Demons & the Supernatural, Thomism, Faith & Works, Ethics & Logic - Jay Dyer / Fr Dcn Ananias
In a recent open Q&A session, Jay Dyer and Father Deacon Ananias delved into logical fallacies, theological concepts, and critiques of Thomistic philosophy. They emphasized the significance of recognizing fallacies in discourse, particularly in theological debates, and discussed the interplay between faith, works, and divine grace, contrasting Protestant and Orthodox views. Dyer challenged aspects of Thomism, particularly its understanding of God’s nature and attributes, while advocating for a perspective that appreciates the complexity of creation. They explored various theological themes, including the essence and energies distinction in Eastern Orthodox thought, and addressed misconceptions regarding scriptural interpretation and the ethical implications of logic in debate. Additionally, personal anecdotes on supernatural experiences added a light-hearted dimension to their discussion, fostering a dialogue within their community.
Chain 6 steps
- Jay Dyer: Paul's teaching harmonizes faith with works of love.“the only faith that saves you is the faith that worketh by love”
- Jay Dyer: The Thomistic view is reductionist and flawed because it cannot establish a foundation for similarity between God and creation.“So they want their cake and to eat it too.”
via Thomism- Jay Dyer: The negative view of change and multiplicity in Thomism contradicts Christian understanding.“there's nothing inherently bad about something being multiple or undergoing change”
via Ben Shapiro- Jay Dyer: Morality is case-dependent, not strictly black or white.“in some cases, the moral situation is black and white. And in some cases, it requires judges and wisdom to make a judgment”
via St. Athanasius of Alexandria- Jay Dyer: Critiques James White for inconsistency in his presuppositionalist claims.“he claims to be a presuppositionalist... then he turns around and says”
via Christianity- Jay Dyer: Definitions of omnipotence must comply with the constraints of the Christian theology which states that God cannot lie.“God can't lie.”
Subjects
36Jay Dyer critiques the concept of analogia entis, arguing that it leads to atheism and fails to differentiate God's nature from creation.
Jay Dyer references St. Maximus to explain the different modes of participation in God, particularly noting that theosis is specific to the saints.
Jay critiques Thomism as a synthesis of Aristotelian and Neoplatonic thought that incorrectly views multiplicity and change negatively.
Jay critiques atheistic demands for proofs of God and argues that such requirements often exceed what any worldview can provide.
Jay Dyer elaborates on unique aspects of Christianity, including the concept of human dignity and the belief in objective morals, contrasting these with pagan religions.
Jay discusses the crackers in the pantry fallacy, which represents a non sequitur move in argumentation where one assumes that all things are proven in the same way. He notes it's often used in debates, especially with atheists, to illustrate category errors in reasoning.
Jay recommends starting with David Bradshaw's essay 'Divine Glory' as a foundational text.
Jay argues that divine simplicity raises questions when comparing God's essence to created beings.
Jay argues that God is the final reference point in any system and that definitions of omnipotence must align with God's nature.
Jay references Florovsky's essay discussing St. Athanasius' use of the essence-energy distinction against Arianism.
Jay explains the gambler's fallacy as an assumption that past patterns in random events will predict future outcomes, illustrating it with the example of rolling dice.
Jay discusses the significance of Gregory Palamas' teachings on the essence-energy distinction and their consistency with previous theological positions.