LIFE AND SCHOLASTICISM

            Asking question is probably the most obvious similarity among human beings. This capacity comes directly from our essence as rational beings. The most distinguished topic often times questioned by the majority, if not all, is the existence of God considering individual situations and experiences in this world. This is probably the reason why an emergence of different positions and justifications of thought, religions and sects, and even testimonies about private revelations had come into our realms. And from here, human beings are now confronted with countless choice of ideas to decide on what would best suit their lives, comfort them from crisis, and most likely would make them better persons.

From my younger years, ‘Faith’ was not a big deal for me. Having been brought about by religious parents, I don’t bother myself questioning whether that ‘faith’ that I was practicing was a genuine one. And besides, the moment that I arrived at my conscious stage, that was already what my family was subscribing on. It was only then when I reached my college years and when I was enrolled in the seminary that I begun to question things most especially ‘life and faith’. In the seminary I was thought to value more of questions rather than the answers from my questions. At first I cannot figure out the value of this methodology. It seems ironic for me because from my elementary years until I reach high school, I got used to searching for answers rather than questions. However, when scholasticism came across into my life, I realized that exhausting all possibilities before accepting such teaching was definitely an important one especially in the realities of life.

Scholasticism has contributed a lot in my life especially in the path that I am trying to respond right now. The method of scholasticism has helped me purify all the absorbed ideas and teachings that are with me since the day that I arrive at my consciousness. Scholasticism has taught me not to become parrots which accept and register ideas even without understanding them. In relation to my faith, through scholasticism I have realized that my faith is reasonable. Scholasticism has presented ways how to rationalize my faith even in the most practical sense. In relation to my seminary life, scholasticism has taught me not to be mediocre instead motivated me to put all the best that I can in searching for truths of this life. It has taught me how to subject all my desires and aspirations to question and gradually answering them through dialogue (thesis, definition of terms, explanation of thesis, refutation of those who deny the thesis, etc.).

These are some of the main areas of my life wherein scholasticism has played a major part. At this time, I have observed that I am more careful with every ideas/teachings that come across my life. I have more organized thought compared from the past. And this is due to scholastic methodology. However, I also have observed that there is a danger of being trap to absolute doubt. But be that as it may, allow me to quote one of our professors; “Whatever you cannot understand, you pass it in silence.” At least we have attempted to be critical individuals. This is one way of actualizing our true nature.