On the Perennial Philosophy

The following entries summarize chapters regarding the nature of the soul and its return to the Divine.

...by which Plato judged that the world, once made, would not perish. Then, by reason, it is decreed that this opinion of the Philosophers is neither true nor consistent with the nature of souls. The arguments of Aristotle, by which he proves that all things born must perish, are refuted.
XXVII XXVII That the law in Philosophy—that all things which rise must set—is sometimes disregarded even by the Philosophers themselves: that in their opinion, not only incorporeal & simple things, but even corporeal things can become incorruptible: And that one must not always insist on common examples: and concerning the two natures.
XXVIII XXVIII How they contradicted themselves by saying that souls fall from heaven and return again, and what the cause of this error was. And that they wrongly understood the things which the Sibyls Ancient prophetesses believed by early Christians to have foretold the coming of Christ. had prophesied concerning regeneration.
XXIX XXIX That Plato, saying in the Timaeus Plato's famous dialogue on the creation of the universe. that souls are sown in the stars and sent down from there, does not seem to have entirely believed this: & that he wrote truer things in other books, by which these statements in the Timaeus are refuted.
XXX XXX How the opinion is true that particular souls return to the Soul of the Universe. That the more recent Philosophers Likely referring to Neoplatonists like Plotinus or Porphyry. perversely understood this mystery. That this is the opinion of the Holy Scriptures. That Plato & Pythagoras say that souls return to God. And the errors of Themistius A 4th-century commentator on Aristotle. regarding this.
XXXI XXXI The errors of Themistius, who asserts that the Universal Soul is one thing, and the Supreme God himself is another. If there were one light illuminating all minds, that intellect would be God. Reasons why it is not one.

CHAPTER I I That all Philosophers have agreed upon the true religion: That Piety and Christian Philosophy, which alone resolves all ambiguities, have been silently praised by all: That the end of human affairs, by the consensus of the Philosophers, is piety: and that this is found in the Christian faith alone.
II II That the Philosophers maintain that piety is the prince of virtues: proving that this is the Christian way alone. That the "End" Telos: the ultimate goal or purpose of human life established by the Philosophers is consistent with the Christian religion, namely that we should follow God, and that the whole of life must be directed toward this. By saying this, they clearly looked toward and approved of the religion which follows God. That for the Philosophers, true knowledge is to know God.
III III Since Plato defines true wisdom as a flight from this world, a divine assimilation, and then holiness and justice, he concluded by this definition that there is only one Christian religion. It is proved by this testimony of Plato that God necessarily had to come to earth, whom the human race could imitate. Since Iamblichus A Neoplatonist philosopher who emphasized theurgy and ritual. openly confesses that divine likeness is acquired and the precepts of God cannot be known unless God himself is heard: he has clearly shown that the religion of today is necessary to the world.
IIII IIII Since Aristotle & Plato proclaim those to be blessed who follow divine justice, they have approved the religion of today with all praise, as the only true mistress of divine justice.
V V Since Plato prefers divine obedience above all things, he clearly assented to the religion of today: so that men might know the heavenly commands, God necessarily had to come to the earth.
VI VI That the definition of true wisdom assigned by Iamblichus fits the Christian faith alone. That the Philosophers, asserting that no hope should be placed in human wisdom, judged that only the divine [wisdom] of today is true. From these things which...