Is Aquinas' idea of 'Beatific Vision' widely accepted today?
Upvote:1
Relationship with God is generally understood as being the most important thing we can hope for in all the Christian circles I am familiar with (a wide variety of Protestant denominations and movements. Often a simplistic view of the Gospel focuses on the negative, avoiding condemnation. Even here, the most consistent view of being condemned is that it means "eternal separation" from God; implying that not being separated must be a great benefit.
Slightly more advanced views emphasize the benefits of relationship. Although Christ said we would suffer in this world, He assures us of God's continual presence -- primarily of the Holy Spirit during our Earthly life; presumably learning to relate to all aspects and the three persons of God in the hereafter.
Some emphasize the joys available during this life, others the benefits of Heaven. It seems that most of the time figurative speech is used, comparing our relationship with things we can understand from a worldly viewpoint.
Not a lot is said about our final state in the scripture, so the connection between relationship with Christ now and our permanent estate may not be as clear as one would like. In my own opinion, it is desirable to understand the "Beatific state" as the joy of relationship, available to us now to considerable degree, and our glorified state as a continuation with a deeper relationship far beyond the limits of what we can now understand. The idea of "blessedness", from the Hebrew word Shalom, is an attempt to express this.
I found the book, "God is the gospel" by john piper. Its subtitle is, "MEDITATIONS ON GOD’S LOVE AS THE GIFT OF H IMSELF". It is online at: http://www.slideshare.net/FreeLeaks/god-is-the-gospel-by-john-piper-28686854
Piper's book is for inspirational reading, not theology. Neither Piper nor Aquinas use the term "relationship" consistently, which I see as the central point. Nevertheless I hope some short quotes will show the similarity between Aquinas' view and Piper's.
"God loves as no other being can or should love. No one else in the universe can or should love by giving us the gift of himself." (Piper, p. 165)
"If I would love you, I must do what Jesus did. I must live and die to give ou God. That’s what Jesus did. That’s what God does. God’s highest act of love is giving us himself to love."
"[The Gospel brings] us to the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ as our supreme, all-satisfying, and everlasting treasure." (Piper, p. 167)
Piper quotes 1 Pet 3:18 as, "Christ . . . suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God"
Piper refers to (Acts 26:17b-18; 2 Cor. 4:4, 6), saying we can see in the gospel “the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” (p. 168)
"[T]he best and highest and final good in the gospel ... is the glory, the worth, the beauty, the treasure of Christ himself who is true God and true man."
Piper refers to a number of hymns which reinforce the idea that God is seen as the source of the joys of Heaven.
"Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart; Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art; Thou my best Thought, by day or by night, Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light."
The last verse relates this clearly to Heaven, but can add nothing to the expression of the joy of the relationship. The final line is, "Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all."
Other hymns quoted are "Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee", "Jesus, Thou Joy of Loving Hearts", and "Fairest Lord Jesus".
More post
- 📝 What is the position of the Episcopal Church on the evolution of man?
- 📝 Does Deuteronomy 18:21-22 still apply today?
- 📝 Meaning of Acts 10:34-35 according to Protestantism
- 📝 What make us believe in Jesus?
- 📝 Does the Catholic church allow a previously divorced man to remarry?
- 📝 Reason for loving/worshiping Jesus
- 📝 Why did Luther add the word 'alone' to Romans 3:28?
- 📝 Did those feet in ancient time walk upon England's mountains green? (Origin of the story)
- 📝 What's the biblical basis to say that God is the only righteous being in the universe?
- 📝 How could Christ uphold the universe as a helpless babe?
- 📝 Marks of the true church in Protestantism or Catholicism?
- 📝 Do Venerables and Blesseds Have Liturgical Feast Days in the Catholic Church?
- 📝 What is Carlo Maria Viganò's religious order?
- 📝 Mere Christianity Book IV Chapter 9 ("Counting the cost") : George MacDonald References
- 📝 Lazarus and the rich man's table
- 📝 Is a Catholic annulment divorce in a Catholic way?
- 📝 Can Jesus' death be considered as a suicide?
- 📝 Into how many languages has the Book of Mormon been translated?
- 📝 How many Commandments were on each of Moses tablets?
- 📝 When did Catholic churches start using wooden clapper during Holy Week?
- 📝 How do Sola Scriptura defenders have a list of "scripture" since the list isn't mentioned in scripture?
- 📝 Are there any documented cases of Xenoglossy (i.e. "Acts 2:1-13 type" tongues, understood by a foreigner) in recent history (19th century on)?
- 📝 How do Cessationists respond to "the counterfeit proves the real" argument?
- 📝 Is "God damn it" blasphemy?
- 📝 How did Thomas More manage to save his family?
- 📝 When & where did the word "Christian" originate?
- 📝 Did St. Thomas Aquinas write anything about historiography?
- 📝 Regarding women participation in extraordinary ministry (Roman-Catholic Church)
- 📝 Why did Clement of Alexandria say that the name of Jesus, Iesous, has a Greek origin, not a Hebrew one?
- 📝 "The Son of Man", Jesus' favorite designation of himself, in view of Numbers 23:19-20?
Source: stackoverflow.com
Search Posts
Related post
- 📝 Is Aquinas' idea of 'Beatific Vision' widely accepted today?
- 📝 How widely accepted is platonism in Christianity?
- 📝 Is the idea that God is infinite in all ways accepted by all Christians?
- 📝 Was the Nicene Creed accepted under duress?
- 📝 What is the biblical basis against the idea of luck?
- 📝 What is the Bible basis for the idea of a temporary holding place?
- 📝 How old is the idea of premillenial rapture?
- 📝 What is the origin of the idea that Michael is Jesus?
- 📝 What is the origin of the Christmas tree and is it accepted in all Christian traditions?
- 📝 What is the origin of the idea that Matthew, Mark, and Luke didn't mention Lazarus in order to protect him?
- 📝 How do Jehovah Witnesses support scripturely the idea that humans will live on earth after death?
- 📝 What is a brief history on the idea that the Pope is the Antichrist?
- 📝 What evidence do we have today about Christian groups not represented at the first four ecumenical councils?
- 📝 How do the proponents of the idea that salvation once received cannot be lost explain Hebrews 6:4-6 and 10:26-29?
- 📝 What is the basis for the idea that the Song of Solomon is about the relationship between God and the church?
- 📝 What is the basis for King Melchizedek actually being Jesus? Where did this idea come from?
- 📝 What is the basis for saying that the Gospel of Thomas was accepted as scripture by early Christians?
- 📝 What is the scriptural basis for the idea that salvation can still be obtained after death?
- 📝 When did the idea start that divine revelation is "finished"?
- 📝 Origin of the idea that "demons" and "fallen angels" are the same thing?
- 📝 Does the Catholic Church allow a professor in a Catholic university to support an idea which is seemingly contrary to Catholic teaching?
- 📝 What is the basis for the idea of 7,000 years of human history, expressed by Larkin and others?
- 📝 What is the Biblical basis for the idea that creation will applaud the damnation of a sinner?
- 📝 Where did the idea of the Trinity come from?
- 📝 Is the idea that God can erase His memory a common understanding?
- 📝 What is the biblical basis for the idea that the church is a hospital for sinners?
- 📝 Where did the idea that Cherubs were baby Angels originate?
- 📝 What is the basis for the idea of a seven year peace treaty with Israel in the end times?
- 📝 How widely held among Protestants is the belief that the authors of the books of James and Jude were half brothers of Jesus?
- 📝 Why does the Eastern Orthodox Church dislike the idea that the Spirit proceeds from the Son?
