The Realist view encompassed the Greek (Aristotelian) view of an eternal existing law coexistent with God. These two distinct groups also differed also on the relationship between God and the law. It was the particular will that “reasoned.” But the Nominalists did not- Scotus and Occam emphasized rather the primacy of the human will. The Realists thus tended to glorify “reason”- reason would be an abstract universal (Aquinas was a Realist that emphasized the primacy of reason). Hence for the nominalists, an idea has no reality of its own. The Nominalists held that reality exists in particulars. The Realists held that reality lies in the universals (ideas, abstract concepts) in the mind of God (a Platonic idea). There were two distinct groups of medieval theologians, Realists and Nominalists. The following is from my notes based on Luther lectures given by Robert Kolb: It was the response, or rather non-response of the Roman Church to Luther that was a factor which provoked sola scriptura.īut Occamism did play a crucial role in Luther’s understanding of the Gospel. Luther gradually came to see the folly of Sola Ecclesia as he studied the Bible and compared it to the teachings of the Roman church. Therefore, the Occamists that influenced Luther were very devoted to the authority of the Papacy, as was Luther until the indulgence controversy, and also during the beginning of the indulgence controversy. It is true that it is possible Luther first came to acknowledge the sole authority of the canonical books as the basis of the Christian faith from the Occamist perspective, but as Lutheran scholar Willem Kooiman points out, “… for Occam’s followers the church still stands above the Scriptures, since she alone decided their interpretation”. Modern Roman Catholic historians do not put forth this type of fiction anymore. I'm not sure exactly where "Sir Thomas" pulled this tidbit of silliness from, though many earlier Roman Catholic critiques of Luther wrongly put forth this negative rhetoric. Let’s begin with the ridiculous and work backwards: Luther was not a pervert. And because he was a pervert, he needed some sense of security regarding his own salvation. This could be said to have lead Luther to his conclusions regarding his heretical doctrine of Sola Scriptura, there being no need for a religious authority if it is the individual that reigns supreme. William of Ockham advanced the philosophy of the self, that there are no universals, that Man does not exist, only individuals. That is to say, he was an adherent to the philosophy of William of Ockham. "This is also very evident in Luther’s philosophy. Let’s take a look at More’s second charge: The influence of Occam on Luther and sola scriptura: His comments came in the thread, "Perspectives of Luther" which I began responding to hereand also on CARM. This will be the second installment of a response to a man who calls himself “St.
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