Philosophy uses theology but is not the same as theology.

Philosophy uses theology but is not the same as theology. The philosopher who borrows from theology is concerned with revealed truth but not with that truth qua revealed (FEB, p. 24). On the other hand, the ultimate ground of our existence is unfathomable, and hence philosophy needs to be, following Erich Przywara who strongly influences her thinking in this regard, ‘reduction to the mystery’ ( reductio as mysterium ).

Stein recognised, as did Husserl (in Philosophy as a Rigorous Science and in the Crisis ) that a purely methodological conception of philosophy could not satisfy the age. People seek truth, they need meaning in their lives; they seek a ‘philosophy of life’.[^45] Both Stein and Heidegger agreed on this point. They further agreed that the existing philosophies of life were flights into irrationalism.

With regard to the religious orientation of Husserl’s own thinking, Edith Stein reports (albeit in fictional form in her dialogue between Husserl and Aquinas) Husserl as saying: It never occurred to me to contest the right of faith.

It (along with other religious acts that come to mind, for I have always left open the possibility of seeing visions as a source of religious experience) is the proper approach in religion as are the senses in the area of external experience.[^46] But knowledge through faith or the faith-intuition is different from rational reflection on faith.

Aquinas on the other hand, believes faith makes truths accessible which elude the grasp of reason; and that reason can ‘analye’ these truths and ‘put them to use’.[^47] Stein’s point, which she puts in the mouth of Aquinas, is that natural reason is not able to set bounds on itself.[^48] Faith, for Stein and Aquinas, on the other hand, provides its own guarantee. Previous…