Hello all,
History shows that philosophical thinking influenced theology and christendom doctrines development in many ways. Some people like 18th century historian Edward Gibbons see similarities in Plato trinity and Nicean creed. Others have seen for instance, in Plato “doctrine of Ideas” (that there is a perfect spiritual-like world where the ideal forms exists) or in soul immortality speculations a reference of some Christians future hope to be in heaven and not in material world in earth.
So, during my college days I was sometimes afraid about the "dangers" in philosophical thinking, sometimes alerted sometimes in Watchtower magazines pages or in talks in kingdom hall. For me, it seems clear that it was corroborated by the scriptures since the bible doesn't seems to put philosophy in a good view, yet Philosophy was very known in apostles times and that as we can infer in Acts, or even Corinthians and Colossians letters like in this scriptures in 1 Corinthians:
“18 For the speech about the torture stake is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is God’s power. 19 For it is written: “I will make the wisdom of the wise [men] perish, and the intelligence of the intellectual [men] I will shove aside.” 20 Where is the wise man? Where the scribe? Where the debater of this system of things? Did not God make the wisdom of the world foolish? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through its wisdom did not get to know God, God saw good through the foolishness of what is preached to save those believing.
22 For both the Jews ask for signs and the Greeks look for wisdom; 23 but we preach Christ impaled, to the Jews a cause for stumbling but to the nations foolishness; 24 however, to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 Because a foolish thing of God is wiser than men, and a weak thing of God is stronger than men. “
And in Colossians:
“8 Look out: perhaps there may be someone who will carry YOU off as his prey through the philosophy and empty deception according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary things of the world and not according to Christ.”
It always amazed me, how besides those alerts in bible protestant and catholic church doctrines was so influenced for philosophical thinking? Anyway, the world is not the same as in apostle days and philosophical thinking has evolved in many branches today. So my question for YOU friends is:
(i) Is philosophy that bad?
(ii) Did philosophical mergers with theology contributed positively for our understanding of God’s purposes or it improperly mixed light with darkness (1 Corinthians 6:16)?
(iii) Do you think that in your own views about God, Man, Future hope, sometimes you think in "Greek" and not in "Hebrew"?
Best regards,
Pele