Soliloquium is a Latin word meaning “soliloquy.” It is a term used by St. Anselm in the preface of his Proslogion to describe the approach to theology in this book and his earlier Monologion, which he identifies as a contemplative meditation on God’s being. This blog is my own place for meditation on God, theology, and various other books and ideas that I am currently wrestling with. I use it to discuss my convictions, share material I have found helpful, review books, and give personal updates. My primary purpose is to learn – for me, writing is a part of the learning process. Its also fun to interact with others along the way, so please feel free to leave comments.
I do not try, Lord, to attain Your lofty heights, because my understanding is in no way equal to it. But I do desire to understand Your truth a little, that truth that my heart believes and loves. For I do not seek to understand so that I may believe; but I believe so that I may understand. For I believe this also, that ‘unless I believe, I shall not understand’ (Anselm, Proslogion, chapter 1).
Gav,
If Facebook is an accurate indicator, word on the street has it that you may be considering doing doctoral work on Anselm. That’s pretty rad.
The interplay between absolute divine simplicity and trinitarian doctrine have recently become an interest of mine, and I’d like to have someone to bounce ideas off of. Perhaps you could cook up some posts on Anselm and we could get some back and forth going.
Drew, thank goodness for facebook – we would hardly know each other without it!! I also have thought about that interplay, as Anselm goes right there in chapter 23 of Proslogion. I will try to post a quote sometime soon, and then you can go to town.
PS: if you are interested in more about my desires for doctoral work in Anselm, check this out: http://gavinortlund.wordpress.com/2010/04/21/an-infinite-multiplication-of-happiness/
Hey Gavin,
I just got here through Mere-O. Matt is a good friend of mine. Are you informed by the fact that Anselm was building on Augustine’s use of the word Soliloquy? Have you heard the Mars Hill audio interview of Thomas Hibbs on the exhibit of the work of Georges Roualt and Makoto Fujimura – called Soliloquies? It really gets into the relational quality of a soliloquy and its role in leading towards dialogue.
Anyway. It’s a great tradition and Soliloquium is a great title for a blog.
CM
Hey Chris,
thanks for the comment! I’ll definitely check out that interview – sounds interesting. I’d be curious of any passages you know of where Augustine draws out the term soliloquium. He certainly had a massive impact on Anselm, but I’ve not explored his influence with respect to that particular term before. Thanks,
Gavin
I had breakfast with Mark Labberton last week and he told me he had read some of your blogs and said you were a good writer. I read your recent post on Samuel Rutherford’s book, The Loveliness of Christ. You are blessed to have parents who have enriched your life as they have. I’m going to get the book because it resonates with my life right now. Thanks Gavin.
Thanks Brad! You’ll have to let me know what you think of The Loveliness of Christ.