Objectives

When you complete this lesson, you should be able to do the following:

• Define “philosophy” and describe the influence it has had on western conceptions of reality.
• Describe theology’s complete integration of philosophy in the light of one exemplary figure.
• Describe theology’s complete rejection of philosophy in the views of one exemplary figure.
• Describe theology’s critical appropriation of philosophy in the views of one exemplary figure.
• Explain why critical appropriation is the most biblical option concerning theology’s relationship to philosophy.

As you proceed through this lesson have the following question in mind.
Can one consistently employ the dictum of sola scriptura? What role should tradition play in informing our understanding of the biblical text?