(August 3, 2019 at 8:05 pm)Belaqua Wrote:(August 1, 2019 at 8:06 pm)LadyForCamus Wrote: I’m still waiting for a reply from you, Bel. If you don’t mind, that is.
I've been thinking about how to answer...
I'm in kind of an odd position because I'm very much a beginner on the subject of real, difficult theology. By some odd chance I know a teeny bit more about it than most people posting here.
It looks as though the poster called "Acrobat" knows what I'm talking about. I've seen him refer to God as "impassible," which is a part of theology. Sad to say the poster who really knew a lot isn't posting here any more. He used the name "Ignorant." I know who he is in real life and have chatted with him some. He has recently finished his doctorate in one of the world's most demanding philosophy departments. I found it useful just to search for his posts on this forum and review them.
For the time being just let me point to some books that have been useful.
David Bentley Hart, Atheist Delusions
https://www.amazon.com/Advanced-Search-B...=241582011
This is useful for getting rid of a number of misunderstandings that recent people have about Christianity.
By the same author, The Experience of God
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/030020...bl_vppi_i2
This is a readable introduction to concepts of the type I've been talking about. The author is fantastically well-read and knowledgable.
For Thomas Aquinas and the difference between natural and revealed theology, Edward Feser, Aquinas A Beginner's Guide
https://www.amazon.com/Aquinas-Beginners...oks&sr=1-1
For a balanced, non-comic-book version of the interactions of science and religion in European history: John Brooke, Science and Religion
https://www.amazon.com/Science-Religion-...oks&sr=1-1
My own publications have been mostly centered on Dante, and I found this most useful: Christian Moevs, The Metaphysics of Dante's Comedy. So if you are familiar with the Divine Comedy at all, this is an easy way in to Thomism.
https://www.amazon.com/Metaphysics-Ameri...oks&sr=1-1
As always, these books point to more detailed study if you're so inclined.
Last time I checked, they are all available in e-book editions on the main academic piracy site, Library Genesis. (Despite the name this is not Bible-affiliated.)
http://gen.lib.rus.ec
I remember Ignorant. He knew how to converse with atheists better than most theists here without insulting our intelligence, (though there might have been one or two mildly frustrating exchanges with him) and that made me like him even more.