On Christian Platonism with Dr. Michael Wiitala
About this episode
The episode explores the relationship between Christianity and Platonism, examining how early Christian thinkers engaged with Greek philosophy.
What happens when the world of Plato meets the world of Christ? In the final installment of this three-part series on Platonism, Dr. Anthony Alberino sits down with Dr. Michael Wiitala to explore the fascinating relationship between Christianity and the Platonic tradition. From the Gospel of John’s doctrine of the Logos to the profound influence of Platonism on the Church Fathers, creeds, and classical Christian theology, this episode examines how Christian thinkers appropriated, transformed, and sometimes rejected elements of Greek philosophy in their effort to understand and articulate the faith. The discussion covers Philo of Alexandria, Justin Martyr, Clement of Alexandria, Origen, Augustine, Dionysius the Areopagite, Maximus the Confessor, and other major figures in the Christian Platonic tradition. Dr. Wiitala also explains why Platonism proved uniquely attractive to early Christians, how it shaped doctrines concerning God, creation, immaterial reality, providence, and the soul, and where important disagreements emerged regarding creation, reincarnation, emanation, and pagan religion. Finally, Anthony and Michael address contemporary criticisms of Christian Platonism and…
People in this episode
Hosts: Dr. Anthony Alberino, Dr. Andrew Payne
Guest: Dr. Michael Wiitala
Topics covered
- Christian Platonism
- relationship between Christianity and Platonism
- influence of Platonism on Church Fathers
- doctrine of the Logos
- early Christian thinkers
- contemporary criticisms of Christian Platonism
Keywords
- Christianity
- Platonism
- Logos
- Church Fathers
- philosophy
- theology
- doctrine
- reincarnation
- creation
Mentioned in this episode
Books & works: Gospel of John
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