Romantic Orthodoxy, Militant Atheism, and a Question of Style

Posted on December 27, 2010 by review_ed

In a recent article, “The New Divide: Romantic versus Classical Orthodoxy,” Modern Theology 26 (2010), the Anglican theologian John Milbank, has identified a new divide between “romantic” and “classical” orthodoxy, one which replaces the older divide between theological orthodoxy and liberalism. Romantic orthodoxy affirms a link between reason and eros and opposes strict rationalism, while classical orthodoxy locates in a particular reading of Thomas a proper use of reason and a scholastic legacy. The difference between them, claims Milbank, is a difference in the understanding of the relationship between nature and grace. Classical orthodoxy, while arguing for the power of reason to supply proof of the existence of God and the plausibility of revelation, simultaneously confesses its own inadequacy and embraces “the completely supernatural content of the act of faith” (Milbank 29). Fideism accompanies rationalism. For proponents of romantic orthodoxy, however, “critical mediation” between the realms of nature and grace plays a crucial role. Reason itself descends, restoring and exalting damaged human reasoning processes. This reason is the Incarnation, while the words of the Bible “anticipate, echo, enforce and again anticipate the epiphanic descent of reason itself to humanity” (Milbank 30). Continue reading →

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Wendell Berry Feast

Posted on December 8, 2010 by exec_admin

On Friday, December 10th, we will be meeting once again in the Committee Room at Waterloo Lutheran Seminary, 3-4:30, to discuss the work of the novelist, ecologist, poet, farmer, Kentucky Baptist theologian, Wendell Berry. The Fall 2009 Communio had an article by him (“Inverting the Economic order”) and two additional pieces, one on his thought and another which makes use of his work, one by Nathan Schlueter on Berry’s theology of the body and the second by Mark Shiffman on oikonomia. For the December meeting we are suggesting that you read any one of these pieces OR anything else by Berry that might catch your imagination. Our plan is to have a sort of Wendell Berry Feast.

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Duties of the Church towards Knowledge

Posted on December 8, 2010 by exec_admin

The seminar Newman’s Idea of a University: In celebration of his Beatification was held on Saturday, September 18 in the Board Room at St. Jerome’s University. Peter Erb, Waterloo, addressed the topic: “Reflections on Chapter Nine of The Idea: Duties of the Church towards Knowledge.” To listen to the talk and the discussion, download the audio here (22.9 MB 0:50:08).

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Newman on Scientific Investigation

Posted on December 8, 2010 by exec_admin

The seminar Newman’s Idea of a University: In celebration of his Beatification was held on Saturday, September 18 in the Board Room at St. Jerome’s University. Fr. Mark Morley, St. Ann’s Parish, Ancaster, addressed the topic: “The Sciences in Newman’s University: Reflections on Newman on Scientific Investigation.” To listen to the talk and the discussion that followed, download the audio here (28.9 MB 1:03:15).

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Newman on Literature

Posted on December 8, 2010 by exec_admin

The seminar Newman’s Idea of a University: In celebration of his Beatification was held on Saturday, September 18 in the Board Room at St. Jerome’s University. Norm Klassen, Chair,  Department of English, St. Jerome’s University, addressed the topic: “The Arts in Newman’s University: Reflections on Newman on Literature.” To listen to the talk and the discussion that followed, download the audio here (26.8 MB 0:58:36). A copy of the paper can be downloaded here.

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Knowledge in Relation to Professional Skill

Posted on December 8, 2010 by exec_admin

The seminar Newman’s Idea of a University: In celebration of his Beatification was held on Saturday, September 18 in the Board Room at St. Jerome’s University. William Danaher, Dean, Huron College, University of Western Ontario, addressed the topic: “Reflections on Chapter Seven of The Idea: Knowledge in Relation to Professional Skill.” To listen to the talk and the discussion that followed, download the audio here (29.1 MB 1:03:45).

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Knowledge its own End

Posted on December 8, 2010 by exec_admin

The seminar Newman’s Idea of a University: In celebration of his Beatification was held on Saturday, September 18 in the Board Room at St. Jerome’s University. Janine Langan, St. Michael’s College, University of Toronto, addressed the topic: “Chapter Five of The Idea: Knowledge its own End.” To listen to the talk and the discussion, download the audio here (24.8 MB 0:54:16).

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Newman’s Ideal University

Posted on December 7, 2010 by exec_admin

The seminar Newman’s Idea of a University: In celebration of his Beatification was held on Saturday, September 18 in the Board Room at St. Jerome’s University. Myroslaw Tataryn, SJU Dean, addressed the topic: “Newman’s Ideal University: Reflections on the ‘Preface’ to The Idea in the context of  ‘Theology as a Branch of Knowledge’ – The opening chapter of The Idea.” To listen to his talk and the discussion that ensued, download the audio here (13.6MB 0:29:43).

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Newman: Greetings and opening remarks

Posted on December 7, 2010 by exec_admin

The seminar Newman’s Idea of a University: In celebration of his Beatification was held on Saturday, September 18 in the Board Room at St. Jerome’s University. To listen to the Greetings and opening remarks given by David Perrin, SJU President, download the audio here (1MB 0:02:04).
Newman Seminar SJU - 18 September 2010
Newman Seminar SJU - 18 September 2010

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Is Usury Still a Sin?

Posted on November 4, 2010 by exec_admin

On Friday, Nov 12 we will meet in the Conference Room, second floor of Waterloo Lutheran Seminary at 3pm to discuss Thomas Storck’s piece “Is Usury Still a Sin?,” following our chats on the Fall 2009: Money issue of Communio last week. The article is available at the here. There also is a copy available at St. Jerome’s Univeristy College Library.  Some of you have had additonal thoughts regarding D.C. Schindler’s comments on money in his “Why Socrates Didn’t Charge: Plato and the Metaphysics of Money” that you may want to raise as well. It’s still available at the Communio Web site.

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