Saint Bonaventure and the Divine Order of Creation

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-20
Author(s):  
Joseph Milne
Keyword(s):  
Saint Bonaventure ◽  
Divine Order

“I’m just aware they’re labels”

2013 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sharon Smith
Keyword(s):  
Ethnic Origin ◽  
Political Organization ◽  
Faith Communities ◽  
Border Crossings ◽  
Sexual Identities ◽  
Theoretical Approaches ◽  
Class Status ◽  
Sexual Identification ◽  
Minority Ethnic ◽  
Divine Order

This article discusses fieldwork in two research projects on Buddhists in London. It explores issues involved in researching lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, questioning and/or intersex (LGBTQI) Buddhists. It also considers issues around heterosexual identities in Buddhist communi-ties. In researching dynamics of gender and sexual identification of participants it was observed that at times participant narratives treated these identities for these axes of difference as provisional and contingent rather than essential, fixed and a basis for socio-political organization. This contrasts with much of the work on religion and sexuality in mainstream theistic traditions, where their LGBTQI members often argue a “reverse discourse” asserting their place in a “Divine Order” in which their sexual/gender identity is a key part of “who they are.” It is argued that theoretical approaches based on queer theorizing could be particularly applicable to research on Western Buddhist perspectives on gender and sexual identities. This is attributed to the anti-essentialist approach Buddhism takes to questions of subjectivity and identification and its non-hegemonic status in the West. Such queer theorizing would, however, need to acknowledge the constraints to “border crossings” between identity positions arising from oppressive forces from gender minoritization, class status, minority ethnic origin, and so on. It is also suggested that research on the heterosexual majority can elucidate ways in which faith communities are gendered, racialized and stratified by class.

Der Kosmos als schweigender Prophet: Zu Plotin, Enn. II 9 [33],9,39–42

Elenchos ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (2) ◽  
pp. 363-376
Author(s):  
Felix Herkert
Keyword(s):  
Unique Character ◽  
Divine Order

AbstractIn Ennead II 9,9,39–42 we find a singular passage in which Plotinus asserts that the cosmos ‘proclaims’ (προφητεύει) the divine order. It is the only passage in the Enneads where the verb προφητεύειν is used. In this paper the ‘prophetic function’ of the cosmos will be examined. It will be demonstrated how the mentioned passage – despite its unique character in the Enneads – points to the centre of Plotinus’ thought, namely his theory of the causality of intelligible beings. As a sensual product of transcendent causes, the cosmos ‘proclaims’ these causes. In consideration of other relevant passages, the implications of this notion will be delineated to deliver a more comprehensive interpretation of the cosmic προφητεύειν, not least in the context of Plotinus’ remarks about the genesis of time and the fundaments of astrology. It will be shown how Plotinus can articulate his theory of manifestation in terms of a ‘sigetic prophecy’ – ‘sigetic’ in the sense that manifestation unfolds ‘silently’.

scholarly journals Biblical Inspirations in Nikifor’s Paintings

2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 31-46
Author(s):  
Krzysztof Wałczyk
Keyword(s):  
Real World ◽  
The Self ◽  
Creative Activity ◽  
The Real ◽  
Ideal World ◽  
The World ◽  
Biblical Anthropology ◽  
Divine Order ◽  
The Ideal

Nikifor Krynicki (Epifaniusz Drowniak, 1895-1968) was one of the most popular non-academic Polish painters worldwide. To show the biblical inspiration in his creative output I chose two categories from various thematic aspects: self-portraits and landscapes with a church. There are plenty of Nikifor’s paintings showing him as a teacher, as a celebrating priest, as a bishop, or even as Christ. A pop­ular way to explain this idea of self-portraits is a psychological one: as a form of auto-therapy. This analysis is aims to show a deeper expla­nation for the biblical anthropology. Nikifor’s self-portraits as a priest celebrating the liturgy are a symbol of creative activity understood as a divine re-creation of the world. Such activity needs divine inspira­tion. Here are two paintings to recall: Potrójny autoportret (The triple self-portrait) and Autoportret w trzech postaciach (Self-portrait in three persons). The proper way to understand the self-identification with Christ needs a reference to biblical anthropology. To achieve our re­al-self we need to identify with Christ, whose death and resurrection bring about our whole humanity. The key impression we may have by showing Nikifor’s landscapes with a church is harmony. The painter used plenty of warm colors. Many of the critics are of the opinion that Nikifor created an imaginary, ideal world in his landscapes, the world he wanted to be there and not the real world. The thesis of this article is that Nikifor created not only the ideal world, but he also showed the source of the harmony – the divine order.

scholarly journals Axiology of Anthropological Time in Stefan Furman’s Calendars of the 17th Century Gdansk

2014 ◽  
Vol 26 (31) ◽  
pp. 217-229
Author(s):  
Małgorzata Krzysztofik
Keyword(s):  
17Th Century ◽  
Three Dimensions ◽  
Culture Time ◽  
Nature And Culture ◽  
Experience Of Time ◽  
The World ◽  
Theological Perspective ◽  
Temporal Structures ◽  
Culture Cycle ◽  
Divine Order

Time, as everybody knows, is the primary category of culture. Human’s altitude to the time determines how we see ourselves, the world and why we choose various activities. Entire scientific description of every culture has to contain characteristics of the specific time structure. One of the most important problems the answers to which we should search between texts of culture, is the axiology of the particular streams of the culture time. The article presents multifaceted characteristics of category of anthropological time in two calendars printed in Gdansk in the 17th century (for years 1652 and 1664). Questions about measure, pace, rhythm and axiology of human time are asked. The paper presents a discussion of typical characteristics of chronosophy of that epoch, anisotropy, which is a stream of many kinds of time flowing in parallel and in interaction with each other. The Christian concept of time which can be found in both calendars is decribed. Also rhythms of nature and culture (cycle of liturgical festivals) that regulate anthropological time are presented; how three dimensions of human experience of time (past, present, future) go together. Characteristics of axiological aspect of human time which has complex relations with numerous temporal structures and streams of time are given. Evidence that axiology of human time—oscillating between sacrum and profanum, between divine order and devil’s order, between human activity and God’s intervention – is given with regard to theological dimension in Stefan Furman’s calendariography as it is concentrated on reality out of this world. In theological perspective meaningful becomes the experience of earthly life, which gives every human being a chance to choose the good or the bad path of life, whilst they look for the redemption.

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