On this page
-
Text (1)
-
Untitled Article
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
-
-
Transcript
-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.
Untitled Article
ment of delusion , and all theory raised upon such a sandy foundation , as an unreal mockery . It acknowledges no reality out of its own ideal world ; and this pure idealism is the subtil link which connects it with the philosophy of Schelling and Fichte . But this is no earthly connexion ; for that philosophy soars far above earth and suns , and all material nature , till it is lost , with the soul of the philosopher himself , in the heaven of heavens of
Pantheism . The corner-stone of the religious philosophers is the maxim , that science was born in the house of religious faith and feeling—that it has left ks home , and must be brought back , and placed under the absolute tutelage of the inspired writings , as explained in the orthodox symbols , says the Protestant Mystic ; while the Catholic , with greater consistency and frankness , would deliver over the unhappy truant to the discipline of the traditions of the church universal , which means , of course , his own .
Philosophical Theology—that is , Metaphysical . The following sketch of its history is from Knapp's Lectures : — ' * In the third century many learned Pagans and philosophers had become members of the Christian community . They connected their philosophical doctrines and terms with practical Christian truths , partly from the power of habit , and partly with a view to obtain for Christianity greater support and progress , as the Greek Jews had done — thus corrupting their religion . Justin Martyr , and the teachers of the
Catechetical School at Alexandria , Pantsenus , Clemens , and Origen , were of this number . From their time the prevailing philosophy of the day has been interwoven into Christian theology by men of letters ; and the doctrinal system of every age has taken the form and colour of the philosophical school of that time . In the Greek Church , from the second century , it assumed the Platonic philosophy . Then followed the Aristotelian , first in the Greek Church , and afterwards in the West , where it spread universally after the
eleventh century , especially through the Schoolmen . The Reformers , in the sixteenth century , ejected at first the Aristotelian philosophy out of Christian theology ; but at the end of that century , and in the seventeenth , it was resumed by the theologians . Other philosophical schools followed , which prevailed over that of Aristotle , and were engaged in continual disputes with one another . In these controversies , the theologians took a very active part , and became successively followers of Descartes , Thomasius , Leibnitz ,
Wol £ Crusius , Kant , Fichte , Schelling : and it is remarkable that the doctrines of all these metaphysical schools have been applied by theologians of very different views in defending their own opinions , and attacking those of their opponents . Thus the Christian religion first , and afterwards the dogmas of particular churches , have been assailed and defended with arms taken from the philosophy of Plato , Aristotle , Leibnitz , Kant , &c . Thus it has been from the age of Clemens of Alexandria and Porphyrius , down to
the present day . He who , in anno 70 , placed himself on the metaphysics of Wolf , in anno 80 or 90 , must quit that ground for Kant ' s philosophical school , which was then predominant ; and he who stood fast on the ground of Kan t * must abandon that in its turn , since Fichte and Schelling have gained the ascendant ; and thus it ever will be to the end of the history of such alliances . " ( Knapp . ) The star of the present hour is that of Hegel ,
which now shines over Berlin , and which owes , no doubt , much of its ascendancy to court favour . There are plain truths in pure practical Christianity , which have seldom found favour in the sight of princes . Political , metaphysical , and religious mysticism , make a natural coalition ; and they are > inoffensive in the cabinet : the age has shewn that they may be wicked accomplices * J . M .
Untitled Article
106 Letters from Germany .
-
-
Citation
-
Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Feb. 2, 1831, page 106, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2594/page/34/
-