The FITT as Epistemology

The Full Interval Trinity Theory can be expressed as an epistemology via a simple little principle called the Reciprocal Reference Principle.

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Introduction

In the Western tradition, knowledge is typically a reasonable account of experience and deduction. Dallas Willard defines knowledge as an “…accurate representation of reality when that representation is based on some combination of authority, reason, and experience.” The FITT is a reference class of these species of knowledge. Although the FITT is primarily an ontology, it does in fact promote an inherent reference theory; it’s all about referencing God. But when we draw out these details, we get a pretty good knowledge apparatus, which is what this paper attempts to do.

The Full Interval Trinity Theory (FITT)

The FITT presents a theological framework that seeks to articulate the relationship between the divine and human realms. Central to this framework is the Reciprocal Reference Principle (RRP), an epistemological concept that emphasizes the mutual referencing between the divine Persons and human beings. It’s a profound connection, a dance of existence.

Definition of the Reciprocal Reference Principle (RRP) in the Context of FITT

The RRP is a foundational epistemological concept that emphasizes the mutual referencing between the divine Persons and human beings. While the relationships may be asymmetrical logically, they are inherently relational and personal at every level. The divine Persons reference us in their relations, and we, in turn, reference the Persons in our unique place within those relations. The actuality of divine perfections, coupled with the all-encompassing immanence of God, serves as a point of contact for an existential reality. This connection fosters a relational interplay of persons that is profound and pervasive, emphasizing the through-and-through interconnectedness of the divine and human realms.

Mutual Referencing as a Knowledge Framework

The RRP posits that knowledge of the divine is not a one-way process but a reciprocal relationship. The divine Persons reference humanity in their relations, and humans reference the divine Persons in their unique place within those relations. This mutual referencing forms the basis of an epistemological framework that recognizes the interconnectedness of the divine and human realms, emphasizing the relational and personal nature of knowledge.

Harmonizing Transcendence and Immanence

The RRP encapsulates the FITT’s emphasis on the harmony between transcendence (God’s existence beyond the universe) and immanence (God’s presence within the universe). This harmony is reflected in the way the RRP approaches knowledge of the divine Persons, recognizing that the divine is both beyond our full comprehension (transcendent) and intimately involved with creation (immanent).

Existential Participation and Agency

The RRP underscores the existential participation in Christ, reflecting the FITT’s understanding of being in Christ as a means of grace, such as through the Eucharist. It also emphasizes agency as universal, aligning with the FITT’s view of persons as inherently relational and active agents in the divine-human relationship.

Relational Realism and the Mystery of Faith

The RRP embodies the FITT’s emphasis on relational realism, recognizing the real existence of relationships within the universe and the intimate connection between God and creation. It also captures the profound mystery of faith, reflecting the FITT’s understanding of the awe-inspiring encounter with the divine and the limitations of human understanding.

A Unifying Epistemological Principle

The RRP serves as a unifying epistemological principle that brings together the various theological and philosophical concepts within the FITT. It provides a coherent and comprehensive way to understand and articulate the FITT’s deep theological truths, offering a lens through which to view the divine-human relationship, the nature of knowledge, and the intricate interplay between the divine and human realms.

Conclusion

The Reciprocal Reference Principle (RRP) is not merely a component of the Full Interval Trinity Theory (FITT) but an epistemological expression of the theory itself. It encapsulates the FITT’s core concepts and provides a robust framework for understanding the divine-human relationship. By emphasizing mutual referencing, harmony, existential participation, agency, relational realism, and the mystery of faith, the RRP offers a rich and nuanced way to explore the divine mystery, reflecting the FITT’s emphasis on divine unity, relationality, and perfection. It’s an epistemological principle that resonates with the deep theological truths of the Christian faith, inviting us into a deeper exploration of the divine, where relationships are not just metaphors but the very fabric of existence, and where the divine and human realms are intricately and intimately connected.

Glossary

Reciprocal Reference Principle (RRP) of the FITT:

Reciprocal Reference: The mutual referencing between the divine Persons and human beings, recognizing the asymmetry logically but the inherent relationality and personality ontologically.
Mysticism: The harmony of transcendence and immanence that provides words for the inexhaustible, harmonizing grace and nature, and encapsulating the mystery of faith.
Mystery: The existential position of human knowledge in relation to divine revelation, representing the awe-inspiring encounter with the divine and the limitations of human understanding.
Existential Terms: The state of true claims, such as the revelation of the Trinity, that is existential in Christ, meaning participation in His means of grace.
Personal: The recognition of agency as universal, emphasizing the presence of divine, human, and other beings in a chain of being.
Relational Persons: The understanding that persons, as agencies, are relational, reflecting the relational realism inherent in the theories, and providing a true property to locate the inherent epistemology.

Epilogue

This paper has sought to explore the Reciprocal Reference Principle (RRP) within the context of the Full Interval Trinity Theory (FITT), highlighting its significance as both a foundational concept and an epistemological expression of the FITT. By weaving together the various threads of mutual referencing, harmony, existential participation, agency, relational realism, and mystery, the RRP offers a rich tapestry of understanding that resonates with the deep theological truths of the Christian faith. It invites us to see the divine not as a distant abstraction but as an intimate presence, where relationships are the very fabric of existence, and where the divine and human realms are inextricably intertwined.

For Scriptural Reflection

Matthew 28:19
Isaiah 55:8-9
Acts 17:27-28
Jeremiah 9:23-24
Galatians 2:20
Colossians 1:16-17
1 Corinthians 12:27
John 1:1-3
Philippians 2:5-8
Ephesians 4:4-6