Encyclopedia of sacred theology - pagina 677

Chap. V]

§ 103.

PREMATURELY CLAIMED TRIUMPH

653

public thought by her orthodoxy weighed too heavily upon the

the spirit; and no question was settled scientifi-

life of

cally, for after a brief trial it

of the ecclesiastical courts.

was dismissed by the authority

Even an

Isidorus Hispalensis, a

Venerable Bede, Alcuin, Hrabanus Maurus, or Hincmar of Rheims left no single work of creative genius behind them. And when the ninth century produces an independent thinker in the person of John Scotus Erigena, he distinguishes between affirmative and negative theology (theologia Karai^ariKr)

and

airo^ariKri)^

and thereby merges

real

theology into philosophy, and that, a philosophy in which the old sin of Pantheism renews itself in a way more serious than

So indifferent, however, was his time to these deeper studies that this pantheistical philosopher held his post of honor undisturbed at the court of the Carolingians, surrounded by an orthodox clergy, and his writings were with Origen.

condemned

Rome

centuries afterward by

for the first time three

at the

mouth

of

Pope Honorius

III.

as

"being

full

of the vermin of heretical depravity."

by

This does not imply that these three centuries passed to no purpose and without important results, but what-

ever labor did more than protect the inherited theological treasure, directed itself almost exclusively to

lated to strengthen the

Church

in a practical

what was

way and

calcu-

civilize

First, the system of monasticism was deeply thought out, carefully ordered and clearly outlined. Then the development of ecclesiastical law took

the nations of the West.

a higher flight, together with the ordering of civil relations,

which were included in canonical law. No little effort was made to establish upon a sound footing the cathedral schools, which had been founded by the Carolingian princes, and to And, finally, provide them with good material for study. there was no want during these ages of edifying literature of But none a pious trend, mystical flavor and sound content. of these studies touched upon theology in her nature and being. No thought was expended upon her as such, and there was

still less

of an effort

to the non-theological

made

to vindicate her relation

development or

to the reason.

The

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