What are key contributions of Christianity to secular philosophy?

Answer 1

I'm not a professional philosopher, but I act like one at the local pub. So my opinion my not count for much. Heck, it may not even be accurate. But what the hey! We're talking about philosophy here and on that subject everyone is entitled to a dogma! The key contribution of Christianity to secular philosophy is the concept of a personal beginning for everything that is. When it comes to the creation and existence of the universe there are two possibilities: a personal versus an impersonal beginning. An accidental big bang would obviously be an example of an impersonal beginning. But so is a pantheistic beginning. There is no "god" in pantheism. With a nod to Gilbert & Sullivan, "If everybody's somebody, then noone's anybody." Christianity and Judaism postulate the existence of a infinite-personal God who created everything. I inject the word "inifinite" to distinguish it from the personal (and fallible) gods of the Greeks, Romans, Norse, etc., who, though personal, were not adequate integration points for the existence of the universe. Of all the worlds religions, only Christianity & Judaism offer an infinite God who is also personal, thus giving validity to human emotions, volition and intellect. Would like to say more, but pressed for time! tjkterrific@aol.com Secularism is based on natural (reality), while religion is based on divine or supernatural