Faith seeking understanding

On April 21, 2009 / By maggi dawn / Reply

I blogged a while back that it's the 900th anniversary of Ely Diocese this year. but it's also 900 years ago today that Anselm died. His dictum "faith seeking understanding" has been quoted by many a theologian (including my own favourite Schleiermacher),  His words are also relevant to the faith-doubt-uncertainty thread I've been mulling on here and here since Low Sunday.

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  1. jody
    On March 16, 2009 at 9:30 am

    hi, i loved this maggi, am just finalising my undergrad dissertation about personhood/mental illness and God (yes, it was difficult to constrain it to 12,000 words! :-)
    the above quotation from Desmond Tutu says it all really
    when we end up trying to create a quasi-utopia of people ‘just like us’, making sure there are no ‘others’ in our communities (dehumanising them), we end up living in a place that doesn’t really exist, and we don’t live a full existence.
    it is the opposite of the God who Exists and who is joyfully whole and complete in the flourishing of the Other.
    so thanks for that :-)

  2. Caroline Too
    On March 16, 2009 at 9:43 am

    ah, the wonderful African concept of Ubuntu (the word is from xhosa, but is much wider than that languaged, I’m told)
    it’s a challenge to our individuality… and an exhilerating ‘maybe’ from learning to improvise, connect and create with others…
    I don’t think that it’s just about being nice to others… of course it has moral undercurrents but Ubuntu is more an approach to life, a way of making sense of how we flourish
    I love it… the idea grabbed me about 10-15 years ago and I still haven’t plumbed the depths or explored the breadth of what ‘maybes’ might be out there in in an Ubuntu world

  3. Steven Carr
    On March 16, 2009 at 11:37 am

    The Archbishop of Westminster , Cardinal Cormac Murphy O’Connor said on BBC Radio 4 , 15/03/2009 that he did not think that atheists were totally human.
    I think someone needs to learn Theology 101.

  4. lillylewin
    On March 16, 2009 at 1:35 pm

    a very happy birthday to you! thanks for always inspiring me and for all the life and energy you bring to the KINGDOM! have an amazing day and and and amazing year of adventure in jesus! blessings and much love from across the pond!

  5. Michaela
    On March 23, 2009 at 2:48 pm

    Thanks for this. Tutu’s statement and the concept of ‘Ubuntu’ is very special to me because it overturns the Cartesian concept of existence with the Western Church has far too willingly bought into. Whilst studying for an MA a group of us were asked if we agreed with Descarte and only 2 of us in a room of clergy said ‘no’. We were both twins! I’m sure there is something about being defined in relationship from the moment of conception that shifts thinking. But I also believe that Descarte’s world view is counter-Christian.

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