Ultimates: Philosophical Theology, Volume One

Contents

vii Contents Cross References xiii Preface xv Acknowledgments xxv Introduction 1 I. The Hypothesis 1 II. Defining Religion 4 III. Identifying Religion in Public Discourse 9 IV. Distinguishing Marks of Philosophical Theology 12 Part I Ultimates Defined Part I. Preliminary Remarks 25 Chapter One Sacred Canopies 29 I. A Theory of Sacred Canopies 29 II. Finite/Infinite Contrasts 33 III. World-Defining Human Problems 34 IV. Truth in Sacred Canopies 42 Chapter Two Reference, Reduction, Philosophy, and Metaphysics 45 I. The Presupposition of Real Reference 45 II. The Scientific Bracketing of Real Reference 49 viii v Contents III. Philosophy’s Control for Reductionism 52 IV. Metaphysics Explained and Defended 55 Chapter Three Symbolic Engagement 63 I. Interpretation as Engagement 63 II. The Pragmatic Heritage 68 III. Iconic, Indexical, and Conventional Reference in   Extension and Intention 70 IV. Engaging Finite/Infinite Contrasts 73 Chapter Four Worldviews 81 I. Orientation and Worldviews: The Sacred/Mundane  Continuum 81 II. The Transcendence/Intimacy Continuum 84 III. The Sophistication/Popular Culture Continuum 87 IV. The Existential Continua: Sharing,   Comprehensiveness, Intensity 91 Part I. Summary Implications 95 Part II Ultimates Symbolized Part II. Preliminary Remarks 101 Chapter Five Ultimate Reality and Ultimate Concern 105 I. Ultimate and Proximate Concerns 105 II. Ultimacy and Dialectic 109 III. Ultimate Concern as a Function of True Ultimacy 113 IV. Tensions along the Worldview Continua 118 Chapter Six Toward Transcendent Symbols of Ultimacy 121 I. Scale 121 II. Idolatry 124 III. Explanation: Metaphysics 127 IV. Experience 131 Contents v ix Chapter Seven Toward Intimate Symbols of Ultimacy 135 I. Nature’s Depths 135 II. The Uncanny Familiar 138 III. Human Meaning 141 IV. Human Correction 146 Chapter Eight Ultimacy in Theological Framing: Ontology and Narrative 149 I. Narrative of the Divine 149 II. Narrative of the People 153 III. The Symbolic Falsehood of All Narratives 155 IV. Living with Broken Narratives and Humanized  Transcendents 158 Part II. Summary Implications 163 Part III Ultimates Demonstrated Part III. Preliminary Remarks 169 Chapter Nine The Metaphysics of Ontological Ultimacy 173 I. Ultimate Reality, Being, and the Problem of the   One and the Many 173 II. Whether Being Is One or Many 176 III. Whether Being Is Analogical or Univocal 180 IV. Whether Being Is Determinate or Indeterminate 184 Chapter Ten The Metaphysics of Cosmological Ultimacy 193 I. Determinateness as Harmony: Essential and   Conditional Components 193 II. Transcendental Elements of Harmony: Form   and Components 197 III. Transcendental Elements of Harmony: Existential  Location 202 IV. Transcendental Elements of Harmony: Achieved  Value-Identity 204 x v Contents Chapter Eleven Proof of an Ultimate Ontological Creative Act 211 I. Radical Contingency and the Ontological   Context of Mutual Relevance 212 II. Proof of an Ontological Creative Act 215 III. The Determinate World as the End of the Act 218 IV. Abyss in the Act: Symmetry of the Concept   versus Asymmetry of What Is Conceived 221 Chapter Twelve The Ontological Ultimate: An Act of Creation 227 I. The Nature of the Ultimate Act as Created 227 II. The Eternity of Creation 232 III. Time and Eternity in the Three Modes of Time 235 IV. Eternity as Ontological and Cosmological   Ultimate Reality 241 Part III. Summary Implications 245 Part IV Ultimates Known Part IV. Preliminary Remarks 251 Chapter Thirteen What Can Be Known about Ultimacy 253 I. The Ultimate as Modeled: God, Consciousness,  Emergence 253 II. Ultimacy and the Transcendentals: Form,   Components, Existential Location,Value-Identity 262 III. Eternity and the Divine Life 266 IV. Ultimacy in Extension and Intension 269 Chapter Fourteen What Cannot Be Known about Ultimacy 273 I. The Ultimate Has No Intrinsic Nature apart   from Creation 273 II. The Ultimate and Other Possible Worlds 276 III. The Ultimate Is Not a Person 279 IV. The Ultimate and Intelligibility 282 Contents v xi Chapter Fifteen Symbolic Engagement as Praying the Ultimate 287 I. Theological Understanding as a Sign 287 II. Multiple Symbols along the Sophistication/   Popular Religion, Transcendence/Intimacy, and   Sacred/Mundane Continua 290 III. Systematic Thinking for Controlling Symbols 293 IV. Thinking the Ultimate 297 Chapter Sixteen Mystical Engagement 301 I. The Path of Meditation: Nondualism 303 II. The Path of Contemplation: Suchness 306 III. The Path of the Mystical Abyss 309 IV. The Path of Love 312 Part IV. Summary Implications 319 Notes 325 Bibliography 343 Index 357 ...