Enlightenment and elementary principles
Kant regards positive religions or ecclesiastical faiths (including Christianity) as temporary moral crutches that we can shed as we approach the pure natural religion of reason. Christianity’s institutions, sacraments, dogmas, are the stoicheia leading us to enlightenment.
Here we see the problematics of Christian sacramental theology, going back at least to Augustine, coming to fruition (or going to seed). Why does Christianity retain all this earthliness? Aren’t we supposed to be in a new covenant?
That is the question of modernist theology.
Peter Leithart
Peter J. Leithart is President of Theopolis Institute. He is the author of numerous books on theology, literature, and culture, including Theopolitan, Defending Constantine, and Baptized Body.
In Medias Res
Your weekly digest for all things Theopolis.