Braun G.Pdf (1.681Mb)
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
1 Table of Contents 1. Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 4 1.1 Background and statement of problem ............................................................................................ 4 1.2 Research aim ................................................................................................................................... 8 1.3 Research questions .......................................................................................................................... 9 1.4 Methodology ................................................................................................................................. 10 1.5 Value of research .......................................................................................................................... 11 1.6 Concept clarification ..................................................................................................................... 11 1.7 Summary ....................................................................................................................................... 16 2. Dooyeweerd’s transcendental critique & Van Til ........................................................................... 17 2.1 Dooyeweerd on Van Til ................................................................................................................ 17 2.2 Van Til on Dooyeweerd ................................................................................................................ 23 2.3 Stoker’s complementary criticism of Van Til ............................................................................... 29 2.4 The three Gestalten of God’s Word .............................................................................................. 36 2.5 Provisional consequences for apologetics ..................................................................................... 43 3. Towards a Neocalvinistic apologetics ............................................................................................. 45 3.1. The ontological Trinity as transcendent root of created reality ................................................... 46 3.2. Transcendental ideas & reformational apologetics ..................................................................... 51 3.3. The central spheres of the ego .................................................................................................... 56 3.4. The Ground ideas of philosophy & apologetics ............................................................................ 59 2.6 A short application of the Trinitarian modal-spherical method ..................................................... 71 4. Provisional conclusions .................................................................................................................. 74 4.1 Dooyeweerd’s criticism of Van Til & reformational apologetics (Breaking away from rationalism – Biblical ontology and apologetics) .............................................. 74 4.2 Van Til’s response to Dooyeweerd & reformational apologetics (The Self-revelation of the triune God – Apologetics beyond transcendentalism) ................................................................................... 76 4.3 Stoker’s complementary critique of Van Til (Reconciling reformational philosophy and Van Til’s theological approach) ................................................................................. 78 4.4 Trinitarian modal-spherical apologetics (reformed & reformational – The unity of philosophy and theology in apologetics via Trinitarianism) ......................................................................................... 80 4.6 The unity of the transcendent (theological) & transcendental (philosophical) .............................. 81 4.7 Trinitarian (covenantal) theology and the root of human existence .............................................. 82 4.8 Transcendent root and transcendental method – The Coherence between the work of the Trinity and transcendentalism. The Gospel via Philosophy ............................................................................ 85 4.9 Grenzbegriffe & the peripherical spheres of the ego (cosmic experience) .................................... 87 4.10 The Trinitarian interpretation of the Grenzbegriffe ..................................................................... 87 2 4.11 Trinitarian apologetics and the central spheres of the ego ........................................................... 90 4.12 Reconciling Van Til and Dooyeweerd via Stoker in apologetics – Going beyond Stoker’s supplement to apologetics via Ive’s Trinitarianism ............................................................................. 91 4.13 Ground idea(s) of Calvinistic Philosophy and Trinitarian apologetics ........................................ 93 4.14 Modal-spherical apologetics and the dynamic interplay of individuality, relationality and time. 95 4.15 Preparing to introduce the Trinitarian modal-spherical apologetics to the broader Christian context - The philosophia in Ecclesia recepta & apologetics ............................................................. 96 5. Introducing apologetics to the philosophia in Ecclesia recepta ...................................................... 97 5.1 Dooyeweerd’s reception of Marlet ............................................................................................. 98 5.2 Engaging (Neo) Thomism through Marlet’s lenses .................................................................... 102 5.2.1 Contra autonomous reason - On christiana philosophia perennis, biblical ontology and the Augustinian-Thomistic grace-nature-scheme .................................................................................... 102 5.2.2 (Neo) Thomism on Christian theology and philosophy ............................................................ 105 5.2.3 TMSA and the transformational usage of (Neo) Thomistic philosophy ................................... 107 5.2.4 Philosophy in God’s Church and its relation to theology ......................................................... 109 5.2.5 Marlet’s Thomism & the provisional consequences for TMSA ............................................... 115 5.2.6 The Gospel as Meta-narrative and man’s religious basic structure – Engaging popular arts (popular culture) via the Trinitarian modal-spherical method of apologetics (Anticipating Radical Orthodoxy) ....................................................................................................................................... 116 5.3 Introducing Radical Orthodoxy to Trinitarian modal-spherical apologetics ................................ 120 6. Applying the Trinitarian modal-spherical method of apologetics ................................................. 130 6.1 TMSA, participatory ontology & uprooted (apostate) philosophy .............................................. 130 6.2 The Trinitarian modal-spherical method as transformational apologetics ................................... 134 6.3 Trinitarian modal-spherical apologetics in dialogue with Ravi Zacharias ................................... 135 7. Conclusions and future perspectives for the Trinitarian modal-spherical method of apologetics .. 140 ABSTRACT ..................................................................................................................................... 144 KEYWORDS.................................................................................................................................... 144 SLEUTELWOORDE........................................................................................................................ 144 BIBLIOGRAPHY ............................................................................................................................. 145 3 1. Introduction Although the reformational philosophy of Dooyeweerd and Stoker emerged in a reformed context, building on Kuyper and Calvin, their influence remained mostly bounded to the Dutch-reformed context. Van Til’s apologetic method on the other hand, coming from the same Neo-Calvinistic tradition, has mainly become influential in the Presbyterian-Reformed tradition of North-America, although causing controversies in many circles in its attempt to reform apologetics (Van Til 1971:91). It is the church’s task to constantly listen to God’s Word, to obey His calling and to be open to God’s Spirit for ongoing reformation, thus being conformed to the image of Christ, also in apologetics. Van Til and Dooyeweerd’s correspondence in Van Til’s Festschrift mainly express their own approaches and differences, thus it seems it wasn’t their intention to revise their own positions. At first sight the divergence between Van Til and Dooyeweerd seems to be irreconcilable (Geehan 1971: 75-126). But Stoker’s complementary critique provides a possible way of synthesis, promising the advancement of the discipline of apologetics within the Neo-Calvinistic context (Stoker 1971:28-71). Since the controversy between Dooyeweerd and Van Til caused or at least “strongly influenced” a tragic split in reformed circles, Stoker’s way of synthesis could also be fruitful in regards to an inner reconciliation. Further, a closer investigation of the dialogue between the three thinkers might serve to clarify the relation between theology and philosophy and open up new possibilities of apologetic discourse, first advancing