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In Conversation With Brayden Dantin's "My Song Is Love Unknown
In Conversation With Brayden Dantin's "My Song Is Love Unknown
In Conversation With Brayden Dantin's "My Song Is Love Unknown
Brayden, your notion of human freedom seems very much consistent with
that of David Bentley Hart’s approach, such as he set forth in “What Is a Truly
Free Will?”
DBH wrote:
I define perfect freedom as the unhindered realization of a rational nature in the
end that fulfills it as rational. I assume also that, for finite intellects, such
freedom involves a deliberative ability to choose among different courses of
action. All I reject are two logically impossible notions: that there can be rational
freedom that is not first set into action by a “transcendental” final cause, and
that freedom can exist in any way except in direct proportion to the rational
competency of the agent.
end of DBH quote
For my part, at our next gathering, I’d like to explore the many practical
implications that might (or not) flow for us, as finite intellects, in light of
Using DBH’s conception of freedom, wouldn’t a logical free will defense of evil
still work, generally, even though, regarding hell, it’s clearly nonsensical?
Not to be coy, I would finally argue that, while our transcendental ends are
divinely determined, we are relatively free to choose among our finite means
of attaining same. That’s to suggest, while God determines THAT He’s our
only ultimate end, we largely determine HOW – as well as HOW MUCH – we
would to manifest God’s glory.
It’s not the fact of being indwelled, which grace establishes. For rational
creatures, being indwelled is constitutively gifted by the gratuity of creation.
In the gratuity of grace, the Spirit will further illuminate us & so grow the kinds,
orders & degrees of divine knowledge that we can enjoy. Such divine
manifestations variously gift us through the lights of experience, faith &
vision.