Analyzing Through The Medical Model

[Cure of Ars]

One of the best methods in apologetics is asking questions. But for the questions to be effective you need to be able to understand the basic worldview the other person is coming from. One method of doing this is looking at the worldview system through the medical model. Doing this helps to see what that person or world view sees as the general problem that humanity is faced with and the prescription of how to overcome it. Using this method you can ask questions that show how the Symptom, Diagnosis, Prognosis, and Prescription does not fit with reality. I got the following synopsis from Peter Kreeft’s book Back to Virtue”

• System- Symptoms- Diagnosis- Prognosis- Prescription
  
• buddha- suffering- desire- nirvana- ego reduction
  
• Stoicism- anxiety- passion- peace- passionlessness
  
• Plato- vice- ignorance- virtue- knowledge
  
• Christ- death- sin- salvation- faith
  
• Luther- guilt- self-justification- justification- faith
  
• Pascal- boredom- wretchedness- hope- the "wager"
  
• Kierkegaard- despair- aesthetic existence- authentic existence- ethical and religious "leap"
  
• Descartes- uncertainty- unscientific methods- certainty- scientific method
  
• Marx- alienation- capitalism- classless society- communist revolution
  

God bless

Edited July 8, 2003 by Cure of Ars

[Birgitta Noel]

Ooooh, that was great! Thanks for sharing that bit of Kreeft. As a philosopher, it was neat to see that broken down that way! Keep up the god work! Uh oh, I'm gonna be late for work! I'd best get off of PM and get moving! Buh Bye

[Katholikos]

Brainy guys like Kreeft and others who are converts make me so proud to be Catholic.

I don't have his intellect, but I can share his Faith!

Is it possible for you to elaborate on what he had to say about Luther? Or is there a synopsis on line?

Thanks for posting this!

[Cure of Ars]

Ooooh, that was great!  Thanks for sharing that bit of Kreeft.  As a philosopher, it was neat to see that broken down that way!  Keep up the god work!  Uh oh, I'm gonna be late for work!  I'd best get off of PM and get moving!  Buh Bye 

I'm glad you liked it. Have you read his book, Philosophy 101 by Socrates? God bless

Edited July 9, 2003 by Cure of Ars

[Cure of Ars]

Brainy guys like Kreeft and others who are converts make me so proud to be Catholic. 

I don't have his intellect, but I can share his Faith! 

Is it possible for you to elaborate on what he had to say about Luther?  Or is there a synopsis on line?

Thanks for posting this!

He just gives a paragraph on Luther in Back to Virtue. Here it is;

Christian thinkers throughout history have emphasized different aspects of Christianity that also fit the fourfold structure. For instance, (1) Martin Luther’s problem was a nagging guilt that no amount of good works could relieve. (2) He perceived that it was his attempt to justify himself that exacerbated rather, than removed his guilt, and that (3) he was already justified, deguiltified with God, by (4) faith in Christ.

If you want a little bit on what Kreeft has to say on Luther read the following to links. God bless

Is There Such a Thing as "Mere Christianity"?

Justification by Faith