Truth and communion

  1. Lemma
  2. Adevar si comuniune
  3. Romanian
  4. Stavinschi, Alexandra
  5. Concepts of knowledge and modes of reasoning > Orthodox gnosiology - Orthodox theological tradition and practice - Concepts of knowledge and modes of reasoning - Concepts of knowledge and modes of reasoning > Philosophy of science/epistemology
  6. 2011
  7. Lemeni, Nicolae Adrian [Author]. Adevar si comuniune[Truth and communion]
  8. Adevar si comuniune
  9. criteria of truth - Staniloae, Dumitru - dogma - cosmology

    1. The book was published by the Romanian Patriarchate publisher Basilica, with the blessing of His Beatitude Daniel, Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church. The author, Adrian Lemeni, is an Associate professor of Dogmatic and fundamental theology at the Theological Faculty of Orthodox Theology "Patriarch Justinian" in Bucharest. The volume gathers a number of studies, some of which had been separately published by the author, but which now benefit from a unified vision. Following a rigorous methodology, the book is divided into three chapters: 1. Aspects of the encounter between the theological, philosophical and scientific perspective in the current epistemological context; 2. The relationship between theology and science in the current cosmological context; 3. Father Professor Dumitru Staniloae - a theologian who testifies about the ecclesial tradition in the contemporary world. The first chapter aims to familiarize the reader with the notions of dogma and tradition, creating an attractive and concise presentation of the different meanings of dogma. Also, the author sheds light on the motivation to advance knowledge by examining aspects of Plato's philosophy and of Saint Maximus the Confessor’s theology. In this context, the Holy Bible is considered a way to experience grace, but that requires to be explained in a patristic key, in order to reach that balance that was typical of the Fathers. The second chapter shows how each of us can personally assume the teaching of the Church about creation, and how we should relate to the various cosmological theories that are circulating today in scientific research. At the end of this chapter there is a special section devoted to Prof. Dumitru Popescu’s contribution with regard to the relationship between theology and science. The third chapter contains a summary of Prof. Dumitru Staniloae’s theology with reference to man's place in creation and of his relation to the world around him, as well as of the possibility that he can understand its meaning. As noted by Patriarch Daniel in the foreword, the present work shows that "the motivation of theology cannot be downplayed to a strictly intellectual curiosity that generates a type of knowledge devoid of profound respect and existential impact. Theology, as an expression of spiritual and ecclesial experience, is a form of testimony. [...] The professing theology that is shared as a life event comes up with concrete answers to real problems in today’s society; at the same time it becomes an invitation to assume the same way of life experienced by the Prophets, Apostles, Martyrs and by all those who lived and testified in Spirit and in Truth. [...] The theological testimony involves the meeting with the professed God, Creator of the universe and Lord of history, and with the life and truth lived in communion with the Church: "Taste and see that the Lord is good" (Psalm 33: 8). The authentic encounter with God is achieved only through prayer and by participating in the sanctifying life of the Church. Only the spiritual and ecclesial life experience legitimates a professing theology structured by truth and communion. Adrian Lemeni’s book, so appropriately entitled “Truth and communion”, suggests a number of milestones for a theology that is grounded in the ecclesiastic perspective, and does not avoid dialogue if its meaning and purpose are the truth and communion, testified and experienced as a foretaste of eternal life . "