Monday, January 17, 2011

Belief...by Fancis S. Collins

January 20 Discussion Questions: Plato & Augustine

OK, this is not Plato’s best stuff…not by a long shot.  This form of dialogue resembles a courtroom cross-examination where Plato functions as the prosecuting attorney.  Such dialogue seems designed to arrive at a pre-determined conclusion. 

Question 1:  What do you find helpful about such a style of dialogue?  Is “reason” best demonstrated/achieved by such means?

Question 2:  For me, things began to pick up speed on page 26 with Timaeus and Socrates.  Which of these many short discussions gained your interest or confirmed your perspectives?

Question 3:  What insights do we gain into this period of history & thought?  Did “reason” achieve any indisputable results? 

Question 4:  What are the greatest attributes of pure reason?  What are its limitations in regard to faith?

Personally, I enjoyed this next dialogue much more than the previous one with Plato.  Augustine’s partner is feistier and well-reasoned…for example, “Get on to the next point!”

Question 5:  On page 39, Augustine notes that, “Only the supreme good will bring the real happiness that we all deserve.  Certainly we all wish to be happy.  So in the same way we all wish to be wise, because no one is happy without wisdom.”  So…if we all seek happiness, and no one is happy without wisdom, then why the frightening scarcity of wisdom so prevalent in today’s society (e.g., the Judge Judy show)?

Question 6:  Augustine fails to cite the influence of sin and evil here as roadblocks to happiness and wisdom.  Therefore, genuine wisdom comes not from within (reason), but from without (the Holy Spirit).  How then does the God-given gift of wisdom fulfill our individual capacity to gain and implement wisdom in our daily affairs?

Question 7:  Finally, on page 43, Augustine connects perceptions of God’s existence through both faith and intellect.  Give examples of how they have deepened your appreciation of God’s activity in your life.  Where are you experiencing growth in each of these?

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