Ep. #146 – A Thomistic Introduction to Divine Attributes w/ Ryan Hurd
Summary
What are “divine attributes”? How can we divide up talk about God into three categories of “names”? What are some key principles to keep in mind about negative names? How should we think about positive names? Why is this important for Classical Theism? What are examples of relative names? Ryan Hurd joins the show again to tackle these questions and more.
Guest Bio
Ryan Hurd is a systematic theologian whose area of expertise is doctrine of God, specifically the Trinity. His primary training is in the high medievals and early modern scholastics as well as the 20th century ressourcement movement. His primary project is writing a robust systematics of the Trinity.
Topics
- What have you been working on since we last spoke?
- What are the different kinds of “attributes” or “names” and why are they called divine “names”?
- How should we discuss “negative names” and what are some examples?
- How should we think about “positive names” and what are some examples?
- What is the 3-step process we can use to purify our language of God?
- What role does Scripture play in our discussion of divine attributes and theology proper?
Resources
Simplicity and Trinity, Friends or Foes? by Ryan Hurd (an article at the excellent online Credo Magazine)
God is a Rock and Often Cries: The Pressing Need to Recalibrate Classical Theism by Ryan Hurd
Summa Theologiae, Question 13 (on the Names of God)
Related Episodes
BONUS|Divine Simplicity & Trinity w/ Ryan M. Hurd
BONUS|An Introduction to St. Thomas on the Trinity w/ Ryan Hurd
BONUS|Domingo Banez & Divine Simplicity w/ Ryan Hurd
