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| Open Theism Discussion Board > Public Forums > Theological Q&A > John Stuart Mill and Open Theology | Forum Quick Jump
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Alan Rhoda
Registered Member
Date Joined May 2002
Total Posts : 680
| Posted 10/2/2003 3:17 PM (GMT -6) |   | quote:
Could one not cogently argue that the open view is influenced by philosophy (particularly modern philosophy) the same way as classical theism is influenced by Greek (particularly Platonic) thinking?
Good question, Ochuk.
Certainly one could argue it, but the real issue with respect to open vs. classical theism is not whether some position is influenced by philosophy (just about all serious thinking is in one way or another). The real issue is whether or not the resulting concept of God is Biblical or not. If it is Biblical, then it really doesn't matter whether philosophy influenced it or not. If it is not Biblical, then it matters whether or not philosophy has influenced it.
When open theists argue that classical theists have been unduly influenced by Greek philosophy, the charge is not that they have been influenced (there's nothing wrong with that) but that this influence has obscured the proper Biblical understanding of God. Of course, classical theists may respond with the same charge. So the issue is not who has been influenced by what, but whether that influence has aided or impaired our coming to a correct Biblical understanding of God.
With respect to modern influences on open theism, I don't think there is a central philosophical figure who has given inspiration to the movement in the way that Plato and Aristotle have shaped classical theism through Augustine and Aquinas. At any rate, I don't see how Mill's reflections on God bear any relation to open theism.
God bless.
Alan
Do small things as if they were great, because of the majesty of Christ who does them in us and lives our life. Do great things as if they were small and easy, because of his almighty power.
-- Blaise Pascal | | Back to Top | | |
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DLW
Registered Member
Date Joined Apr 2003
Total Posts : 2457
| Posted 10/2/2003 3:46 PM (GMT -6) | | JS Mill was by training an economist. Hence, he worked at developing how they understood the way the economy worked based on appealing to metaphors from physics.
Traditionally, particularly in England, Theology, itself, also patterned itself on Newtonian Physics. Both are quite deterministic in how they view the world... I don't think his thoughts were uncommon in England, as they wrestled with the implications of an ahistorical God of Order.
A better economist whose thinking predates open theism is Frank Knight, the UChicago Economist. I had a link on him a while back...
quote:
http://www.gregboyd.org/gbfront/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=1981&SearchTerms=+Frank+Knight
Economics and Theology have in common the fact they are both metaphysics and have drawn inspiration from the natural sciences.
dlw
Niebuhr thought that sustained moral energy in politics depended on religion's power to mobilize reason along with self-transcending love. The prophetic tradition, meanwhile, gave Jews and Christians some protection against the temptation to identify their social causes with God's will. Lincoln's second inaugural address expressed the prophetic insight, "The almighty has His own purposes." | | Back to Top | | |
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