Christianity & Culture

"Since, therefore, there exists a twofold truth concerning the divine being, one to which the inquiry of the reason can reach, the other which surpasses the whole ability of the human reason, it is fitting that both of these truths be proposed to man divinely for belief."

-Aquinas -Reason and revelation -Through reason, we can realize there is a God -There are truths behind our reason

"It is only our natural prejudice and that arrogance which made our forefathers declare that they were descended from demigods which leads us to demur to this conclusion."

-Charles Darwin -Arrogance/prejudice stops us from believing we are descendants of apes

"Let us grant then that theology is conversant with the loftiest divine contemplation, and occupies the regal throne among the sciences by this dignity. But acquiring the highest authority in this way, if she does not descend to the lower and humbler speculations of the subordinate sciences and has no regard for them because they are not concerned with blessedness, then her professors should not arrogate to themselves the authority to decide on controversies in professions which they have neither studied nor practiced."

-Galileo -You can't judge or go against science because you are concerned with religion. -Don't be ignorant to things you do not understand

"From this it is evident that the study of the books of the ancients is obligatory by Law, since their aim and purpose in their books is just the purpose to which the Law has urged us..."

-Ibn Rushd -Relationship between reason and revelation -Muslims say the law says to read books of ancients and commands studying ancient philosophy -Argues the Law commands it

"Owing to the extensive use of machinery and to division of labor, the work of the proletarians has lost all individual character, and, consequently, all charm for the workman. He becomes an appendage of the machine, and it is only the most simple, most monotonous, and most easily acquired knack that is required of him."

-Karl Marx -Alienation of man from product -Sell labor -All charm lost in work -Critique of capitalism

"...it is plain that men have agreed to a disproportionate and unequal possession of the earth, they having by a tacit and voluntary consent, found out a way how a man may fairly possess more land than he himself can use the product of, by receiving in exchange for the overplus gold and silver, which may be hoarded up without injury to anyone...This partage of things in an inequality of private possessions, men have made practicable out of the bounds of society, and without compact, only by putting a value on gold and silver, and tacitly agreeing in the use of money: for in governments, the laws regulate the right of property..."

-Locke -do we indulge certain behaviors or, are we only nurtured, via "civilization"/culture, to have certain desires?

"Rather, it was 'the good' themselves, that is to say, the noble, powerful, high-stationed and high-minded, who felt and established themselves and their actions as good, that is, of the first rank, in contradistinction to all the low, low-minded, common and plebeian. It was out of this pathos of distance that they first seized the right to create values and to coin names for values: what had they to do with utility!"

-Nietzsche -origin of morality -the concept of "good" was established in the wrong place -"good" judgment didn't originate with those who showed goodness

"Afterwards causing that catechumen and the brother to approach, she addressed them, saying, 'Stand fast in the faith, and love one another, all of you, and be not offended at my sufferings."

-Perpetua -Don't be scared that I am dying for my faith; instead, love one another and keep your faith in God strong

"We should not then think so much of what the majority will say about us, but what he will say who understands justice and injustice, the one, that is, and the truth itself."

-Socrates to Crito -Socrates tells Crito, who wants Socrates to escape, you can't always go along with society

"Where are the wise? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength."

-St. Paul -Division in the church -Wants to unite them; unify them under Christ crucified