File spoon-archives/heidegger.archive/heidegger_2001/heidegger.0105, message 27


Date: Tue, 22 May 2001 16:45:46 -0500
From: allen scult <allen.scult-AT-drake.edu>
Subject: Re: phenomenology of religion


At 10:56 PM +0200 5/22/01, Henk van Tuijl wrote:
>Allen,
>
>The Heidegger of the first part of GA60 ("Introduction to the 
>phenomenology of religion") is a theologian - or rather: a pastor.
>
>In GA60:116:125 Heidegger describes how Paul's letters are no 
>longer about a doctrine (hae basileia tou theou - Luc. 16:16) but 
>about a way of life (Rom 1:3; 10:9).
>
>This way of life is historically determined. In Heidegger's 
>words: christian religiosity lives [sic!] temporality. 
>
>This life leads to and takes place before God (1Thess. 1:3, 5:9). 
>The realities of life are "being lived" [sic!] as if not (als ob 
>nicht - in Greek: hoos mae).
>
>Heidegger gives no reference for the "hoos mae" - but it will be 
>clear that this attitude towards "ta onta" is characteristic for 
>Christian facticity (see also 1Cor. 7:20; 1:26ff.).
>
>Is this what you are looking for?
>

Henk,

I think so.  This seems to match up with what Heidegger identifies as 
a "non-objectifying thinking and speaking" in the "Addition to the 
Pointers" at the end of "Phenomenology and Theology":

"Poetic thinking is being in the presence of.  . and for the god. 
Presence means: simple willingness that wills nothing, counts on no 
successful outcome.  Being in the presence of. . . :purely letting 
the god's presence be said.  Such saying does not posit and represent 
anything as standing over against us or as object.  There is nothing 
here that could be placed before a grasping or comprehending 
representation."(trans. in "Pathmarks")

Thus, a speaking-listening which "takes place before God" provides 
the occasion for a poetic speaking (Dichtung) of a very distinctive 
sort-- a "religious poetics" which is most exclusive of the 
scientific-technological thinking and speaking which seeks only 
proof.  Earlier on, Heidegger quotes Aristotle on how the recognition 
of the "not necessary" of such proving opens up the possibility of 
saying and appreciating this very distinctive sort of poetic speaking:

"It is the mark of not being properly brought up, not to see in 
relationship to what is necessary to seek proofs and when this is not 
necessary." (Meta. 1006 a6ff.)

I love the idea that the capacity to make this distinction is a 
matter of good manners, decorum perhaps.

Thanks again for your most helpful citings.

Allen

-- 
Professor Allen Scult					Dept. of Philosophy
HOMEPAGE: " Heidegger on Rhetoric and Hermeneutics":		Drake 
University
http://www.multimedia2.drake.edu/s/scult/scult.html		Des 
Moines, Iowa 50311
PHONE: 515 271 2869
FAX: 515 271 3826


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