VERITAS: February Edition (Maiden): The Mission of Epistemic Concept in Veritas

EPISTEMIC CONCEPT

(Philosophy, Science, and Christian Mysticism)

WHAT IS PHILOSOPHY?

The concept of “Philosophy” means different things to different persons. For most Christians, Catholics inclusive, philosophy is seen as a discipline that is against religion, and that teaches people that God does not exist (atheism). To substantiate their positions, they often quote the following scriptural passages that either directly or indirectly condemn philosophy, critical thinking, and rational questioning of the Christian faith: Colossians 2:8; 1 Corinthians 1:21; 1 Corinthians 2: 1-5,13; I Timothy 6:20; Titus 3: 9-10; Acts 17:18-34.

It may interest you to know that philosophy as a course is one of the academic requirements for the Catholic priesthood in modern times. Contemporary priests have, at least, a first degree in philosophy. So, if philosophy is such a negative course about religion, why is it a required course for the Catholic priesthood? There must be something good in philosophy to endear it to the Catholic Church. And, like all good things, misuse can make them bad. Hence, one can infer that the misuse or abuse of philosophy can make it an enemy of religion, and this accounts for why it was condemned in some passages of the scriptures. The misuse or abuse of philosophy can be called “worldly philosophy.” However, in her pure form, philosophy can be understood as the critical analysis of the totality of human experiences (religious experiences inclusive). The human person as a rational being, cannot live out his or her rationality to the full without philosophy and her tools of logic and critical thinking; herein lies the goodness of philosophy. The goodness of philosophy, especially as it relates to knowledge discovering in all aspects of the life of the human person (religion inclusive), is part of the business of EPISTEMIC CONCEPT.

WHAT IS SCIENCE?

Science is another discipline that many persons also believe is antithetical to religion. Simplified, science is essentially discovery. Through experiments combined with the inductive method of philosophical logic, scientists discover natural laws (also known as scientific laws) and propound theories. Arguments abound of how some scientific findings are opposed to some religious teachings and practices, and such arguments have led some persons to think that if one is a great scientist he or she cannot, at the same time, be a great religious person. Sir Francis Bacon contributed to the scientific method of data collection and analysis, and he was an Anglican who believed in God. Also, Nicolaus Copernicus was a Catholic priest, mathematician, and astronomer who propounded the theory that the sun (and not the earth) is the center of the universe, and this is the current belief of science. So, it is not true that one cannot be a great scientist and, at the same time, a great Christian.

However, some scientific findings can indeed be interpreted as contradicting religious beliefs and teachings. But once you understand the scientific method (which is the inductive method of philosophical logic), and you are grounded in theology understood as a scientific study of the word of God towards attaining a deeper understanding of the texts of scriptures (“faith seeking understanding”), then you will know where science and theology meet and agree, where the boundaries of science end, and where faith begins. Synthesizing the findings of science with Catholic beliefs and teachings is part of the business of EPISTEMIC CONCEPT.

WHAT IS CHRISTIAN MYSTICISM?

Mysticism is one area of religion that many Christians have handed over to their priests, religious, pastors, bishops, and men and women of God. This is because, the concept of mysticism is very broad and it includes the worship of God, devil worship, and occult practices. Yet, no one can adequately practice any religion, including Christianity, without some basic knowledge of the mystery of God. Thus, Christian mysticism understood as the study of the relationship between the human person and the Spiritual and Supreme Person (God), should be a welcome development. The approach that will be adopted in our study of Christian mysticism will be the approach of Jesus Christ in His parables. In His parables, Jesus Christ uses the everyday practices of humans to teach us about the mysteries of the kingdom of God. For example, He used commerce (e.g., the Parable of the Talents, Matt. 25: 14 – 30), and agriculture (e.g., the Parable of the Sower, Mark 4: 1 – 9) to teach us about the mysteries of God and God’s kingdom. Combining some philosophical theories and principles with scientific laws, EPISTEMIC CONCEPT will give us an insight into Christian mysticism, in ways that will enhance our knowledge of God and our belief in God.

WHAT EPISTEMIC CONCEPT IS ALL ABOUT.

Epistemic Concept is all about knowledge discovery from the totality of human experiences. It will look at knowledge from the senses, reason, memory, testimony, consciousness, revelation, intuition, feelings and telepathy, dreams, magnetism, and mysticism. These sources of knowledge will be discussed here in ways that enhance and broaden our Christian beliefs and practices. It includes Human Personal Development: Genealogy (lineage), temperaments, inherited virtues and vices; what we are biologically (nature) and how we have been groomed by society, culture, and religion (nurture); Relationships with our parents and siblings, colleagues, dating and courtship, marriage, priesthood, and religious life; and Magnetism in Relationship which will help us not to become “unequally yoked”.

The main goal of Human Personal Development is to fill up the gap between the Sacrament of Confirmation and the choice we make as Catholics for the priesthood and married life. To my mind, the reception of the Sacrament of Holy Orders has been reasonably taken care of by the Church through the institutions of seminaries, novitiates, and houses of formation. However, the reception of the Sacrament of Matrimony has been left in the hands of parents (some of which are bad examples of Christian marriage), the larger society (with its conflicting values of LGBTQ+), and three to six months marriage class that are, in most cases, poorly attended. Thus, the Sacrament of Matrimony is not currently adequately prepared for. This may explain why many marriages today are experiencing too many challenges.

Next month, Epistemic Concept will discuss Genealogy (lineage). We will take our example from the genealogy of Jesus Christ in Matt. 1: 1 – 17.

To know more about Epistemic Concept, visit: https://epistemicconcept.com/wp

(Sylvester Idemudia Odia, Ph.D., VERITAS: The official Newspaper of the Catholic Archdiocese of Benin City, Vol. 15, No. 137, February 2024, p. 33)