Re: MD Church/state separation

From: Elizaphanian (elizaphanian@tiscali.co.uk)
Date: Sun Mar 09 2003 - 11:16:23 GMT

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    Hi David,

    DMB said
    > The word I'd use "to describe the intellectual evaluation of
    > systems of value" or just about anything else is "PHILOSOPHY". You can
    call
    > that theology if you like, but I think that is extremely misleading and
    > confusing.

    Okey dokey, a few more questions, then I think we might - *might!!* - be
    able to get some common ground.
    1. Do you think theology has to be about God? (In other words, there is no
    such thing as Buddhist theology, because Buddhism doesn't talk about God?)
    2. If so, where would you put the language of Buddhist teachings; at what
    level?
    3. How do you distinguish Buddhist thought from Christian thought (aside
    from the blatantly obvious)?
    4. Is it your view that theology is inevitably and irrevocably social level
    thinking?
    5. Do you think there exists something which can legitimately be called
    'Christian philosophy' (eg Aquinas) which operates at the fourth level?
    6. Can you justify your comment "philosophically speaking, these notions
    have no meaning", referring to traditional Christian language? (Are you a
    logical positivist in disguise?) In other words, what are your criteria for
    philosophical meaning?
    7. Is it possible to be committed to any substantive values while operating
    at the philosophical (ie 4th) level? In other words, is there something
    philosophically legitimate about embracing a particular intellectual
    conception, whether it be Stoic, Wittgensteinian, Kantian, Modernist,
    Rortian, Epicurean, whatever?
    8. If so, how are those philosophical positions distinguished from religious
    ones (Christian, Buddhist, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Sikh et al)?
    9. What criteria are available for distinguishing between alternative
    philosophical conceptions, eg systems of metaphysics?
    10. Do you have a hierarchy of philosophical disciplines (eg relating
    epistemology, logic, metaphysics, aesthetics etc)?

    That'll do for now :o)

    ~~~

    DMB said: "a rejection of the seperation of church and state, has dominated
    the conservative "intellectuals" since world war two. I suppose this offers
    little consolation, but I was thinking of guys like Scalia, Buckley and
    Bozell."

    I'm exploring the issues here at the moment, so my views might change
    following an examination of evidence and argument, but my basic position is
    an acceptance of the church/state division, for straightforward Christian
    (and Lockean) reasons. Just so you know!

    Sam

    "Bush's speechwriters may be able to help him talk the talk, but does he
    kneel the kneel?" (Alex Pennell)

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