Pope John Paul II begins his Encyclical letter by emphasizing that revelation as a source of of truths and of faith in Christ,which is the primary context to practice reason. Natural reason can understand some salvific truths, but not the most supernatural ones of the mission of Jesus. Its asserted that Christ is the answer to the ultimate question that philosophers and ordinary people. But faith does not by itself give us deep understanding; the mystery remains. Moreover, Pope John Paul II explains the limitations of reason, because divine revelation accessible by the reasoning of the natural world, reason needs faith to understand truth. Especially because Jesus is the ultimate truth of human existence. In understating the necessity of faith to know truth, revelation is neither the product nor united with human reason, rather it is a gift from God.
Pope John Paul II next discuses the nature of and necessity for faith, and how to learn more about the world. Faith is necessary to further understand the natural world humans exist in. Faith is needed not to reduce reason rather to bring the humanity to understand worldly events it is the part in God. Deeper knowledge is attained through this relationship, the study of nature is a path to God. Pope John Paul II points to the cross as an example of the weakness of reason as it walks the line of a historical and divine event, an occurrence which can not be fully understaff with out faith. Natural reason, in general, is identified as a preparation for the gospel, because humans follow an innate path to God. Ignoring this joinery would make the human existence pointless.
There are, however, different modes of truth which are, truths that require evidence or experience. Another are Truths of philosophy and religion. And the final is the truth revealed in Jesus. Tradition, as the passing down of information, also makes individuals to trust one another to further understand their humanity. What human reason tries to know without knowing it can only be found only through faith in Jesus, and is revealed of everything. Because all was created in him and through hi, and where fulfillment is found.
On the basis of these conclusions Pope John Paul II relationship between revealed truth and human philosophy. Looking at the history of the Christian faith to find similarities with pagan philosophers. Superstitions of the pagans offered new ways of understanding the God. The function of reason is to find meaning help everyone come to a certain understanding of the contents of faith. Saint Anselm says that the intellect must seek that which it loveland wants to know. Therefore looking for truth pushes reason always to go further, faith gives reason a higher purpose. St Thomas Aquinas has a special place in history for his exportation to to the relationship between faith and reason.
Pope John Paul II is concerned that, due to cultural changes, philosophers are no longer searching for truth, resulting in a distorted reason, no longer oriented to find truth. Philosophy often is in conflict with revelation, and the church must respond. There must be unity of truth meaning that philosophy and the churches teachings align. The Pope addresses problems he sees facing faith today are in part problems of the past as well as it remains chaining people to make approbate distinctions between faith and reason. The Pope says that the church, just as mochas it has crated philosophy as promoted its importance. As man is a philosopher by nature theology is linked to philosophy. Theology should by nature follow the philosophical system of completeness, philosophical thinking takes on an objective truth in different world-views and cultures. Following philosophical ideals helps pass the catholic message on to all nations.
Pope John Paul II distinguishes the different stances of philosophy. The first is the thought that philosophy is independent of the Gospel. The second stance is Christian philosophy,this contains subjective theological virtue (purifying individual's reason) and an objective aspect, which says that faith provides truth. The third stance is philosophy as called upon by theology. Theology needs philosophy in order to enhance the universality of its claims.
Reason must always be questioning and be questioned. It is Christian Revelation that is truth, philosophical and theological thinking both support this. The world and humanity have a purpose and are oriented, to that purpose in Jesus. The challenge of faith and mystery forces philosophy to its limits, it is warned to not fall into skepticism, philosophy must connect the individual to humanity. Philosophy should confirm humans capacity to know the truth. Philosophy should search for truth at its foundation. Theology exists to provide understanding to relation so it too must interpret to lead to truth for humanity. Moral theology is mined at addressing the problems that the world faces.
Pope John Paul II concludes by calling for a systematic relationship between faith and philosophy. Philosophy brings importance to culture into truth, helping bring all of humanity to understand relieved truth. All humans exist through love and wisdom and should embrace them to have their own freedom.
2a. “Faith intervenes not to abolish reasons autonomy nor to reduce its scope for action, but sole to bring the human being to understand that in these events it is the God is Israel who acts. Thus the world and the events of history cannot be understood in depth without professing faith in God who is at work in them†(29)
b. This quotation is a active attempt by Pope John Paul II to unify what some preserve as two forms of knowledge. His use of the negative “not†“nor†and “reduce†is his way if saying that trying to present a new of thinking by pivoting away from misconceptions. Moreover, the repletion of “God†and “human†emphases their importance. By making these the most important subjects they are unified. Similarly, the structure of the sentence represents just how these two sources of knowledge participate with each other. By starting the sentence with “events†or “history†and ending the sentence with Gods work its shows who human knowledge leads to a deeper understanding in God, the ultimate end and truth.
c. This quotation comes from chapter twos discussion of wisdom and human’s ability or failure to recognize God. This moment shows how human history is intended to bring people too God if they embrace their face. IN the context of the text as a whole this captures Pope John Paul II’s assertion that philosophy and theology, or faith and reason, should work together to bring all of humid to Truth.
3. Page 57 discuses the interest the Church has in philosophy. Saying “it does more than point out the misconceptions and mistakes of philosophical theories†but tries to bond scripture with philosophy. Philosophy is the discipline Pope John Paul II uses to discuss reason. He says on page 128 for sciences to continue their great work. How then, should scientific inquiry be brought together with faith? The same bond as theology and philosophy?