Postmodernism and Paulos Mar Gregorios
Paulos Mar Gregorios
(FFRRC – Theological Implications of Modernity and Postmodernity)
Presented by Fr. Jomon John K
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Introduction : Paulos Mar Gregorios (1922-1996) was a renowned Philosopher, Theologian, Linguist, Orator and a reputed Organiser among the World Christian circle. He was from the Malankara Orthodox Church in India. He was well versed in Eastern and Western Philosophy along with art, science, language and cultural studies. His main Theological contribution was the demonstration of Eastern Theological perspectives from the Cappodocian Fathers especially Gregory of Nyssa. Based on the Eastern Religious foundation he evaluated the process of modernity and has provide corrective procedures. Here we are analyzing in brief the Philosophical and Theological Reflections of PMG.
I) Reflection on Enlightenment and Modernity :Paulos Mar Gregorios (PMG) begins to examine critically the foundations of Enlightenment. The reflections are pointed here. a) PMG observes that the origins of modern philosophy are to be sought in natural science that is to ‘understand Nature’. It leaves what is outside nature or super-nature to theology or metaphysics.1 Renaissance separated philosophy from dogmatic theology.2 The ‘philosophy of nature’ remained heavily dependent on the older metaphysics of the Greeks. Modern philosophy turned the older metaphysics to a more empirically grounded metaphysics.3 b) The key to modernity in both Descates and Kant lay in their application of mathematics to the philosophy of nature. Descartes and Kant sought to rescue the western world from the skepticism of the Greeks by providing a “Method” of sure, certain, self-certifying knowledge not dependent on Tradition.4 c) Modernity rejected Traditional religion, and decided to place Reason on the throne with the Senses as executives and informants. Critical Rationality and empiricism thus became the
(FFRRC – Theological Implications of Modernity and Postmodernity)
Presented by Fr. Jomon John K
******************************************************************************
Introduction : Paulos Mar Gregorios (1922-1996) was a renowned Philosopher, Theologian, Linguist, Orator and a reputed Organiser among the World Christian circle. He was from the Malankara Orthodox Church in India. He was well versed in Eastern and Western Philosophy along with art, science, language and cultural studies. His main Theological contribution was the demonstration of Eastern Theological perspectives from the Cappodocian Fathers especially Gregory of Nyssa. Based on the Eastern Religious foundation he evaluated the process of modernity and has provide corrective procedures. Here we are analyzing in brief the Philosophical and Theological Reflections of PMG.
I) Reflection on Enlightenment and Modernity :Paulos Mar Gregorios (PMG) begins to examine critically the foundations of Enlightenment. The reflections are pointed here. a) PMG observes that the origins of modern philosophy are to be sought in natural science that is to ‘understand Nature’. It leaves what is outside nature or super-nature to theology or metaphysics.1 Renaissance separated philosophy from dogmatic theology.2 The ‘philosophy of nature’ remained heavily dependent on the older metaphysics of the Greeks. Modern philosophy turned the older metaphysics to a more empirically grounded metaphysics.3 b) The key to modernity in both Descates and Kant lay in their application of mathematics to the philosophy of nature. Descartes and Kant sought to rescue the western world from the skepticism of the Greeks by providing a “Method” of sure, certain, self-certifying knowledge not dependent on Tradition.4 c) Modernity rejected Traditional religion, and decided to place Reason on the throne with the Senses as executives and informants. Critical Rationality and empiricism thus became the
Bibliography: Gregorios,Paulos. “Are God and Man One or Two” .The Star of the East 1/3 (July, 1979) Gregorios,Paulos Gregorios,Paulos. “Science, Faith and Our Future”.The Star of the East 1/2 (April,1979) Gregorios,Paulos.A Human God