Ultimates

Cross References
Preface
Acknowledgments

Introduction
I. The Hypothesis
II. Defining Religion
III. Identifying Religion in Public Discourse
IV. Distinguishing Marks of Philosophical Theology

Part I. Ultimates Defined

Part I. Preliminary Remarks

1. Sacred Canopies

I. A Theory of Sacred Canopies
II. Finite/Infinite Contrasts
III. World-Defining Human Problems
IV. Truth in Sacred Canopies

2. Reference, Reduction, Philosophy, and Metaphysics

I. The Presupposition of Real Reference
II. The Scientific Bracketing of Real Reference
III. Philosophy's Control for Reductionism
IV. Metaphysics Explained and Defended

3. Symbolic Engagement

I. Interpretation as Engagement
II. The Pragmatic Heritage
III. Iconic, Indexical, and Conventional Reference in Extension and Intention
IV. Engaging Finite/Infinite Contrasts

4. Worldviews

I. Orientation and Worldviews: The Sacred/Mundane Continuum
II. The Transcendence/Intimacy Continuum
III. The Sophistication/Popular Culture Continuum
IV. The Existential Continua: Sharing, Comprehensiveness, Intensity

Part I. Summary Implications

Part II. Ultimates Symbolized

Part II. Preliminary Remarks

5. Ultimate Reality and Ultimate Concern

I. Ultimate and Proximate Concerns
II. Ultimacy and Dialectic
III. Ultimate Concern as a Function of True Ultimacy
IV. Tensions along the Worldview Continua

6. Toward Transcendent Symbols of Ultimacy

I. Scale
II. Idolatry
III. Explanation: Metaphysics
IV. Experience

7. Toward Intimate Symbols of Ultimacy

I. Nature's Depths
II. The Uncanny Familiar
III. Human Meaning
IV. Human Correction

8. Ultimacy in Theological Framing: Ontology and Narrative

I. Narrative of the Divine
II. Narrative of the People
III. The Symbolic Falsehood of All Narratives
IV. Living with Broken Narratives and Humanized Transcendents

Part II. Summary Implications

Part III. Ultimates Demonstrated

Part III. Preliminary Remarks

9. The Metaphysics of Ontological Ultimacy

I. Ultimate Reality, Being, and the Problem of the One and the Many
II. Whether Being Is One or Many
III. Whether Being Is Analogical or Univocal
IV. Whether Being Is Determinate or Indeterminate

10. The Metaphysics of Cosmological Ultimacy

I. Determinates as Harmony: Essential and Conditional Components
II. Transcendental Elements of Harmony: Form and Components
III. Transcendental Elements of Harmony: Existential Location
IV. Transcendental Elements of Harmony: Achieved Value-Identity

11. Proof of an Ultimate Ontological Creative Act

I. Radical Contingency and the Ontological Context of Mutual Relevance
II. Proof of an Ontological Creative Act
III. The Determinate World as the End of the Act
IV. Abyss in the Act: Symmetry of the Concept versus Asymmetry of What Is Conceived

12. The Ontological Ultimate: An Act of Creation

I. The Nature of the Ultimate Act as Created
II. The Eternity of Creation
III. Time and Eternity in the Three Modes of Time
IV. Eternity as Ontological and Cosmological Ultimate Reality

Part III. Summary Implications

Part IV. Ultimates Known

Part IV. Preliminary Remarks

13. What Can Be Known about Ultimacy

I. The Ultimate as Modeled: God, Consciousness, Emergence
II. Ultimacy and the Transcendentals: Form, Components, Existential Location, Value-Identity
III. Eternity and the Divine Life
IV. Ultimacy in Extension and Intension

14. What Cannot Be Known about Ultimacy

I. The Ultimate Has No Intrinsic Nature apart from Creation
II. The Ultimate and Other Possible Worlds
III. The Ultimate is Not a Person
IV. The Ultimate and Intelligibility

15. Symbolic Engagement as Praying the Ultimate

I. Theological Understanding as a Sign
II. Multiple Symbols along the Sophistication/Popular Religion, Transcendence/Intimacy, and Sacred/Mundane Continua
III. Systematic Thinking for Controlling Symbols
IV. Thinking the Ultimate

16. Mystical Engagement

I. The Path of Meditation: Nondualism
II. The Path of Contemplation: Suchness
III. The Path of the Mystical Abyss
IV. The Path of Love

Part IV. Summary Implications

Notes
Bibliography
Index