Course XXX - Teaching 12: Christian Philosophy

Christian philosophy is limited as such.
Apparently human thought is limited, but as by the exercise of its potential activity extends its horizons, the possibilities become unlimited.
Christian philosophy understood the value of these possibilities and tried to control them. It enunciated that man has to think of what he wants, whatever he wants and how he wants, but subject to the pre-determined limitation.
After his death, man can think unlimitedly and understand all mysteries, the immensity of science and the pure knowledge, but not here on Earth.
Since this philosophy is so limited, it definitively remained subject to religion and in the service of it.
This Christian-religious philosophy gradually takes form.
In the early times of the Church, certain Fathers tried to assign great importance to thought, but the Church impeded it or excluded them.
This philosophy extended an immense net over human mind; it allowed man to look at the infinite spaces of knowledge, but always through this net, and to get experiences of any philosophy and investigative task, but filtered through this net.
Christian philosophers were alternately subject to influences of Plato’s and Aristotle’s philosophies. And the soft feeling of Chinese Buddhist Philosophy expressed by its Liturgy and Ritual reached them. Ancient graphic and symbolic lessons of Egyptian philosophy were adapted by them to their images and Hagiography.
In short, they took any philosophical concept within their reach, but totally sieved by their net. This philosophy is not qualified as limited because it may be little expressive or obscure as to its concepts, but because leads man to think restrictedly as man.
To further strengthen it, its philosophers made a difference between limited philosophy and unlimited philosophy, by calling Theology, Science of God to the unlimited philosophy that cannot be discussed or investigated. Even they prohibited to speak of Theology to those who were not theologians or priests. It is well-known the controversy between Saint Bernard and Abelard and how the latter had to stop teaching Theology in his chair of philosophy at Bernard’s request.
Christian Philosophy just allows man to think restrictedly: Saint Athanasius enounces this on the first postulate of his Symbol, by subjection of mind to faith:
“Quimque vult salvus esse ante omnia opus est, ut teneat catholicam fidem.”
Catholic faith is the large net upon the mind of man if he wants his salvation and a total knowledge after death. Saint Athanasius clearly explains it after the quotation of his Symbol. One God in his Trinity is Supreme Knowledge; but man cannot reach all in a direct way but in an indirect way, not in this limited and dark lifetime but on Paradise, when the soul is safe, saved and redeemed.
Holy Spirit’s light, which is full science of God Father and Son cannot be understood by a man physically stained and prone to sin; he can only understand it after his admission in the Triumphant Church.
In short, man has to think, but not beyond his own measure.
This becomes essential, indisputable and unbreakable.