Key Theologians and Philosophers: Trinity, Faith, and Spiritual Formation

Reeves

DITT author, Trinity, British Citizen

Augustine

De Trinitate (On the Trinity); 'God is Love' → Holy Spirit= Love; Holy Spirit= gift of God= love (greatest gift of God= love); Son= Wisdom

Irenaeus

Demonstration of the Apostolic Preaching; Trinity, God = Creator + Father, Incarnation of Jesus, Jesus' humanity, parallels to the Garden of Eden

Catherine of Siena

The Dialogue of Divine Providence; conversation between God and Catherine; in an ecstatic state; Siena, Italy, 14th century; Son = Bridge between God and Heaven, three steps (states of the soul)= affection, love/ virtue, peace

Aquinas

Summa Theologia- Whether it is an article of faith that the world began?; written 1265-1274 while teaching in Italy (most likely Santa Sabina in Rome); creation of the world = an article of faith alone

MLK

Loving your enemies; 1957, Montgomery, AL

Kierkegaard

Despair is Sin; Danish philosopher and theologian; disconnect between knowing and willing; sin has its roots in willing, not knowing

Willard

USC professor of philosophy, best known for work on spiritual formation, discipleship, and integration of philosophy and faith; Beyond Pornography- discusses the relationship between will and desire (desire can imprison will), the problem is not ignorance, but that will refuses to align with what is known, VIM model of transformation (Vision, Intention, Means)

Ringenberg

A Brief History of Taylor University → Started in Fort Wayne as an all-girls school. Changed leadership 3 times and struggled with funding (allowed less financially fortunate people to attend) → moved to Upland, some buildings were burned down. → became a school, only more financially fortunate people could afford FOUNDED HONORS

Kesler

25th president of Taylor, previously president of Youth for Christ International; Five Smooth Stones- used David's 'five smooth stones' to describe five commitments as president: abiding confidence in God, imitate Christ/ evangelism, liberal arts, faculty more than teachers, interdependence

Bonhoeffer

German pastor, theologian, member against the nazi regime; Confession and the Lord's Supper from Life Together- confession as a breakthrough to community, cross, new life, and assurance, confess to others, not just God, confession as preparation for the Lord's Supper. Community is a gift, but realizing it isn't perfect is key as well. Communio Peccatorum (Community of Sinners) Haus Seminary

C.S. Lewis

The Abolition of Man- knowledge, virtue, and faith belong together; head (reason) and belly (appetite) must be ruled by 'chest', a critique of modern education. Emotions have a place in education. Education should teach us about the universal moral truths to help guide our reason and emotions.

Charlotte Mason

British educator and reformer who thought deeply and practically about Christian and liberal arts education; sought to recover education as formation of whole persons growing in right relationship with God, creation, others, and self; education should awaken wonder, virtue, and wisdom; School Education- her philosophy of Christian liberal arts education for school-aged children

Nouwen

Dutch Catholic priest, psychologist, and spiritual writer; From Relevance to Prayer: The Temptation: To be Relevant- addressed to Christian leaders, written after moved from Notre Dame/ Yale/ Harvard to living with people with disabilities and learned to lead from vulnerable, prayerful love, 'The Christian leader of the future is called to be completely irrelevant and to stand in this world with nothing to offer but his or her own vulnerable self.'