paper investigates how the theologian and secular priest Gabriele Biondo employed in his texts the symbol of Lucifer to express the conflict between reason and faith as the tension between intellect and senses. This symbol indicates the creature inability to confront the mystery of the dual nature of Christ. Biondo distinguishes between two forms of truth. In its first sense, truth can be understood as the uncovering (aletheia) of the actual reality presented before the senses (both spiritual and physical). This meaning is closely related to the notion of perception (Wahrnehmung) as it was developed by the Swiss theologian Hans Urs von Balthasar (1905-1988). In its second sense, truth originates from the creatural intellectual capabilities and, therefore, closely associated with fantasy. Based on this presupposition, Biondo identified in Lucifer two faults. Firstly, his refusal to accept Christ as the Mediator, since he envisaged that the dual nature of Christ allowed for the introduction of temporal elements within the transcendent realm of the Trinity ad intra. Secondly, his active rebellion, based on pride (superbia), directed specifically at the Person of the Son. The conclusion is that, for Biondo, the difficulties produced by the dichotomy between reason and faith can be resolved only by recognizing that the Christian revelation (Trinity ad extra) is inseparable from the Filial obedience to the Father, expressed as the divine Love of the Holy Spirit (Trinity ad intra).
Worship as Experience: Aesthetic Problems Churches Experience in the Organized Life of the Community
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Paul R. Shockley
In his seminal work, Art as Experience (1934), American philosopher John Dewey offered an extensive account about the nature aesthetic experience, the origin and use of the arts, and the resultant problems of anemia (personally and collectively) when the arts are separated from the organized life of the community. The proposed paper applies Dewey's critique of the arts to common aesthetic problems churches experience. Dewey's account of aesthetics offers penetrating insight into what engenders aesthetic experiences in corporate worship but also explains how local churches can use the arts to bridge the culture gap in the communities in which they are embedded. The implications are far-reaching for authentic spirituality, community life, and religious expressions of worship. After summarizing Dewey's ideas of the nature of aesthetic experience, I will critique four major types of aesthetics problems churches face: isolation of aesthetics from community; reductionistic focus of aesthetics in corporate worship; sensational indulgence in worship; mindless mechanical routine in worship. Afterwards, I will integrate Dewey's aesthetics in such a way that it can be used by local churches to advance the arts, leaving a rich aesthetic legacy of spirituality that will qualitatively benefit communities in the most dynamic ways.
The Spiritual Truth behind the Hindu and Nazi Swastika
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Jayant Athavale, Dragana Kislovski, Sean Clarke
Depending on the context, the Swastika is recognised as one of the most auspicious or heavily vilified symbols in the world. Originating as a sacred symbol in Hinduism and it was also used by other Eastern religions. Despite its sacred origins, the Swastika has become so widely associated with Nazi Germany that any contemporary usage of the symbol frequently incites controversy. So, is the Swastika symbol spiritually beneficial to society or not, and should it be embraced or discarded? With 37 years of spiritual research experience, the team at the Maharshi University of Spirituality has studied the Swastika in great detail from a spiritual perspective. This research has been conducted by using aura and subtle-energy scanners along with the advanced sixth sense of its research team. Listed below are some key spiritual research findings related to the form and the colour of the Swastika, which can significantly affect the subtle vibrations it emits. It was found that if drawn incorrectly like the Nazi Swastika, it emits negative vibrations. On the other hand, if drawn in a spiritually correct manner like the Hindu Swastika, it was found that the Swastika has the capability of attracting and emitting positive spiritual energy. In such a form, it can be utilised decoratively for auspicious occasions as it provides a spiritual healing effect to the immediate environment.
Enhancing Credibility : Persuasive Strategies in Sermon Titles and Openings
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Martin Adam
Since the emergence of the Aristotelian idea of appeal within the framework of his understanding of poetics, the concepts of ethos, pathos, and logos have indicated the essence of what came to be labelled much later as persuasive strategies. Although persuasion seems to be present in virtually all text types and registers, in many ways it is the religious discourse that utilises persuasion as one of its pivotal instruments to convince the audience of the veracity of the doctrine presented through it. The present paper explores scripted sermons, particularly sermon titles and opening passages, in terms of the persuasive strategies employed. The main emphasis is placed on how particular linguistic realisations of persuasion enhance the credibility of the message.
