Source of Knowledge in The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church
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Date
2022-09
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Philosophy has a great role in formulating doctrines of Christian theology. The sources of knowledge that have been argued in philosophy, specifically, empiricism, rationalism and criticism have been the basis of knowledge in the earliest Christian schools, namely, school of Alexandria and school of Antioch; Rationalism contributing to the school of Alexandria and Empiricism to the school of Antioch. As one of the ancient churches, the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church had been influenced by these two ancient Christian schools of thought. The source of knowledge in the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church is either empirical and is contributed by the thought of the Antiocheans, as in the case of the explanation that the sense organs perceive and learn the existence of God from nature; Or rational and is contributed by the Alexandrians, as in the case that the knowledge of the existence of God and that of good and evil is naturally put in the heart; Or it is defined as criticism, meaning, both empirical and rational sources, or both of the schools have contributed to the church equally, having in mind that mystical sources being common together with all of the philosophical sources in all cases.. This study definitely answers what the source of knowledge in the EOTC is and what the influences of the two schools are.