Unboundedly Rational Religion

Table of Contents

PART ONE

Preface

Introduction: How Real Are We?

1. Faith as Thinking with Assent

2. Trinitarian Philosophy

3. The Identity of All Being(s)

4. Creation, Exemplarism and Divine Ideas

5. Creation stricto sensu

6. Metaphysics and Creation

7. Infinity and Created Being

8. Rethinking God

9. From Soul to Self

10. Transcendent Immanence, Immanent Transcendence

11. Precepts and Inclinations

12. Beyond Natural Law

13. How to Deconstruct Human Rights

14. Dialectical Reason

15. Grace and Ecumenism

16. Religion and Freedom

Epilogue: A Cultural Basis for the European Union?

PART TWO

1. Christian Traditions and Living Philosophy

2. Reintegration

3. Beyond the Sin-Paradigm

4. The Self-Explanatory?

5. The One and the Many

6. Absolute and Trinity: Logic at the Crossroads

7. From Shadows to Reality

8. Divine Simplicity - not so Simple?

9. Reconciliation

10. Where we may be at

11. Beyond Theism and atheism

12. Ideas or Spirits? Ideas as Spirits

13. Circularity, Series

14. On Fossils

15. Essence, Esse, Simplicity

16. Signum formale

17. Necessary Creation?

18. Beyond Infinity

19. Angelism

20. Becoming

21. Aboriginal Perennial

22. Infinite Incarnation

23. Eros

24. How it Might Be

25. Christianity without (or within) God?

Objectives and Topics

The work aims to perform an ultimate reintegration of monotheism—specifically the development of Judaism into Christianity—by interpreting it through a modern, scientific, and absolute lens. It explores the transition from traditional religious narratives to a more philosophically rigorous understanding of being, creation, and the divine, challenging historical dualisms and anthropomorphisms.

• The relationship between faith, reason, and rational assent.
• A re-evaluation of Trinitarian philosophy and the nature of divine infinity.
• The deconstruction of traditional concepts such as natural law and human rights.
• The philosophical implications of evolution on the understanding of the soul and human nature.
• The necessity of overcoming the conflict between transcendence and immanence to achieve reconciliation.

Excerpt from the Book

Summary of Chapters

Preface: The author introduces the central thesis, proposing a reintegration of monotheistic religious movements into a scientific and absolute philosophical framework, building upon Hegelian and Thomistic foundations.

Introduction: How Real Are We?: An inquiry into the nature of temporal reality compared to the timeless truth of ideas, questioning the special authority claimed by religious traditions.

Faith as Thinking with Assent: An exploration of the relationship between faith and reason, arguing that Christian belief invites rational evaluation and is not merely an act of blind submission.

Trinitarian Philosophy: A philosophical analysis of the Trinity, treating divine relations as compatible with divine infinity and immutability, moving away from solitary conceptions of God.

Key Keywords

Monotheism, Absolute Idealism, Trinitarian Philosophy, Creation, Hegel, Thomas Aquinas, Faith and Reason, Metaphysics, Resurrection, Incarnation, Dialectical Reason, Being, Essence, Finitude, Infinitude.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the fundamental purpose of this work?

The book seeks to reconcile religious traditions—specifically monotheism—with modern philosophy and science, aiming to show that religious claims can be understood as expressions of absolute reason.

What are the primary thematic areas covered?

The work focuses on the nature of being, the coherence of the Trinity, the philosophical meaning of creation, the critique of human rights and natural law, and the interpretation of historical religious developments.

What is the author's primary research objective?

The objective is to reframe religious dogmas, such as the Trinity and Incarnation, as essential, rationally necessary moments within a broader, absolute dialectical process, moving beyond outdated dualisms.

Which scientific/philosophical methods are utilized?

The author employs a dialectical method, heavily influenced by Hegel and neo-Thomism, to analyze religious claims and interpret the "unfolding" of history as the manifestation of absolute spirit.

How is the "main body" of the work structured?

The main part of the book progresses from fundamental considerations of faith and Trinitarian philosophy into complex metaphysical discussions regarding the nature of creation, human identity, and the eventual transcendence of law in favor of love.

How would you characterize the work's primary keywords?

The work is anchored in theological, metaphysical, and philosophical terminology, focusing on the concepts of existence, the absolute, the relationship between the finite and the infinite, and the role of consciousness.

How does the author view the "resurrection" of Jesus?

The author views the resurrection not just as a historical or miraculous event, but as a symbolic and dialectical necessity that underscores the transcendence of death and the realization of human universality.

What is the author's stance on the traditional "sin-paradigm"?

The author considers the traditional "sin-paradigm" as historically conditioned and essentially a legalistic metaphor that can be superseded by a more profound, dialectical understanding of human nature and divine reconciliation.