Iscool saith:
Human philosophy has no place in the Truth of God. ...
Of course, the word "human" might need some exploring. For some it seems to mean little more than "bad", and if that's the meaning, the proposition is unarguable.
But otherwise, then I would offer that it follows that our discussion of the Eucharist "has no place in the Truth of God," since it is an exercise in philosophy to discuss what a thing is, what "real" means, even, to some extent, what "spiritual" means.
If we are going to talk about "bread" "symbol" "truth" and the different possible meanings of "this is my body," I don't see how we can avoid philosophy.
Again, I'm not intending to scare up some straw dogs. I'm calling it like I see it.
And when I'm finished with my St Bernard reading I will reread Fides et Ratio.
It took divine revelation to motivate St. Anselm of Cantebury's fides quarens intellectum, faith's quest or search for its reason. This quest is "God-pulled," if I might put it that way; it begins in faith. As Anselm put it,
"Speak to my desirous soul what you are, other than what it has seen, that it may clearly see what it desires."Reason itself cannot supply the divine leading to Truth for a soul attuned to the love of God and His Truth, by the grace of God. But I believe, dear brother in Christ, that you are right to say that "reason can provide an amazing amount of truth ABOUT God." "ABOUT" is the operative word here.
But first one must be led to seek God; then reason really has something to do (other than spin its wheels in useless human fatuities). Bearing in mind God does not ever reduce to the rational categories of the human mind. He is "beyond" all such categories; He cannot be "reduced" to them.
What philosophy can never do is make human reason (i.e., man) the measure of God.
If we are to speak of God at all, we begin in faith, not in reason. Reason (and philosophy) cannot penetrate to what God IS; but as you note, dear Mad Dawg, it (they) can provide insights ABOUT God, in human language that can be shared with others.
I see no danger from reason or philosophy rooted in fides — faith, trust in God. For His Logos is the very root of reason itself.
Just some thoughts, FWIW.
Thank you oh so much, dear brother, for your excellent observations!