Helmut, List: Peirce unambiguously and repeatedly professed theism, conceiving God as the non-immanent creator of the entire universe. Nevertheless, I have always acknowledged that many of his ideas are at least potentially amenable to pantheism, panentheism, and even atheism. He evidently did not consider the words of the Bible to be the very words of God, but many Christians throughout the centuries did and still do, viewing God as its primary author and various humans as its secondary authors, in accordance with texts like 2 Timothy 3:16-17 and 2 Peter 1:20-21.
I could elaborate, but as Gary R. reminded everyone yesterday, we need to stick to the thread topic. Moreover, the List guidelines stipulate keeping our discussions Peirce-related and philosophical, which precludes us from getting any more deeply into theology as distinguished from metaphysics. Accordingly, I recommend that we leave it at that. Regards, Jon On Sat, Aug 23, 2025 at 8:07 AM Helmut Raulien <[email protected]> wrote: > Jon, Liat, > > with "leaving the God-question open", I did not mean, whether God exists > or not, but the choice between pantheism, panentheism, and theism, and also > "special" revelation (hell, original sin,....). I am happy to read from > you, that Peirce denied the certainty of such special revelations. Do > (proper) christians really believe, that the bible is the words of God? I > mean, the chapters are named after their authors, who are not God. So the > bible clearly is secondary literature. I know one who says that the bible > is the very word of God, but she is very orthodox. I am glad Peirce didn´t. > > Best, Helmut > 22. August 2025 um 18:51 > "Jon Alan Schmidt" <[email protected]> > *wrote:* > Helmut, List: > > Gnosticism is considered to be a heresy by orthodox Christians, including > Augustine and Luther. The doctrines that you mentioned are derived from the > text of the Bible itself, which Christians believe to be the very Word of > God--*special* revelation, the kind embraced by *all *the "Religions of > the Book." As I have pointed out before, Peirce did not deny the > *possibility* of such revelation, only its *certainty* (CP 1.143, c. > 1897); but he was much more interested in *general* revelation and > *natural* theology, the latter being a term that he used in several > drafts of his "Neglected Argument" article and its "Additament" (R 842-844, > 1908). > > Accordingly, Peirce did not "leave the God-question open," he reframed it. > "[I]t is unscientific to inquire whether there be a God; the only rational > question being what sort of God there is ... it is far more consonant with > the method of science to formulate the problem by asking what sort of a > mind God is" (CP 8.168, 1902). "[I]f contemplation and study of the > physico-psychical universe can imbue a man with principles of conduct > analogous to the influence of a great man's works or conversation, then > that analogue of a mind ... is what he [the pragmaticist] means by 'God'" > (CP 6.502, c. 1906). > > Regards, > > Jon Alan Schmidt - Olathe, Kansas, USA > Structural Engineer, Synechist Philosopher, Lutheran Christian > www.LinkedIn.com/in/JonAlanSchmidt / twitter.com/JonAlanSchmidt > > On Thu, Aug 21, 2025, 5:50 PM Helmut Raulien <[email protected]> wrote: > >> Jon, List, >> >> I fully agree with what you wrote. We may (or even "must") have a direct >> perception of God. We just can't see the forest for the trees. But isn´t >> this view a contradiction to gnosticism and its influence to christianity >> at e.g. Augustinus and Luther? All these from dull to frightening dogmas >> about two realms, hell, original sin, and the like? >> >> Best, Helmut >> >
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