Keywords
natural theology
natural knowledge
reason
How to Cite
Abstract
Early Lutheranism and Natural Theology
Abstract: Natural theology can be defined as an attempt of proving the existence of God through the observation of the natural world and the use of reason, without appealing to divine revelation. Many theologians seem to think that early Lutheranism completely rejected the possibility of natural theology, based largely on the view of Luther himself that the human nature has been totally corrupted by sin and can only learn to know God through faith. It was, however, neither the understanding of Luther nor his successors to completely dismiss natural theology. Indeed, Luther is sure that "all men naturally understand and come to the conclusion that God is some kind of beneficent divine power." Surely, the natural knowledge acquired by reason is distorted by sin and is only " legal" knowledge, but this knowledge still reveals the existence of God and leads us to look for the saving knowledge that can only be attained by faith bestowed by God.
Keywords: Martin Luther; natural theology; natural knowledge; reason
Rané luteránství a přirozená teologie
Abstrakt: Přirozená teologie se dá definovat jako pokus o dokázání existence Boha pozorováním přírodního světa a užíváním rozumu, aniž by bylo bráno v potaz zjevení. Mnoho teologů si patrně myslí, že rané luteránství úplně popíralo možnost přirozené teologie, a opírají se v tom o názor samotného Luthera, podle nějž lidská přirozenost byla bytostně porušena hříchem a může se naučit vědět o Bohu pouze vírou. Ani Luther, ani jeho následovníci ovšem nebyli přesvědčeni, že je třeba zcela zavrhnout přirozenou teologii. Luther si je jist, že „všichni lidé přirozeně chápou a uznávají, že Bůh je nějakým druhem dobročinné božské moci." Přirozené vědění získávané rozumem je porušené hříchem a je pouze „zákonným" věděním, ale toto vědění přesto odhaluje existenci Boha a vede nás k hledání spasitelského vědění, jehož může být dosaženo vírou poskytnutou Bohem.
Klíčová slova: Martin Luther; přirozená teologie; poznání přírody; rozum
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