Combining Texts

Ideas for 'Metaphysics: a very short introduction', 'The Theodicy' and 'Tractatus Theologico-Politicus'

unexpand these ideas     |    start again     |     choose another area for these texts

display all the ideas for this combination of texts

---

5 ideas

29. Religion / B. Monotheistic Religion / 2. Judaism

19934	Hebrews were very hostile to other states, who had not given up their rights to God [Spinoza]
	Full Idea: Having transferred their right to God, the Hebrews believed their kingdom was the kingdom of God, that they alone were the children of God, and that other nations were enemies of God, whom for that reason they regarded with extreme hostility.
	From: Baruch de Spinoza (Tractatus Theologico-Politicus [1670], 17.23)
	A reaction: [He cites Psalm 139:21-2] So, according to Spinoza, they did not become the chosen people because they thought God had chosen then, but because they were the only state trying to align itself with God.

29. Religion / B. Monotheistic Religion / 5. Bible

4300	The Bible has nothing in common with reasoning and philosophy [Spinoza]
	Full Idea: The Bible leaves reason absolutely free and has nothing in common with philosophy.
	From: Baruch de Spinoza (Tractatus Theologico-Politicus [1670])
	A reaction: Hm. The Bible may not contain reasoning, but it contains the fruits of reasoning, and it is obviously possible for reasoning to contradict its message.

29. Religion / D. Religious Issues / 1. Religious Commitment / a. Religious Belief

19437	Prayers are useful, because God foresaw them in his great plan [Leibniz]
	Full Idea: Not only cares and labours but also prayers are useful; God having had these prayers in view before he regulated things.
	From: Gottfried Leibniz (The Theodicy [1710], Abridge III)
	A reaction: Hm. I'm struggling with this one. So I can't skip prayers today, because God has foreseen them and included them in his great plan? Hard to motivate yourself, like starting a game of chess after you've already been declared the winner.

29. Religion / D. Religious Issues / 3. Problem of Evil / a. Problem of Evil

19337	How can an all-good, wise and powerful being allow evil, sin and apparent injustice? [Leibniz]
	Full Idea: There is this question of natural theology, how a sole Principle, all-good, all-wise and all-powerful, has been able to admit evil, and especially to permit sin, and how it could resolve to make the wicked often happy and the good unhappy?
	From: Gottfried Leibniz (The Theodicy [1710], p.098), quoted by Franklin Perkins - Leibniz: Guide for the Perplexed 2.IV
	A reaction: His answer is, roughly, that there is an unavoidable trade-off, which humans cannot fully understand. Personally I would say that if there is a God, the evidence for his benevolence towards humanity is not encouraging.

19345	Being confident of God's goodness, we disregard the apparent local evils in the visible world [Leibniz]
	Full Idea: Being made confident by demonstrations of the goodness and the justice of God, we disregard the appearances of harshness and justice which we see in this small portion of his Kingdom that is exposed to our gaze.
	From: Gottfried Leibniz (The Theodicy [1710], p.120), quoted by Franklin Perkins - Leibniz: Guide for the Perplexed 2.IV
	A reaction: Hm. If this locality is full of evils, and the rest of it is much better, how come we are stuck in this miserable corner of things? God is obliged to compromise, but did he select us to get the worst of it?