Outline of a Procline-Schuonian Trinitarian Theology
This centre of this essay is the Trinitarian theology of the controversial “traditionalist” philosopher, Frithjof Schuon. I am of the opinion that Schuon’s philosophy is widely misunderstood and too easily dismissed, and this represents one of my contributions towards correcting the misconceptions about his thought. This essay is part re-interpretation, as I am using the work of other scholars, notably other Platonists, in order to show the deep coherence of a particularly controversial part of Schuon’s thought, that is, his trinitarian theology, which on first glance, may appear to be heretical. But this essay is also a personal theology, based on Schuon’s thoughts. It is my understanding of the issues involved. I don’t believe philosophy is disinterested in a negative sense. I believe it is as its name means, “love of wisdom”, and if, as the proverb says, “the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom”, “love of God” should be its end. Everything here is offered up to the fire in advance, that He may purify it in that ineffable unity of love and fear.
The aim of the essay is to unite Schuon’s trinity with proclean theology as explained by Edward Butler and Jonathan Greig, using Bonaventurian trinitarian theology, as explained by Jordan Daniel Wood. Schuon’s work forms the “scaffolding” with the rest acting as filler and an interpretive lens for Schuon’s “intuitive and anamnestic” theology. I aim to explain:
The “beyond unicity” of the Absolute.
The necessary hierarchical and yet “consubstantial” kenosis of this absolute
To demonstrate the usefulness and truthfulness of this theology, these demonstrations will be applied to two questions, one of which is a puzzling feature of early Christian theology: The naming of the Son as the “Holy Spirit”.
The PDF is attached below. I hope you enjoy it.
outline-of-a-procline-schuonian-trinitarian-theology-oluwaseyi-bello-first-editionDownload