A Philosophical Happy Hour on the influences of Christian belief on philosophical interpretation, and of philosophical wisdom on the practice of the Christian faith.
Is there such a thing as “Christian philosophy”? Today, thinking of antiquity draws new interest. The texts of Plato and Aristotle, Plotinus and Porphyry—even the fragments of Parmenides and Heraclitus, the dialogues and letters of the Stoics—these and more seem to provide a firmer and solid basis for being, for living, and for thinking. They may not provide answers, that is, but they teach us to seek them ourselves. We had, it seems, forgotten how. But so too, for millennia, the Western world has found answers in Christianity. But where the philosophers look to the things and ideas of nature as the sources of meaning, the Christian as a Christian finds it in a revelation beyond all natural givenness.
At the same time, many of the ancient philosophers—indeed, most deserving of the name, it seems—recognized some cause, some principle, which is beyond the world of motion. The order, the regularity, the intelligibility of all that surrounds us cannot be explained from within itself, but requires something outside, independent, superior.
Thus, it has often been argued by many a Christian thinker, philosophical reason and divine revelation are not at odds, but two distinct sources concerning the same reality, illuminating it from different perspectives.
But, although this sounds likely a lovely coherence—when viewed from a distance, and in the abstract—the concrete realities seldom mesh together so neatly. For one, interpretations differ. Consider the number of Christian confessions today, divided by their interpretations. Even within one and the same creed, such as Catholicism, there may be great divergence in the reading of scripture or tradition. The great and true philosophers offer no less discontinuity in their understanding of the natural world. And our secondary interpretations of those great philosophers introduce yet further differences.
Can a Christian read the ancients without interpreting the ancient through the lens of Christianity? But for that matter: can anyone having inherited a modern world read anything without a modern way of thinking? Can we see the texts for what they are in themselves? Or is their own being inseverable from the interpretations that are made of them? Finally, what does it matter how we interpret these texts, these thinkers—how we merge or distinguish Christian faith and philosophical wisdom?
We will ask these important questions in this week’s Happy Hour. In this attached PDF are some suggestive, contextualized passages to help shape our discussion.
Communiter Veritatem Quarens
Our conversation this Wednesday (3 September 2025, from 5:45-7:15+ pm ET) will take up these perennially important questions and seek both some understanding of faith’s role in understanding itself—and perhaps help faith seeking understanding.
philosophical happy hour
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Come join us for drinks (adult or otherwise) and a meaningful conversation. Open to the public! Held every Wednesday from 5:45–7:15pm ET.
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