Atheism in the Alleged Writings of the Church Fathers
March 27, 2015
G.D.O'Bradovich III
1
Previous pages concerning Jean Hardouin’s idea that the writings of the alleged Church Fathers are impious and atheistic:
The Prolegomena of Jean Hardouin Explored
Selected Quotes from Jean Hardouin
Motion and Rest: Impiety in the writings of the Church Fathers
Selected Quotes from Jean Hardouin
Motion and Rest: Impiety in the writings of the Church Fathers
Jean Hardouin’s concept of atheism can be more clearly understood as Deism in our Modern Age. Deism is the belief that God has created the universe, but remains apart from it and permits his creation to administer itself through natural laws. Deism rejects the supernatural aspects of religion, such as belief in revelation in the Bible.
This link connects to a searchable database for the writings of early Christians. The search for “motion” and “nature” has 385 occurrences.
We urge the curious reader to familiar oneself with the citations from the above link. The examples beyond the first twenty examples will be understood as variations on a theme.
[In] the case of all existing things, by the motions … these motions the origin of all good and evil depends; and the equable (homale ) and regular motion of these…
The Works of Philo Judaeus
[Motion] in accordance with nature; for instance, warmth is …desire for a motion in accordance with nature, to which …accordance with the natural motion of fire, will rise upwards… The Works of Philo Judaeus
For all natural things can be reduced to one principle which is nature; and all voluntary things can be reduced …from motion. It is certain, and evident to our senses…
Summa Theologica, St. Thomas
[Also] "required the motion of the first mover. Summa Theologica, St. Thomas
[Be] infinite, and always in motion, and that generation … Atomic Theory, Leucippus
[Can] exist without the motion of the sun, and the …of the motion of the world, and since this is a sound… nature is without any beginning and without any end… The Works of Philo Judaeus
We note that "nature is without any beginning and without any end" is most commonly stated as "God is without any beginning and without any end". This quote from Philo Judaeus demonstrates that his understanding of God and of Nature: there is no difference between Nature and God. We will dispense with other examples from the remaining Church Fathers as the intrepid researcher can easily search the appropriate texts from the above referenced website.
We caution the reader that any appeal to Nature as either evidence or proof of God or a Creator should be understood as Deist writings. The existence of the natural world can not be used as either evidence or a proof for the spiritual world.
The physical world and rational laws of the physical world can not be used as the basis for any speculation for events that occurred before their existence. While certain writers, both ancient and modern, may appeal to a beneficial or an omniscient Creator, these speculative arguments could equally be applicable to “The Great Leprechaun of the Universe” and, therefore, may be incorrect.
There can not be any “proofs” of God from the evidence of Nature. The existence of God can only be understood in the context of Faith. Fortunately, as Jean Hardouin must have reasoned, Faith is beyond the reach of the writings of Deists, Christian apologetics, and others who reason through Nature.
We caution the reader that any appeal to Nature as either evidence or proof of God or a Creator should be understood as Deist writings. The existence of the natural world can not be used as either evidence or a proof for the spiritual world.
The physical world and rational laws of the physical world can not be used as the basis for any speculation for events that occurred before their existence. While certain writers, both ancient and modern, may appeal to a beneficial or an omniscient Creator, these speculative arguments could equally be applicable to “The Great Leprechaun of the Universe” and, therefore, may be incorrect.
There can not be any “proofs” of God from the evidence of Nature. The existence of God can only be understood in the context of Faith. Fortunately, as Jean Hardouin must have reasoned, Faith is beyond the reach of the writings of Deists, Christian apologetics, and others who reason through Nature.