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SNN2112POPE---_1658367aWe have all heard so many times that “God is Love”, and so he is. It’s been talked enough about here, and everywhere else, that it has become in the popular mind all that God is. Sort of your wingman who will  accept anything you want to do. Which leaves us with the question ,  “Is that all there is?” The answer, of course is no. If it were he would be of little value to us as a guide.

But we know that is not the case, the entire structure of western civilization is built on the Christian faith (and it’s older counterpart, Judaism). This is where our moral code, our sense of right and wrong, and even what honor we have come from. Even militant atheists use our terms to argue against our God.

Early in his Papacy Benedict XVI gave a speech to the scientists at Regensburg. Likely you remember it because in it he quoted Byzantine emperor Manuel II Paleologus, likely from perhaps winter barracks in 1391, on the difference between the Islamic God and ours. the emperor spoke rather forcefully, as befits  one whose empire and its capital would soon be besieged, and eventually lost.The press predictably, blew this up into an indictment of Benedict, and others, like Dr. Luther who held similar views. personally I think we might have something to learn from those who fought what is increasingly looking like an enemy again. But that was a minor part of what he said that day, other things were, I think, more important.

Because that day, he also spoke of a rational God. using John 1:1


But the new Testament was written in Greek, and the word John used was Logos, which does translate as word but, it also translates as reason. And so our God is a God of Reason as well as Love.

I’m nobody’s idea of a theologian so, let’s let Benedict (who is) speak to us



And thus we see even before Christ, the approaching rapprochement between Greek civilization and our God

In truth,immediately there was little resistance to Greek ideas and rationalism in Christianity, Chalcedon has commented how pervasive Greek culture was in Israel at the time of Christ, and once it was decided to evangelize the gentiles, it pretty much disappeared. And thus, almost from the beginning (n fact, the Septuagint itself was in Greek.

Benedict says this in relation to this:


I think that is exactly correct, and thus we see from the time of the Apostles themselves Christianity has learned from those others around us, adopting the wheat and discarding the chaff, as we come to an ever closer understanding of God.

All quotations are from Benedict’s address which can be found here, and we will continue soon

I started down this road by reading an excellent article called Catholic Scot: Why Be Moral?. You should as well.