Imatges de pàgina
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CONTENTS

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Natural Religion and the Incarnation. Two interests traceable in
all religion; (1) metaphysical; (2) moral or spiritual: oc-
casionally pursued disproportionately, e.g. in Hellenism and
Judaism. Both present in early religion as we know it, illus-
trated by myth, prayer, ritual, sacrifice. The import of these
two interests. I. The metaphysical assumes that the world is
an ordered whole, from which chance is excluded—the moral—
that God is to be found and known in nature. The meta-
physical demand gives rise to the three metaphysical proofs of
God, i.e. forms an ideal of thought, which is partly realized in
the world. It rests upon a claim to treat nature anthropo-
morphically, which is carried on-II. In the moral factor in
religion. The world is governed not only by a law of uni-
formity, but also by a law of good. The proofs interpret the
consensus gentium. The claim of Christ as set forth in the
New Testament, answers and satisfies the aspirations of man as

seen in natural Theology. (1) It lays down the principle that
God can be known in nature. Anthropomorphism true and
false. (2) It declares that God redeems, and makes morality
possible. (3) In it religion attains its social ends. (4) It
meets the conservative instincts of religion

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The Catholic interpretation of the Incarnation. The idea of
Incarnation not easy nor self-evident. Hence the necessity of
definite doctrine. Differences of interpretation of it require
decisive solution. The method of the Apostles-to refer (1) to
tradition; (2) to the practical implications of the conflicting
theories. Our Lord's two natures. The intellectual influences
abroad at the time; Judaism, Hellenism, Orientalism. Docetic
denial of the Humanity; condemned by reference (as in the
Apostolic age) (a) to tradition, which now includes (1) the

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Creation and the Fall.

Two central notions involved in Creation.
I. God is the agent. Objections considered from the point of
view (a) of God's changelessness; (8) His infinity; the
material implications of the idea of love. II. Creation oc-
curred in time. Was matter pre-existent? Time and God.
What is the result of saying (1) that Creation was eternal;
(2) that it comes into being in time. Difficulties of time—
Creation and Evolution. Man in the scheme of Creation. The
angels. Evil. I. In the universe, arose in rebellious wills, is
not a flaw in the handiwork of God. Manichæism. Optimism

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