October 11, 2007

outlines and stategerie

The beginning of an acquaintance whether with persons or things is to get a definite outline of our ignorance.

--George Eliot

I have been exploring my ignorance this week. It's been really remarkable. I'm learning even more about Calvin then I thought I would. Now I want to go to Geneva to look at his 1536 copy of Chrysostom's Opera omnia. He marked it, wrote in the margins, explored his own thinking there and the thinking of his debate partners. I wonder how long he desired his own copy of the collection before he actually was able to lay his hands on the '36. According to some scholars, Calvin got his eucharistic notions by first looking at some of Erasmus' translations of Chrysostom's homilies (see below) published six years earlier. Ad fontes, indeed.

The Protestant Reformation is one outline of the socio-political shifts in Western Europe. Calvin was in the midst of it, instigating and recording what was happening in Geneva and beyond. It's so damn fascinating. I have been exploring my ignorance of history, Latin, Greek and even the basement stacks of the library. O, Blessed Ignorance! Heh.

I've been exploring my ignorance at Community Church as well. This too has been rewarding. Yesterday there was a meeting to collaborate with a local family cervices agency on a program at the church. It was awe inspiring to watch these people work through all the details, to articulate a vision that they have for their church community. Wondrous indeed.

Today I am headed back to the library and then a mandolin lesson. It should be a good day. Every encounter with ignorance is an opportunity to become better acquainted with the world.

Adieu!

“Calvin found the doctrine of the Holy Spirit as the bond of our union with Christ in the Eucharist in a sermon Erasmus attributed to John Chrysostom, which Erasmus inserted into an edition of Chrysostom’s works published at Basel in 1530.” p. 257 John Calvin, the Church and the Eucharist by Killian McDonnell

Posted by tripp at October 11, 2007 06:38 AM
Comments

You should read Catholic Louis Bouyer's The Spirit of Protestantism.

Posted by: Clifton D. Healy at October 11, 2007 09:17 AM

I agree with Cliff and second the recommendation.
I read it a year and a half ago, I of course don't agree with everything in the book, but I think he gets most things dead on.

Posted by: Larry at October 11, 2007 12:37 PM

Ah ignorance. that intimidates me.
I prefer aristotle's interpretation. when you sort of know..or have an inkling...or have even heard of something....but you know you dont know it all...
its metaxia. in between.
youre in the in between
its a good place to be.
cuz otherwise...you'd be either...soul-less...or god.

Posted by: Sarah at October 11, 2007 07:51 PM