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Expert: Fr. Timothy Johnson - 11/29/2009


Question
I just finish Karen Armstrong's book "A Case for God"
The title would have better been A case for faith in God, but I guess it had to be kept short.
During my education in secondary school in Europe I opted for the "scientific" direction rather than the "Greek Latin" and as I become older more I understand what I missed by doing so.
My question is : what is the influence of Aritstotle and Plato on the early Church Fathers when they were trying to formulate Christian doctrine. The seems to be a conflict or competetion between influence of the idea's of Aristotle and Plato...
I am afraid this question may require that you write book and if you have a problem to summarize it in a few lines or paragraph I will also be happy if you give me reference to websites or books which can learn me on this subject.

Answer
Hi, Ferdinand:
Thanks for the question.
Yes - a detailed answer would be rather long and involved.  Suffice it to say that neither the system of Aristotle nor of Plato in-and-of-themselves is complete and comprehensive for every aspect of Catholic teaching; however, there are organized systems that are quite good in many aspects, and they have been made the handmaidens as vehicles for teaching certain doctrines in language that is clear, concise, and ordered with categories and vocabularies that can help to organize and lay out many doctrines of revealed truth.

Fr. Timothy Johnson

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Fr. Timothy Johnson

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A Traditional Catholic Priest, validly and licitly ordained, incardinated legally and canonically in the Diocese of Fargo, and in good-standing with my Local Ordinary (Bishop) on active assignment at a rural Tri-Parish. I can provide honest and balanced answers to questions on topics pertaining to Traditional Roman Catholicism of the Latin Church (Councils of Trent and Vatican II)and a lot about the Eastern Catholic Churches, including the Sacred Liturgy, Sacred Scripture, Church History, the use of the Latin language, the tradition of Sacred Music, and current events in the Catholic Church from a traditional, historical and balanced perspective.

Experience

I have been ordained a Roman Catholic Priest since June 2001.

Organizations
Knights of Columbus; Church Music Association of America (CMAA)

Education/Credentials
Ordained Priest, 02 JUN 2001; Ordained Deacon, 27 JAN 2001; MA - Dogmatic/Systematic Theology; MDiv - Professional Degree from Seminary; 2-Years formation with Canons Regular of Premontre including studies and experience in Sacred Liturgy, Chant, Latin, Sacraments, Spirituality. BA - Scholastic/Thomistic Philosophy; BA - Liberal Arts; AA - General Studies.

Past/Present Clients
I serve 3-small, rural Parish Communities in Easter North Dakota
I converted to the Roman Catholic Church in 1981, at the age of 15. Over the years I have done work as an organist, cantor, and choir director for the Latin Rite (English & Latin) Mass (Liturgy of the Eucharist), and even for the Hours of the Divine Office. I have worked as a cantor for a Melkite Byzantine Catholic Church. Presently my pastoral and administrative duties as a Catholic Priest do not allow me as much time as I used to have to devote to Sacred Music; but for my weekend Masses and Solemnities within my Tri-Parish, I offer High Sung Mass in English. Weekday Mass is typically Low Mass (recited Mass) in English, though on occasion I will offer the "Tridentine Mass" in Latin, which I usually offer on my "Day Off", as well. And now, in light of the "Motu Proprio" by his Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI placing the extraordinary usage of the Roman Rite back into the mainstream of the Catholic Church, I have been offering a regularly scheduled SUN, 2:00 PM Tridentine Latin Mass with a community of the faithful that has a stable existence.

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