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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
The Enlightenment	Chas	Sunday, March 15, 2015
Question: I have a distant cousin from Georgia who did not grow up Catholic. After a stint in the marines I understand he said he had a calling to youth ministry. He was attending the Lutheran Church, but after some shopping around, shall we say, he decided to attend a Presbyterian Seminary in Texas. His plan, again my understanding since I don't talk to him that much, is that he wants to become a Presbyterian Minister in the PCUSA. My understanding is that they are not required to attend Sunday worship services and he does not go because he has to use that time to study. They are currently studying The Enlightenment. I don't know much about it but I have seen some negative opinions and that it is somewhat anti-Catholic. Do you have an opinion or know what the Enlightenment is? Thanking you in advance.
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OMSM(r), LTh, DD Dear Chas: Sorry for the delay in answering. The Enlightenment was a European intellectual movement of the late 17th and 18th centuries emphasizing reason and individualism rather than tradition. It was heavily influenced by 17th-century philosophers such as Descartes, Locke, and Newton, and its prominent exponents include Kant, Goethe, Voltaire, Rousseau, and Adam Smith. The Enlightenment is not consistent with Catholic teaching and is hostile to her. You can read more about this movement of rationalism in the Catholoic Encyclopedia. God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below: Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum. Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum

Question Title

Posted By

Question Date

The Enlightenment

Chas

Sunday, March 15, 2015

Question:

I have a distant cousin from Georgia who did not grow up Catholic. After a stint in the marines I understand he said he had a calling to youth ministry. He was attending the Lutheran Church, but after some shopping around, shall we say, he decided to attend a Presbyterian Seminary in Texas. His plan, again my understanding since I don't talk to him that much, is that he wants to become a Presbyterian Minister in the PCUSA. My understanding is that they are not required to attend Sunday worship services and he does not go because he has to use that time to study. They are currently studying The Enlightenment. I don't know much about it but I have seen some negative opinions and that it is somewhat anti-Catholic. Do you have an opinion or know what the Enlightenment is?

Thanking you in advance.

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OMSM(r), LTh, DD

Dear Chas:

Sorry for the delay in answering.

The Enlightenment was a European intellectual movement of the late 17th and 18th centuries emphasizing reason and individualism rather than tradition. It was heavily influenced by 17th-century philosophers such as Descartes, Locke, and Newton, and its prominent exponents include Kant, Goethe, Voltaire, Rousseau, and Adam Smith.

The Enlightenment is not consistent with Catholic teaching and is hostile to her.

You can read more about this movement of rationalism in the Catholoic Encyclopedia.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below:
Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum.
Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum
Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum
Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum
Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum