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Allan M Savage

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Doing postgraduate research into Laïcité as a religious value. Open to receiving insights and observations. Send your comments or inquire via [email protected]. I am approaching Laïcité as governmental public policy in light of late modern theology. "Late modern theology gave up its claim to universality and thereby its claim to provide a basis for public policy in an increasingly pluralistic society." (David R. Griffin, Varieties of Postmodern Theology, 1989)

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Books by Allan M Savage

METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY CHURCHES: An Appraisal of Queer Consciousness and Religious Expression

As a new theory in the humanities and social studies, Queer Theory is not limited to matters sexu... more As a new theory in the humanities and social studies, Queer Theory is not limited to matters sexual. Queer theory is a broad understanding which encompasses any understanding that is anti-normativity and anti-fixed identity. It is often discussed as identity politics by contemporary academics, philosophers and social commentators. It it within this overall context of identity politics that I discuss the Metropolitan Community Church. Queer Theory needs an antecedent straight theory from which to fashion its alternative perspective. Thus, the MCC needs a theory of straight Western ecclesiology to fashion its alternative perspective. In this sense I content that queer theory presents itself as a negative philosophy, which has ironically been transformed into a positive philosophy, for the purposes of religious inclusion. These essays explore various aspects of this queer understanding, or identity politics, of religious expression.

A PHENOMENOLOGICAL ATTITUDE TO LAW, STATE, AND LAÏCITÉ: Products of Human Consciousness

The world of Platonic idealism will not be satisfactorily imported into the world of phenomenolog... more The world of Platonic idealism will not be satisfactorily imported into the world of phenomenological consciousness. The task of phenomenological philosophers is to return to the interpretation of experience itself and seek to recast meaning not in terms of theoretical idealism, but in terms of existential meaning. The phenomenological philosopher adopts an alternative attitude to interpretation of inherited philosophical concepts. All interpretation necessarily involves achieving an acceptable balance between objective and subjective poles of interpretation. Phenomenology, as posthuman philosophy, is post human in the chronological sense that it transcends the limitations of both renaissance humanism and modern secular humanism by means of the evolution of human consciousness.

THINKING OUTSIDE THE CHURCH: Foundations for the 21st Century

I contend that the modern discipline of Sociology, as understood in the West, has evolved into a ... more I contend that the modern discipline of Sociology, as understood in the West, has evolved into a socio-philosophy from within an existential system of theology. Two systems of philosophy confront one another in the contemporary world, i.e., classical philosophy based on the authority of Hellenistic philosophy and an existential philosophy based on the authority of experience. Each discloses methodologies that are opposed to the other as dogma is opposed to modern science. The problems I discuss here concern humanitarian theology and are investigated through the hybrid notion of socio-philosophy, thus they neither belong to sociology alone nor to philosophy alone.

ECOLOGICAL PHILOSOPHY AND CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY: A "New to You" View

The purpose of this little book is to view critically the dialectic between two disciplines: phil... more The purpose of this little book is to view critically the dialectic between two disciplines: philosophy and theology. This book presents a point of departure for reflection for the reader. A long tradition of human reflection records the dialectical relationship between philosophy and theology. By reflecting upon human life and experience in the context of a philosophical and theological relationship humanity has learned something of the divine.
Those readers looking for an exhaustive treatment of the philosophical and theological disciplines will not find in this book. Those seeking to discount, debunk or replace theology with a secular philosophy will be disappointed. The aim of this book is not to debunk, defend or criticize either discipline. It is to examine the relationship between philosophy and theology and thereby to develop an understanding that gives meaning to human activity.

PHILOSOPHICAL CONSCIOUSNESS AND CHRISTIAN HUMANITY

This book is not a set of introductory essays. It has been written with the more seasoned philoso... more This book is not a set of introductory essays. It has been written with the more seasoned philosopher in mind. I follow Leslie Dewart’s general understanding of consciousness as a means of personal adjustment based upon the unique experience of a human being. He notes that consciousness as “human adjustment differs from the animal kind in that man’s relations to his environment are mediated by a special kind of experience: the sort, as we have seen, that endows him with a sense of selfhood and a sense of reality.” In this book, I contemplate consciousness, or the sense of selfhood and reality, as a philosophical concept, not a psychological one. That is to say that I write each essay from a different perspective of Christian philosophical consciousness. The first essay revolves around certain philosophical insights that have become evident during Vatican II. The second explores some of the thought of Ludwig Feuerbach with respect to the specificity of human consciousness. This continues the philosophical exploration of the Feuerbachian thought. And the fourth examines the French notion of "laïcité," as a positive philosophical concept concerning religious belief as it relates to Gaudium et Spes, the “Pastoral Constitution of the Church in the Modern World.” The fifth essay is an application of the preceding essay which deals with one aspect of "laïcité" abstracted from the notion of secularization current among Western Anglophone philosophers. Each essay pertains to the human existential experience in the 21st Century.

THE DECLINE OF ECCLESIASTICAL HELLENIZATION AND THE RISE OF DEMOCRACY

This is a particular work focusing on an aspect of the Catholic Church in Europe, during the late... more This is a particular work focusing on an aspect of the Catholic Church in Europe, during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, concerning the rise of democracy during the so-called Modernist Crisis. I view the Modernist phenomenon as an historical lens through which to understand the politics, often characterized by artful and dishonest practices, between the Church and the State, and through which to evaluate their polity as a form or constitution of political organization of the Church and the State. Chapter One addresses Modernism as an internal ecclesiastical phenomenon, that is, a movement within the Roman Church but not of the Roman Church. Given that internal movement, in Chapter Two I discuss the resistance of the Church’s aristocratic hierarchy to the developing democracy. In Chapter Three I focus on the contemporary period and discuss a philosophical and theological issue related to Modernism, that was ultimately derived from it, but was unknown to the Modernists themselves. That is, the phenomenon of modern French laïcité which has appeared as a development within the Catholic religious experience following upon the evolution of separation of Church and State.

QUEER CONSCIOUSNESS AND RELIGIOUS EXPRESSION

As a new theory in the humanities and social studies, Queer Theory, as a broad theory encompassin... more As a new theory in the humanities and social studies, Queer Theory, as a broad theory encompassing any understanding that is anti-normativity and anti-fixed identity, is often applied to sexual matters. Whereas, others have discussed Queer Theory from the perspective of Identity Politics in sexual matters, I discuss Queer Theory from a phenomenological philosophical perspective. I take into consideration Katherine Johnson's caveat: "identity politics alone will not achieve the necessary impacts that are required to re-imagine the world we live in. Instead they are likely to win particular legislative reforms that regulate subjectivity, and rights that can easily be taken away under new regimes." Sexuality a Psychosocial Manifesto (Polity, 2015). In short, I suggest that Queer Theory needs a new philosophical understanding of the person, prior to a legal one, that will assist in re-imagining the world we live in.

A CONTEMPORARY POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY AND HUMAN SPECIFICITY

After a general philosophical introduction that outlines my current thinking, I advance the premi... more After a general philosophical introduction that outlines my current thinking, I advance the premise that the inverse of traditional Western philosophical understanding, that is, that the concept of divinity as uniquely created through human culture denotes the specific unique status of humanity, and is sustainable in light of contemporary phenomenological philosophy. Readers expecting a conventional treatment of divinity will be disappointed. I present an unconventional philosophical perspective which may cause many readers to reevaluate philosophically the role of a divine presence in the affairs of humanity.

A CHRISTIAN PHENOMENOLOGICAL CULTURE: A "New to You" Matrix

Obviously, in this short book, only an introductory and partial answer can be given to such a bro... more Obviously, in this short book, only an introductory and partial answer can be given to such a broad question that distinguishes between religious (philosophical) and secular (political) values. In appreciating this question, a general knowledge of the contemporary interpretation of history and a current understanding of the process of evolution will be of great benefit to the reader. Since I do not detail the historical origins of the principles of Western philosophy, nor outline any specifics in the development of the concept of evolution since it was introduced by Charles Darwin in his "On the Origin of the Species" in 1859. Such background is presumed on my part. Further, the ideas I consider here are not original. They derive, by and large, from a new interpretation of consciousness and are an extension of the notions presented by Leslie Dewart in "The Foundations of Belief."

A CREED OF LIFE As Realized Through Selected Book Reviews

This book is a compendium of book reviews reflecting my “Creed of Life.” The fact is that my Cree... more This book is a compendium of book reviews reflecting my “Creed of Life.” The fact is that my Creed of Life has been fashioned through these authors, as well as others not mentioned here, whose works were personally important to me and significant to my intellectual development. This list is continually being lengthened as authors, living or dead and previously unknown to me, are added. Only authors profoundly influencing my Creed of Life are mentioned here. Other authors, whose works were interesting, but not highly influential, were rejected for purposes of this account. My rejection of them, however, is no judgment on their significance in the formation of a Creed of Life by other individuals. The authors I have selected were significant in my work as a theologian whose task is to interpret doctrine and religious belief to the faithful. The point of departure for an exposé of my Creed of Life is the interpretive shift that occurred in the doctrinal and pastoral documents issued by the Second Vatican Council. To my way of thinking, hidden in the doctrinal and pastoral philosophical interpretations by the Council’s theologians and philosophers are significant resources for philosophical and theological reflection on the fashioning of a personal Creed of Life. It has been my experience, arising from conciliar doctrinal and pastoral interpretation, that a contemporary approach towards self-knowledge as well as an entry into and a deeper appreciation of contemporary wisdom may be established. The reader will appreciate that these reviews may be identified with the various moments of my intellectual discontinuity with the past when I, in effect, “stopped believing that, and began believing this.” The books reviewed here, written by others, and the books that I have written reflect these moments.

PHILOSOPHY as a DESTABILIZING INQUIRY

I take as a “jumping off place” for this reflection the Conclusion that Werner Brock, (Dr. Phil.)... more I take as a “jumping off place” for this reflection the Conclusion that Werner Brock, (Dr. Phil.) made to his lectures published as "An Introduction to Contemporary German Philosophy" (1935, Cambridge University Press). Following the observation of J. H. Muirhead in the Foreword, that “readers will draw their own conclusions from his presentation of his subject in this book,” I am sufficiently convinced of the merit of Brock’s lectures that I quote the Conclusion in its entirety as a foundation for the philosophical thinking I develop in this brief book.

PHILOSOPHICAL MONOGRAPHS (Vol. 2) Four Essays

The essays collected into this volume represent an attempt by the author to philosophize creative... more The essays collected into this volume represent an attempt by the author to philosophize creatively on four topics: Philosophy, Posthumanity, Ecology, and Adlerian Psychology in light of a posthuman understanding. Each has been written from a “dehellenized” point of view which makes them somewhat unconventional in their construction and presentation.

PHILOSOPHICAL MONOGRAPHS VOL. 1

The essays collected into this volume represent an attempt by the author to philosophize creativ... more The essays collected into this volume represent an attempt by the author to philosophize creatively on three different topics; Video Gaming, God, and Philosophical Thought in light of a posthuman understanding. Each has been written from a “dehellenized” point of view which makes them somewhat unconventional in their construction and presentation.

ELEMENTS OF WESTERN ECOLOGICAL PHILOSOPHY

Note: This is a revised, short and independent presentation which has been previously published a... more

A PHILOSOPHICAL POTPOURRI: 14 Essays in the Humanities

Why read Philosophers? I suppose the immediate answer to that question that comes to mind for mos... more Why read Philosophers? I suppose the immediate answer to that question that comes to mind for most individuals is that “I want to learn something,” or perhaps to know what other philosophers know. Such were my reasons at one time. However, today (in my retirement years) that is not the case. Rather, I read other philosophers to confirm what I already know, not so much to know what they know, although that does occur also. That means that I discover if I am in accord or in discord with the perspective of the philosopher I am reading. In short, I am already somewhat conscious of an issue before I search out a particular philosopher to read. The “inquiring-minds-want-to-know” phase of my earlier philosophical reading has passed and now it is a matter of confirming the truthfulness or authenticity of that which I am aware, but not with the aid of a classical philosophical education. Rather, I ask myself, am I conscious to the fullest degree humanly possible?

LESLIE DEWART (1922 – 2009) Canada’s Forgotten Theological Philosopher

In the course of my presentation of Dewart’s philosophy in this book, I shall note particular ins... more In the course of my presentation of Dewart’s philosophy in this book, I shall note particular insights of two other thinkers, whose religious philosophy I accept as dehellenized in Dewart’s meaning of the term. Auguste Sabatier (1839-1901) and Paul Trudinger, (1930-) never employ the term as far as I can determine. Both Sabatier and Trudinger base their philosophical interpretation on experience. Both suggest that one must decide against what one had been taught by religious authorities of their day. Trudinger gives examples from his belief in the Christian Creed and Sabatier gives examples from the philosophy and theology of the Church in his time. For Trudinger, the decision against one’s earlier instruction is a “shift in faith,” not a “loss of faith.” For Sabatier, “autonomy, in action, transforms authority by gradually displacing its seat. So much the more does authority contribute to the development of autonomy. From their interaction results the progress of humanity.” To my mind, both philosophical attitudes, Trudinger’s “shift in faith” and Sabatier’s “active autonomy,” are what Dewart describes as dehellenization of the philosophical attitude, in a positive sense.

CRITICAL THINKERS ON THE TRESHOLDS OF POSTHUMAN PHILOSOPHY

In this essay I contemplate the possibility of posthuman philosophy within the religious and theo... more In this essay I contemplate the possibility of posthuman philosophy within the religious and theological schools of thought. In doing this, I do not focus on the traditional philosophical humanism which characterizes the scholastic and neo-scholastic approach within Western philosophy. Rather, I focus on a “dehellenized” philosophical way of thinking that, I hold, characterizes the thresholds of a philosophical consciousness. That is to say, the Hellenistic philosophical principles that support Western humanism, are not used to support my understanding of a philosophy appropriate to posthumanity. As an existential philosopher, with a view to evolving as a posthuman philosopher, I evaluate aspects of the philosophical consciousness of William Gladstone (1809-1898) politician and George Tyrrell (theologian) in terms of both humanism and posthumanism from a phenomenological philosophical perspective. I realize that the phenomenological notion of humanity (in contrast to the classical idea of humanism) may not be adequately grasped by all philosophers. It seems to me that although many professionals appear to be somewhat conversant with general philosophical and theological notions that are pertinent to humanity, they nonetheless are struggling to clarify their understanding of an emerging posthuman philosophy. Yet, despite the growing popularity of research into posthumanism in academia, most academics, have but a general and somewhat sketchy knowledge of the significance of posthuman philosophy. Not all research into posthumanity is undertaken as philosophy. But rather most is undertaken as a dramatic exercise of human imagination or of fantastic reasoning. Thus, it is understandable that some researchers lack an adequate philosophical vocabulary to express their thoughts for a philosophy on the thresholds of posthumanity.

BEYOND THE BREAKWATER Venturing into Posthuman Philosophical Waters

Contemporary philosophical contemplation may be compared to a cruise about a well-chartered harbo... more Contemporary philosophical contemplation may be compared to a cruise about a well-chartered harbor. Familiar philosophical landmarks are seen from a different vantage points, but they remain familiar landmarks all the same. In other words, the philosophical charts of Hellenism provide the template for a familiar cruise within traditional philosophical waters. In this book, I venture out into the less familiar waters beyond the philosophical breakwater, as it were, taking along with me the traditional philosophical charts of Hellenism. However, I test their applicability and their accuracy in unknown philosophical waters where, thus far, few other have gone.

PHENOMENOLOGICAL PHILOSOPHY AND RECONSTRUCTION IN WESTERN THEISM

This book is based on a phenomenological philosophical reflection, as opposed to a presentation ... more This book is based on a phenomenological philosophical reflection, as opposed to a presentation of an uncritical exposé of ideas. Th at is to say, the ideas I present here have been reflected upon, considered and re-considered. Also, not just my initial insights, but additional insights arising from my reflections, have been reflected upon, considered and re-considered before I presented them here

RECONSTRUCTION IN WESTERN THEISM

I have preserved the first-person point of view wherever possible in this edition. Although many ... more I have preserved the first-person point of view wherever possible in this edition. Although many individuals have influenced my thinking over the years the appearance of my ideas in print is solely my responsibility. The development of one’s theistic understanding is an intensely personal act of faith. Our understanding of God cannot be identical to our neighbour’s understanding. However, a similarity in understanding that allows for our individual capacity to receive God’s revelation is morally possible. I was conscious of this existential reality as I wrote the book yet I have no expectation that all readers will agree with all that I have said.

METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY CHURCHES: An Appraisal of Queer Consciousness and Religious Expression

As a new theory in the humanities and social studies, Queer Theory is not limited to matters sexu... more As a new theory in the humanities and social studies, Queer Theory is not limited to matters sexual. Queer theory is a broad understanding which encompasses any understanding that is anti-normativity and anti-fixed identity. It is often discussed as identity politics by contemporary academics, philosophers and social commentators. It it within this overall context of identity politics that I discuss the Metropolitan Community Church. Queer Theory needs an antecedent straight theory from which to fashion its alternative perspective. Thus, the MCC needs a theory of straight Western ecclesiology to fashion its alternative perspective. In this sense I content that queer theory presents itself as a negative philosophy, which has ironically been transformed into a positive philosophy, for the purposes of religious inclusion. These essays explore various aspects of this queer understanding, or identity politics, of religious expression.

A PHENOMENOLOGICAL ATTITUDE TO LAW, STATE, AND LAÏCITÉ: Products of Human Consciousness

The world of Platonic idealism will not be satisfactorily imported into the world of phenomenolog... more The world of Platonic idealism will not be satisfactorily imported into the world of phenomenological consciousness. The task of phenomenological philosophers is to return to the interpretation of experience itself and seek to recast meaning not in terms of theoretical idealism, but in terms of existential meaning. The phenomenological philosopher adopts an alternative attitude to interpretation of inherited philosophical concepts. All interpretation necessarily involves achieving an acceptable balance between objective and subjective poles of interpretation. Phenomenology, as posthuman philosophy, is post human in the chronological sense that it transcends the limitations of both renaissance humanism and modern secular humanism by means of the evolution of human consciousness.

THINKING OUTSIDE THE CHURCH: Foundations for the 21st Century

I contend that the modern discipline of Sociology, as understood in the West, has evolved into a ... more I contend that the modern discipline of Sociology, as understood in the West, has evolved into a socio-philosophy from within an existential system of theology. Two systems of philosophy confront one another in the contemporary world, i.e., classical philosophy based on the authority of Hellenistic philosophy and an existential philosophy based on the authority of experience. Each discloses methodologies that are opposed to the other as dogma is opposed to modern science. The problems I discuss here concern humanitarian theology and are investigated through the hybrid notion of socio-philosophy, thus they neither belong to sociology alone nor to philosophy alone.

ECOLOGICAL PHILOSOPHY AND CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY: A "New to You" View

The purpose of this little book is to view critically the dialectic between two disciplines: phil... more The purpose of this little book is to view critically the dialectic between two disciplines: philosophy and theology. This book presents a point of departure for reflection for the reader. A long tradition of human reflection records the dialectical relationship between philosophy and theology. By reflecting upon human life and experience in the context of a philosophical and theological relationship humanity has learned something of the divine.
Those readers looking for an exhaustive treatment of the philosophical and theological disciplines will not find in this book. Those seeking to discount, debunk or replace theology with a secular philosophy will be disappointed. The aim of this book is not to debunk, defend or criticize either discipline. It is to examine the relationship between philosophy and theology and thereby to develop an understanding that gives meaning to human activity.

PHILOSOPHICAL CONSCIOUSNESS AND CHRISTIAN HUMANITY

This book is not a set of introductory essays. It has been written with the more seasoned philoso... more This book is not a set of introductory essays. It has been written with the more seasoned philosopher in mind. I follow Leslie Dewart’s general understanding of consciousness as a means of personal adjustment based upon the unique experience of a human being. He notes that consciousness as “human adjustment differs from the animal kind in that man’s relations to his environment are mediated by a special kind of experience: the sort, as we have seen, that endows him with a sense of selfhood and a sense of reality.” In this book, I contemplate consciousness, or the sense of selfhood and reality, as a philosophical concept, not a psychological one. That is to say that I write each essay from a different perspective of Christian philosophical consciousness. The first essay revolves around certain philosophical insights that have become evident during Vatican II. The second explores some of the thought of Ludwig Feuerbach with respect to the specificity of human consciousness. This continues the philosophical exploration of the Feuerbachian thought. And the fourth examines the French notion of "laïcité," as a positive philosophical concept concerning religious belief as it relates to Gaudium et Spes, the “Pastoral Constitution of the Church in the Modern World.” The fifth essay is an application of the preceding essay which deals with one aspect of "laïcité" abstracted from the notion of secularization current among Western Anglophone philosophers. Each essay pertains to the human existential experience in the 21st Century.

THE DECLINE OF ECCLESIASTICAL HELLENIZATION AND THE RISE OF DEMOCRACY

This is a particular work focusing on an aspect of the Catholic Church in Europe, during the late... more This is a particular work focusing on an aspect of the Catholic Church in Europe, during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, concerning the rise of democracy during the so-called Modernist Crisis. I view the Modernist phenomenon as an historical lens through which to understand the politics, often characterized by artful and dishonest practices, between the Church and the State, and through which to evaluate their polity as a form or constitution of political organization of the Church and the State. Chapter One addresses Modernism as an internal ecclesiastical phenomenon, that is, a movement within the Roman Church but not of the Roman Church. Given that internal movement, in Chapter Two I discuss the resistance of the Church’s aristocratic hierarchy to the developing democracy. In Chapter Three I focus on the contemporary period and discuss a philosophical and theological issue related to Modernism, that was ultimately derived from it, but was unknown to the Modernists themselves. That is, the phenomenon of modern French laïcité which has appeared as a development within the Catholic religious experience following upon the evolution of separation of Church and State.

QUEER CONSCIOUSNESS AND RELIGIOUS EXPRESSION

As a new theory in the humanities and social studies, Queer Theory, as a broad theory encompassin... more As a new theory in the humanities and social studies, Queer Theory, as a broad theory encompassing any understanding that is anti-normativity and anti-fixed identity, is often applied to sexual matters. Whereas, others have discussed Queer Theory from the perspective of Identity Politics in sexual matters, I discuss Queer Theory from a phenomenological philosophical perspective. I take into consideration Katherine Johnson's caveat: "identity politics alone will not achieve the necessary impacts that are required to re-imagine the world we live in. Instead they are likely to win particular legislative reforms that regulate subjectivity, and rights that can easily be taken away under new regimes." Sexuality a Psychosocial Manifesto (Polity, 2015). In short, I suggest that Queer Theory needs a new philosophical understanding of the person, prior to a legal one, that will assist in re-imagining the world we live in.

A CONTEMPORARY POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY AND HUMAN SPECIFICITY

After a general philosophical introduction that outlines my current thinking, I advance the premi... more After a general philosophical introduction that outlines my current thinking, I advance the premise that the inverse of traditional Western philosophical understanding, that is, that the concept of divinity as uniquely created through human culture denotes the specific unique status of humanity, and is sustainable in light of contemporary phenomenological philosophy. Readers expecting a conventional treatment of divinity will be disappointed. I present an unconventional philosophical perspective which may cause many readers to reevaluate philosophically the role of a divine presence in the affairs of humanity.

A CHRISTIAN PHENOMENOLOGICAL CULTURE: A "New to You" Matrix

Obviously, in this short book, only an introductory and partial answer can be given to such a bro... more Obviously, in this short book, only an introductory and partial answer can be given to such a broad question that distinguishes between religious (philosophical) and secular (political) values. In appreciating this question, a general knowledge of the contemporary interpretation of history and a current understanding of the process of evolution will be of great benefit to the reader. Since I do not detail the historical origins of the principles of Western philosophy, nor outline any specifics in the development of the concept of evolution since it was introduced by Charles Darwin in his "On the Origin of the Species" in 1859. Such background is presumed on my part. Further, the ideas I consider here are not original. They derive, by and large, from a new interpretation of consciousness and are an extension of the notions presented by Leslie Dewart in "The Foundations of Belief."

A CREED OF LIFE As Realized Through Selected Book Reviews

This book is a compendium of book reviews reflecting my “Creed of Life.” The fact is that my Cree... more This book is a compendium of book reviews reflecting my “Creed of Life.” The fact is that my Creed of Life has been fashioned through these authors, as well as others not mentioned here, whose works were personally important to me and significant to my intellectual development. This list is continually being lengthened as authors, living or dead and previously unknown to me, are added. Only authors profoundly influencing my Creed of Life are mentioned here. Other authors, whose works were interesting, but not highly influential, were rejected for purposes of this account. My rejection of them, however, is no judgment on their significance in the formation of a Creed of Life by other individuals. The authors I have selected were significant in my work as a theologian whose task is to interpret doctrine and religious belief to the faithful. The point of departure for an exposé of my Creed of Life is the interpretive shift that occurred in the doctrinal and pastoral documents issued by the Second Vatican Council. To my way of thinking, hidden in the doctrinal and pastoral philosophical interpretations by the Council’s theologians and philosophers are significant resources for philosophical and theological reflection on the fashioning of a personal Creed of Life. It has been my experience, arising from conciliar doctrinal and pastoral interpretation, that a contemporary approach towards self-knowledge as well as an entry into and a deeper appreciation of contemporary wisdom may be established. The reader will appreciate that these reviews may be identified with the various moments of my intellectual discontinuity with the past when I, in effect, “stopped believing that, and began believing this.” The books reviewed here, written by others, and the books that I have written reflect these moments.

PHILOSOPHY as a DESTABILIZING INQUIRY

I take as a “jumping off place” for this reflection the Conclusion that Werner Brock, (Dr. Phil.)... more I take as a “jumping off place” for this reflection the Conclusion that Werner Brock, (Dr. Phil.) made to his lectures published as "An Introduction to Contemporary German Philosophy" (1935, Cambridge University Press). Following the observation of J. H. Muirhead in the Foreword, that “readers will draw their own conclusions from his presentation of his subject in this book,” I am sufficiently convinced of the merit of Brock’s lectures that I quote the Conclusion in its entirety as a foundation for the philosophical thinking I develop in this brief book.

PHILOSOPHICAL MONOGRAPHS (Vol. 2) Four Essays

The essays collected into this volume represent an attempt by the author to philosophize creative... more The essays collected into this volume represent an attempt by the author to philosophize creatively on four topics: Philosophy, Posthumanity, Ecology, and Adlerian Psychology in light of a posthuman understanding. Each has been written from a “dehellenized” point of view which makes them somewhat unconventional in their construction and presentation.

PHILOSOPHICAL MONOGRAPHS VOL. 1

The essays collected into this volume represent an attempt by the author to philosophize creativ... more The essays collected into this volume represent an attempt by the author to philosophize creatively on three different topics; Video Gaming, God, and Philosophical Thought in light of a posthuman understanding. Each has been written from a “dehellenized” point of view which makes them somewhat unconventional in their construction and presentation.

ELEMENTS OF WESTERN ECOLOGICAL PHILOSOPHY

Note: This is a revised, short and independent presentation which has been previously published a... more

A PHILOSOPHICAL POTPOURRI: 14 Essays in the Humanities

Why read Philosophers? I suppose the immediate answer to that question that comes to mind for mos... more Why read Philosophers? I suppose the immediate answer to that question that comes to mind for most individuals is that “I want to learn something,” or perhaps to know what other philosophers know. Such were my reasons at one time. However, today (in my retirement years) that is not the case. Rather, I read other philosophers to confirm what I already know, not so much to know what they know, although that does occur also. That means that I discover if I am in accord or in discord with the perspective of the philosopher I am reading. In short, I am already somewhat conscious of an issue before I search out a particular philosopher to read. The “inquiring-minds-want-to-know” phase of my earlier philosophical reading has passed and now it is a matter of confirming the truthfulness or authenticity of that which I am aware, but not with the aid of a classical philosophical education. Rather, I ask myself, am I conscious to the fullest degree humanly possible?

LESLIE DEWART (1922 – 2009) Canada’s Forgotten Theological Philosopher

In the course of my presentation of Dewart’s philosophy in this book, I shall note particular ins... more In the course of my presentation of Dewart’s philosophy in this book, I shall note particular insights of two other thinkers, whose religious philosophy I accept as dehellenized in Dewart’s meaning of the term. Auguste Sabatier (1839-1901) and Paul Trudinger, (1930-) never employ the term as far as I can determine. Both Sabatier and Trudinger base their philosophical interpretation on experience. Both suggest that one must decide against what one had been taught by religious authorities of their day. Trudinger gives examples from his belief in the Christian Creed and Sabatier gives examples from the philosophy and theology of the Church in his time. For Trudinger, the decision against one’s earlier instruction is a “shift in faith,” not a “loss of faith.” For Sabatier, “autonomy, in action, transforms authority by gradually displacing its seat. So much the more does authority contribute to the development of autonomy. From their interaction results the progress of humanity.” To my mind, both philosophical attitudes, Trudinger’s “shift in faith” and Sabatier’s “active autonomy,” are what Dewart describes as dehellenization of the philosophical attitude, in a positive sense.

CRITICAL THINKERS ON THE TRESHOLDS OF POSTHUMAN PHILOSOPHY

In this essay I contemplate the possibility of posthuman philosophy within the religious and theo... more In this essay I contemplate the possibility of posthuman philosophy within the religious and theological schools of thought. In doing this, I do not focus on the traditional philosophical humanism which characterizes the scholastic and neo-scholastic approach within Western philosophy. Rather, I focus on a “dehellenized” philosophical way of thinking that, I hold, characterizes the thresholds of a philosophical consciousness. That is to say, the Hellenistic philosophical principles that support Western humanism, are not used to support my understanding of a philosophy appropriate to posthumanity. As an existential philosopher, with a view to evolving as a posthuman philosopher, I evaluate aspects of the philosophical consciousness of William Gladstone (1809-1898) politician and George Tyrrell (theologian) in terms of both humanism and posthumanism from a phenomenological philosophical perspective. I realize that the phenomenological notion of humanity (in contrast to the classical idea of humanism) may not be adequately grasped by all philosophers. It seems to me that although many professionals appear to be somewhat conversant with general philosophical and theological notions that are pertinent to humanity, they nonetheless are struggling to clarify their understanding of an emerging posthuman philosophy. Yet, despite the growing popularity of research into posthumanism in academia, most academics, have but a general and somewhat sketchy knowledge of the significance of posthuman philosophy. Not all research into posthumanity is undertaken as philosophy. But rather most is undertaken as a dramatic exercise of human imagination or of fantastic reasoning. Thus, it is understandable that some researchers lack an adequate philosophical vocabulary to express their thoughts for a philosophy on the thresholds of posthumanity.

BEYOND THE BREAKWATER Venturing into Posthuman Philosophical Waters

Contemporary philosophical contemplation may be compared to a cruise about a well-chartered harbo... more Contemporary philosophical contemplation may be compared to a cruise about a well-chartered harbor. Familiar philosophical landmarks are seen from a different vantage points, but they remain familiar landmarks all the same. In other words, the philosophical charts of Hellenism provide the template for a familiar cruise within traditional philosophical waters. In this book, I venture out into the less familiar waters beyond the philosophical breakwater, as it were, taking along with me the traditional philosophical charts of Hellenism. However, I test their applicability and their accuracy in unknown philosophical waters where, thus far, few other have gone.

PHENOMENOLOGICAL PHILOSOPHY AND RECONSTRUCTION IN WESTERN THEISM

This book is based on a phenomenological philosophical reflection, as opposed to a presentation ... more This book is based on a phenomenological philosophical reflection, as opposed to a presentation of an uncritical exposé of ideas. Th at is to say, the ideas I present here have been reflected upon, considered and re-considered. Also, not just my initial insights, but additional insights arising from my reflections, have been reflected upon, considered and re-considered before I presented them here

RECONSTRUCTION IN WESTERN THEISM

I have preserved the first-person point of view wherever possible in this edition. Although many ... more I have preserved the first-person point of view wherever possible in this edition. Although many individuals have influenced my thinking over the years the appearance of my ideas in print is solely my responsibility. The development of one’s theistic understanding is an intensely personal act of faith. Our understanding of God cannot be identical to our neighbour’s understanding. However, a similarity in understanding that allows for our individual capacity to receive God’s revelation is morally possible. I was conscious of this existential reality as I wrote the book yet I have no expectation that all readers will agree with all that I have said.

SECULAR POLITY AT VATICAN II

This paper concludes with the following observations. First, there is a demonstrable shift from m... more This paper concludes with the following observations. First, there is a demonstrable shift from monarchical government to democratic governance in the Church as a product of the evolution of ecclesial polity. But it must be acknowledged the secular polity is incompatible with divinely inspired government as is most evident from a phenomenological philosophical perspective. Secondly, from this same perspective, it appears that the traditional monarchical understanding of the Church’s presence in a future world will not be sustainable. That is to say that, ironically, the Church’s polity may “evolve” to its previous pre-Constantinian status and engage life alongside political organizations fashioned through humanitarian values.

GAUDIUM ET SPES and LAÏCITÉ: A philosophical Understanding in Anticipation of Posthumanity

Laïcité: Some Catholic readers may be familiar with Giuseppe Alberigo’s understanding of the term... more Laïcité: Some Catholic readers may be familiar with Giuseppe Alberigo’s understanding of the term as outlined in “Facteurs de laïcité au Concile Vatican II” in Revue des Sciences Religieuses, tome 74, fas. 2, 2000, in which he writes in a footnote: “Ce mot est utilisé dans le sens du processus de ‘déclericalisation’ à l’interieur de l’Église et non pas pour indiquer une orientation pour l’autonomie de l’État vis-à-vis de l’Église.” My approach is the opposite. I use the term to indicate the exterior status of autonomy of both the Church and State from each other in their respective realms of jurisdiction.

A Monograph on "Laïcité" A Phenomenological Perspective

My intention in this brief monograph is to stimulate a re-assessment of laïcité by philosophers a... more My intention in this brief monograph is to stimulate a re-assessment of laïcité by philosophers and theologians, particularly within the Anglophone academic world. Often the term is understood by Anglophones not quite as accurately as its French advocates intend. The translated texts are copied from the official French Government website, as indicated, and they are supportive of my philosophical perspective. I understand laïcité as a positive concept, that when properly understood, is not an adversary of religious belief. Laïcité is an evolving concept, not a static one, and it is philosophically contingent upon a societal consciousness of the place of religion in the world.

Philosophical Speculations Concerning a Posthuman Future (2021)

Some philosophers, but more likely sociologists, are of the opinion that religion cannot form a s... more Some philosophers, but more likely sociologists, are of the opinion that religion cannot form a
stable component of experience in human affairs. Some might go so far as to suggest that
eventually science will replace religion in the experience of some human beings. I suggest that a
perceived lack of stability in religious experience does not suggest the latter, either individually or
collectively. Rather, the lack of stability in human religious experience understood as a dynamic
experience raises the question of the place of religion in the process of social evolution in the
modern Western world. The question may be answered objectively or subjectively, depending
upon the personal observation and interpretation of the religious phenomenon. Historically, this
is approach is typical of human behaviour.

MENTAL HEALTH AND DEMONIC POSSESSION [Annals of St Anne]

MARY IN THE ORTHODOX CHURCH'S TRADITION [Annals of St Anne]

A PORTRAIT OF PAUL THE APOSTLE [Annals of St Anne]

We do not have much information about the Apostle Paul. The Bible tells us nothing about his chil... more We do not have much information about the Apostle Paul. The Bible tells us nothing about his childhood and early life. But from Acts 23:ff we know that his father was a Pharisee and Paul was a Roman citizen. He had a sister whose son had saved him from an ambush by some Jewish enemies. But we know of no brothers. Onesiphorus, mentioned by Paul in his second letter to Timothy (1: 16) was the one friend who did not desert him when others did. An ancient non-scriptural source from the second century also mentions Onesiphorus and Paul together. It also gives a description of Paul as being small of stature, bald-headed and with crooked legs, eyebrows joining, but looking healthy. Sometimes he had the face of an angel. Paul knew Greek and Hebrew, languages that would assist him greatly in dealing with traders and merchants of Tarsus. However, we do not know if he knew Latin, which was the language of the Roman Empire. We infer that Paul was from a wealthy family which helped him gain Roman citizenship and financed some of his early missionary voyages. However, he personally provided for his own needs by working as a tent-maker. Did he sell his tents to the Roman Army? We do not know. He worked hard because he did not want to be a burden to the Christians in Thessalonica (1 Thess 2:9). He admonished those who were idle (1 Thess5: 14) and wrote that those who chose not to work should not eat (2 Thess 3: 10-12). The Apostle was raised in Jerusalem and taught by Rabbi Gamaliel, a member of the Council (Acts 5 :34ff). As a Jew, Paul was a monotheist from the beginning. He was a member of the sect of the Pharisees, distinct from the Sadducees and Essenes. He was not a priest, but interpreted the law (both written and oral) very meticulously and because of his background could consider himself to have kept all the requirements to the letter of the Law. In his ministry, Paul visited synagogues but never mentioned the word "synagogue" in his letters. He spoke instead of the ekklesia, the assembly of those "called out" of the synagogues and the "nations" into the Church. As an Apostle, Paul believed he was entrusted with the "Gospel of God" (Rom 1:1) because he had become an Apostle by the will of God (1 Cor 1:1). Living two thousand years after Paul, it is difficult to interpret or understand him. We have only scant information. And because of the layers upon layers of creeds, confessions, dogmas, liturgies and customs, it is hard to clear our minds and be objective. However, the fact that congregations preserved his letters long after he died, indicates the esteem they had of him. Without Paul's labour, Christianity would not have become a world religion.

COMMENTARY ON P. SABATIER'S MODERNISM (Jowett Lectures 1908)

abandonment is not destruction. The old remains in place but is ineffectual. The metaphysical and... more abandonment is not destruction. The old remains in place but is ineffectual. The metaphysical and the dialectic are philosophical approaches that have had their place in the development of human thought. In accepting the new orientation, a transformation takes place in the thinking of one's religious philosophical understanding and one's religious practice or moral action.

THINKING THROUGH THE FAITH Philosophical Convictions of Leslie Dewart (1922-2009)

While Dewart was not a theologian, his philosophy lays a new foundation for contemporary thinking... more While Dewart was not a theologian, his
philosophy lays a new foundation for contemporary thinking that does not rely on
the traditional epistemological foundation of Hellenic philosophy. His
philosophical insights are a conscious, reflective “transposition to another key” of
the experience of the Christian faith. I begin with an overview of his PhD thesis,
followed by a discussion on books that develop Pearson’s insights.

PHENOMENOLOGICAL PHILOSOPHY AND ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN SCIENTIFIC ECOLOGICAL THEOLOGY

Indo Pacific Journal of Phenomenology, 2008

Contemporary philosophy, to be useful to Orthodox Christian theology, must capture the "essence" ... more Contemporary philosophy, to be useful to Orthodox Christian theology, must capture the "essence" of the divine and human activity in the world in the scientific sense of Edmund Husserl. Scholastic philosophy is no longer an academically privileged supporter of theology in the interpretation of the universe. In its place, this paper suggests that phenomenological philosophy becomes the unique and transcendent partner, as it were, in the interpretive dialogue. The methodological thinking of Edmund Husserl and Martin Heidegger offers a way of philosophical understanding that is more satisfactory than the traditional scholastic metaphysics in giving meaning to contemporary human experience. A phenomenological eco-theological approach captures the essences of a subject's immediate and holistic perception of the environment.

THEOLOGICAL REFLECTIONS ON E. O. WILSON’S “CONSILIENCE”

This book is a tease, an exciting read, and makes a valuable contribution to the continuing scien... more This book is a tease, an exciting read, and makes a valuable contribution to the continuing scientific efforts to understand ourselves. However, the book's journalistic style leads the reader, at times, to appreciate its popular rather than scientific character. These theological reflections are more accurately 'theological reactions.' They are a more or less impromptu assessment of and reaction to Wilson's ideas.

GEORGE TYRRELL: MODERNIST THEOLOGIAN (1861-1909), What he said he said.

THE FUTURE OF TRADITIONAL ECCLESIOLOGY: A Philosophical Reflection

Options are needed in the institutional reordering of the Eastern and Western Church's ecclesiast... more Options are needed in the institutional reordering of the Eastern and Western Church's ecclesiastical government. There is doubt that the traditional territorial schemata, that is, the status quo of the ecclesiastical understanding of the East and West can continue as the philosophical understanding that supports them evolves from a Hellenistic to a phenomenological perspective. In the future, the " architectural " form of ecclesiastical government most likely will be replaced by an " organic " form of ecclesial governance. The organic form of governance cannot be derived from any pre-existing philosophical or political principle. Organic governance, which is phenomenologically constituted, is based on the natural inclination of the faithful to remain together forming their ecclesial frameworks that are appropriate to the cultural, traditional and economic contexts of public life. Faith communities, will be constituted as living organisms that evolve. They will not be constructed as juridical philosophical or political structures, based on territory, that are meant to exist for all time. The organic church of the future will present the possibility for a new governance model of the faithful to meet its needs as constituted through a phenomenological philosophy, to meet just as the current architectural government was constructed through a classical (Hellenistic) philosophy to meet the needs of that time. Contemporary theologians, both Eastern and Western, are beginning to realize that the traditional structure of church government must change. Alexander Bogolepov has accurately noted that for " practical considerations, ecclesiastical districts were established from the very beginning of the Christian era in conformity with the political division of the state: and under the Roman Empire, the Christian assembly became a state church " (Bogolopev, 1963:17). The present political governing apparatus, based on territorial notions, will be an impediment n the future to the ecclesial governance of the church since such territorial notions often do not conform to the lived, that is, existential social conditions of the faithful. Further, it would be a theological error if intellectually and scholarly informed theologians were to promote, in the name of philosophical evolution, the idea of a universal territorial super-church composed of all the faithful and based merely on the philosophical notions of humanity's universal existential context. We must

SOCIAL INTEREST IN THE THINKING OF HRH THE PRINCE OF WALES

The Prince of Wales is a visionary thinker. The Adlerian fifth life task is reflected in his visi... more The Prince of Wales is a visionary thinker. The Adlerian fifth life task is reflected in his visionary thinking. He seeks to discern meaning in life through the tasks of individual and collective stewardship and spiritual leadership. His vision has the potential to place him among the foremost promoters of social interest in Western culture as it enters the next millennium. In tune with the times, HRH The Prince of Wales will most likely make a positive social contribution to his country and the world. His personal spiritual journey, interpreted in terms of Adlerian principles, suggests this. I have written elsewhere (Savage, 1998) concerning Adler's Social Interest (SI) and its usefulness in the contemporary context. Adler's common sense approach to living is set out in his theory of Social Interest (SI). SI refers to a feeling of belonging, of being accepted within a community. Further, I argue that SI constitutes and distinguishes our human nature such that SI is more than mere civil association. SI reveals a transcendental understanding in its more developed stages…. This transcendental understanding invites an individual to future spiritual development. (p. 43) In this present article, I examine certain speeches1 of HRH The Prince of Wales and show that the Prince, consciously or unconsciously, thinks like an "advanced" Adlerian thinker. He thinks in terms of the Adlerian notion of the fifth life task. Many of his speeches reflect the Adlerian notion of the fifth life task in its more developed stages which contain an explicit spiritual component. This is sufficient reason to suggest that Adlerian thought is having an influence, albeit not clinical, in the public domain. We may safely presume, that as King, Charles Windsor's thinking will continue to reflect Adlerian principles. These principles will be an asset to him as monarch. They will help keep him in touch with the modern world and in tune with the thinking of his subjects. Examining the thinking of HRH The Prince of Wales in terms of the fifth life task highlights a distinctive leadership style that will be beneficial to his future subjects. I argue that the present thinking of the future monarch is an encouragement to those who seek to advance SI now and in the future. The Prince's thinking, as reflected in his speeches, is not intended for himself alone in order to make him a better person. A purpose of the Prince's thinking is to increase SI for the common good and to encourage a spirituality in his future subjects. By doing this he thus helps himself. Since the fifth life task concerns spirituality (Mosak & Dreikurs, 1967), it is important that the monarch understand the spirituality that is relevant to his future subjects. If he fails, the effectiveness of the monarchy will be diminished.

PHENOMENOLOGY WITHOUT RELIGIOUS MOTIVES

PASTORAL THEOLOGY/ PRACTICE AND ALFRED ADLER'S INDIVIDUAL PSYCHOLOGY

Pastoral theology, unlike theoretical theology, is rooted in the existential understanding of the... more Pastoral theology, unlike theoretical theology, is rooted in the existential understanding of the contemporary Christian. Alfred Adler's Individual Psychology, an existential philosophy, is a useful psychoanalytic approach to pastoral practice. Individual Psychology is a non-theoretical understanding of life which provides a basis for an holistic pastoral practice.

WHOLISM OR HOLISM IN INDIVIDUAL PSYCHOLOGY AND THEOLOGY

Psychologists and theologians use the notions of wholism and holism in discussing the individual ... more Psychologists and theologians use the notions of wholism and holism in discussing the individual in a secular and/or religious context. The works of certain Adlerian psychologists show that the terms are neither used nor understood in any conventional manner by these authors. A conventional use of these terms by Adlerian psychologists and phenomenologically-minded theologians could assist in establishing a collaborative approach to understanding the individual in context.

FAITH, HOPE AND CHARITY: An Adlerian Understanding

Scripture and religious tradition identify three virtues ordered to the spiritual. These virtues ... more Scripture and religious tradition identify three virtues ordered to the spiritual. These virtues are faith, hope and charity; they may be understood as an attitude of will that makes their possessor good and the work done good. Classical epistemology, which is often used to interpret the virtues, is deficient as an interpretive tool in the contemporary Western context. An alternative method to understand virtues is pro- posed, an humanitarian existential interpretation. Adler's Individual Psychology provides a basis for a humanitarian understanding of the virtues.

ALFRED ADLER'S SOCIAL INTEREST: A Holistic Pastoral Psychology

THE LINK BETWEEN SPIRITUALITY AND HEALTH: Holistic Outcomes and Religious Practice in Clinical Health Care

TECHNOLOGY AND THE VIRTUES: A Philosophical Guide to a Future Worth Wanting

A FEW CRITICAL COMMENTS While ethics has always been embedded in technological contexts, humans h... more A FEW CRITICAL COMMENTS While ethics has always been embedded in technological contexts, humans have, until very recently, been the primary authors of their moral choices, and the consequences of those choices were usually restricted to impacts on individual or local group welfare. Today, however, our aggregated moral choices in technological contexts routinely impact the well-being of people on the other side of the planet, a staggering number of other species and whole generations not yet born. (p. 2).

REVIEW of BEYOND THE SEA: NAVIGATING BIOSHOCK, Felan Parker & Jessica Aldred (Eds.)

Judging by the book's index and the copious notes and references following essay this is clearly ... more Judging by the book's index and the copious notes and references following essay this is clearly intended as an academic text. The ample detail in some of the essays about the plot, purpose and criticism of Bioshock will appeal to those who know the series well. But I am a philosopher, not a gamer. While philosophizing about gaming, I thought about how the various aspects of posthuman humanity have made themselves explicit in gaming and if these aspects of posthuman humanity concealed any philosophical unity behind their creations. (In general, philosophical activity, in contrast to gaming activity, has purposes that are non-manipulative, and as such does not directly change the experienced world.) I suggest that the reader may want to keep in mind this "Player's Creed" while assessing my review/critique of Beyond the Sea: Navigating Bioshock. Player's Creed I make the gaming world. There is no overall system which determines what I make. I choose what kind of world I want to make. My actions show what things I regard as valuable. I create value and do not participate in value already given. I make what order there is. I am not made by it. I am independent, not bound by any dependence more powerful than myself. I am free because what happens in the world depends on me; not a providence beyond my control. My fate is in my hands. I, and only I, create history.*

REVIEW of PHILOSOPHY THROUGH VIDEO GAMES (Jon Cogburn & Mark Wilcox)

Clearly this book is intended for professional academics. However, it can serve as a point of dep... more

The Changing Perspective of Pastoral Practice [Reprinted]

From an ecclesial understanding the term pastor designates a particular office originating in the... more From an ecclesial understanding the term pastor designates a particular office originating in the first generation of the Church Pastors are gifts to the church. The pastoral office derives its purpose and significance from God Its revealing source. The historical ecclesiastical model of pastoral practice requires that a pastor be ordained In order to guide and govern the Christian community, the church. There are no pastors without a flock. Contemporary developments in ecclesial understanding and governance create the opportunity for lay individuals to assist the clergy in pastoral practice. This ecclesial development has implications for the office of pastor and the ministry of the laity. To be faithful to its revealed tradition the ecclesial community must retain the distinction between the ordained and laity in pastoral practice.

Alfred Adler's Social Interest: A Holistic Pastoral Psychology {Reprinted]

I argue that Social Interest constitutes and distinguishes our human nature such that Social Inte... more I argue that Social Interest constitutes and distinguishes our human nature such that Social Interest is more than mere civil association. Social Interest reveals a transcendental understanding in its more developed stages. This transcendental understanding invites an individual to future spiritual development.

Faith, Hope and Charity as Character Traits in Adler's Individual Psychology: With Related Essays in Spirituality and Phenomenology

Chapter 1 Foreword Chapter 2 Preface Chapter 3 Acknowledgements Chapter 4 Part One: Faith, Hope a... more Chapter 1 Foreword Chapter 2 Preface Chapter 3 Acknowledgements Chapter 4 Part One: Faith, Hope and Charity as Character Traits in Adler's Individual Psychology: Alfred Adler: His Life, a Model of the Theory The Individual Psychology of Alfred Adler Individual Psychology and Pastoral Theology Cognitive Therapy and Pastoral T Chapter 5 Part Two: Related Essays in Phenomenology and Spirituality: Exercise in Critical Collaboration Between Erik Mansager and Allan Savage: Adlerian Psychology and Spirituality in Critical Collaboration (Mansager) Remarks Concerning Erik Mansager's Article: A Chapter 6 Glossary of Terms Chapter 7 Bibliographical Information Chapter 8 Index Chapter 9 Index of Names

Leslie Dewart (1922-2009) Canada's Forgotten Theological Philosopher: A Review of his Major Works

Notion Press, 2020

Religion and Governance: Re-thinking the American Experience

There must be be renewed efforts to increase respect by all political, religious, and social inst... more There must be be renewed efforts to increase respect by all political, religious, and social institutions for the modern view that political society's primary interests are in fostering peace, justice, freedom and equality, not in advancing religion. This is the basic meaning of the separation of church and state. The obvious tension here, of course, is that historically, religion has been the basis for every dimension of life, including the political. In the final analysis, we, as members of the human community, owe it to ourselves and to our progeny to make religious liberty a reality of everyone. There is no more important project as we enter the twenty–first century. (Derek Davis, "Thoughts on Religious Persecution Around the Globe" in Journal of Church and State (1998) Volume 40, 2.

An enquiry into Advent and Lenten Cycles of the Anglican and Roman Catholic Eucharistic Collects

Philosophy is a Destabilizing Inquiry

This book has been published with all reasonable efforts taken to make the material error-free af... more This book has been published with all reasonable efforts taken to make the material error-free after the consent of the author. No part of this book shall be used, reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission from the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

HUMAN NATURE: 20th Century Philosophy in a new Key

This essay is a précis (for which I take full responsibility) of Chapters One and Two of Leslie D... more This essay is a précis (for which I take full responsibility) of Chapters One and Two of Leslie Dewart’s seminal book consisting of Nine Chapters. The perspective he presented here, to my mind, sets a fresh intellectual trajectory for philosophical contemplation. Written towards the end of the 20th century the book is not an easy read, but since it introduces an alternative and refreshing philosophical interpretation, I offer this précis in the hope that it may inspire readers to read the entire book in the context of the 21st Century experience. His “single mosaic” is not the unified intellectual fruit of classical Western philosophy, but rather is an insightful statement of the alternatives (described in the epilogue of the book) consciously available to the human species of the future.

Philosophical Monographs Vol. 2

The essays collected into this volume represent an attempt by the author to philosophize creative... more The essays collected into this volume represent an attempt by the author to philosophize creatively on four topics: Philosophy, Posthumanity, Ecology, and Adlerian Psychology in light of a posthuman understanding. Each has been written from a "dehellenized" point of view which makes them somewhat unconventional in their construction and presentation.

Faith, Hope and Charity: An Adlerian Perspective

Faith, Hope and Charity: An Adlerian Understanding [Reprinted]

Scripture and religious tradition identify three virtues ordered to the spiritual. These virtues ... more Scripture and religious tradition identify three virtues ordered to the spiritual. These virtues are faith, hope and charity; they may be understood as an attitude of will that makes their possessor good and the work done good. Classical epistemology, which is often used to interpret the virtues, is deficient as an interpretive tool in the contemporary Western context. An alternative method to understand virtues is pro- posed, an humanitarian existential interpretation. Adler's Individual Psychology provides a basis for a humanitarian understanding of the virtues.

Leslie Dewart (1922-2009) Canada's Forgotten Theological Philosopher: A Review of his Major Works

In the course of my presentation of Dewart's philosophy in this book, I shall note particular... more In the course of my presentation of Dewart's philosophy in this book, I shall note particular insights of two other thinkers, whose religious philosophy I accept as dehellenized in Dewart's meaning of the term. Auguste Sabatier (1839-1901) and Paul Trudinger, (1930-) never employ the term as far as I can determine. Both Sabatier and Trudinger base their philosophical interpretation on experience. Both suggest that one must decide against what one had been taught by religious authorities of their day. Trudinger gives examples from his belief in the Christian Creed and Sabatier gives examples from the philosophy and theology of the Church in his time. For Trudinger, the decision against one's earlier instruction is a "shift in faith," not a "loss of faith." For Sabatier, "autonomy, in action, transforms authority by gradually displacing its seat. So much the more does authority contribute to the development of autonomy. From their interaction resul...

Elements of Western Ecological Philosophy

The notions I present here for consideration are, in fact, not new. In short, they are phenomenol... more The notions I present here for consideration are, in fact, not new. In short, they are phenomenological notions. As ideas, expressed within the Western-Hellenic tradition, they have been discussed for a very long time in philosophy. They may appear "new to you" as a thinker exploring for the first time, or continuing to explore, the philosophical relationships that give meaning to life in the cosmos. Whatever "newness" there is in this brief book arises in the reader's subjective awareness or consciousness of what the individual human mind has come to assign in place of its previous understanding. The reader may find much that is familiar in this small book but at the same time will be presented with a re-casting of ideas that constitutes a new conception of earlier ideas as notions and offers the possibility of a new philosophical perspective.

Wholism or Holism in Individual Psychology and Theology [Reprinted]

Psychologists and theologians use the notions of wholism and holism in discussing the individual ... more Psychologists and theologians use the notions of wholism and holism in discussing the individual in a secular and/or religious context. The works of certain Adlerian psychologists show that the terms are neither used nor understood in any conventional manner by these authors. A conventional use of these terms by Adlerian psychologists and phenomenologically-minded theologians could assist in establishing a collaborative approach to understanding the individual in context.

Phenomenology and Social Construction within Orthodox Theology

Theological Reflections on E. O. Wilson's "Consilience" [Reprinted}

This book is a tease, an exciting read, and makes a valuable contribution to the continuing scien... more This book is a tease, an exciting read, and makes a valuable contribution to the continuing scientific efforts to understand ourselves. However, the book's journalistic style leads the reader, at times, to appreciate its popular rather than scientific character. These theological reflections are more accurately 'theological reactions.' They are a more or less impromptu assessment of and reaction to Wilson's ideas.

Critical Thinkers on the Thresholds of Posthuman Philosophy: William Gladstone and George Tyrrell

This paper suggests that the philosophical and theological critical thinking of William Gladstone... more

Philosophical Monographs Vol. 1

The essays collected into this volume represent an attempt by the author to philosophize creative... more The essays collected into this volume represent an attempt by the author to philosophize creatively on three different topics; Video Gaming, God, and Philosophical Thought in light of a posthuman understanding. Each has been written from a "dehellenized" point of view which makes them somewhat unconventional in their construction and presentation. 1) Mind Games: Phenomenological Philosophy and Video Gaming, 2) Is There Room for God in Posthuman Philosophy? 3) A Dissertation on Philosophical Thought.

Technology and the Virtues

A Philosophical Potpourri: 14 Essays in the Humanities

These essays have been collected and adapted from my previously published books. They have been s... more These essays have been collected and adapted from my previously published books. They have been slightly revised from the point of view of grammar, but nothing substantial in their content has been changed. The book from which each essay was taken is identified on the title page of the essay. The one exception is my review of Beyond the Sea: Navigating Bioshock (edited by Felan Parker and Jessica Aldred).

Laïcité Proposed as Religious Philosophy

I plan to develop these ideas into a major paper or a chapter of a book. I invite your criticism.

MODERN ECCLESIOLOGY and the PRINCIPLE of LAÏCITÉ

This philosophical understanding deals with one particular aspect of laïcité abstracted from the ... more This philosophical understanding deals with one particular aspect of laïcité abstracted from the notion of secularization current in the Western Anglophone population. The particular aspect of the principle of laïcité consists of new interpretations that, in fact, amount to a shift in philosophical conceptions within ecclesial and secular political perspectives. Western posthuman philosophical interpretation will not be undertaken from the same philosophical perspective in the future as it was in the Medieval past since European science has given rise to a technological civilization. What makes this drive to technology so significant is that many philosophers still unrealistically believe that they are working to liberate mankind from its earlier fetters imposed by the natural order and classical traditions. [Readers may send me comments at their discretion.]