Imagining Human Flourishing? a Systematic Theological Exploration of Contemporary Soteriological Discourses
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Imagining Human Flourishing? A Systematic Theological Exploration of Contemporary Soteriological Discourses by Nadia Marais Dissertation presented for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Faculty of Theology at Stellenbosch University Supervisor: Prof Dirkie Smit December 2015 Stellenbosch University https://scholar.sun.ac.za Declaration By submitting this dissertation electronically, I declare that the entirety of the work contained therein is my own, original work, that I am the sole author thereof, that reproduction and publication thereof by Stellenbosch University will not infringe any third party rights and that I have not previously in its entirety or in part submitted it for obtaining any qualification. Date: December 2015 Copyright © 2015 Stellenbosch University All rights reserved Stellenbosch University https://scholar.sun.ac.za Opsomming van proefskrif (Afrikaans) Die vraag na die aard en vorme van menslike geluk is tans aan die orde in ‘n verskeidenheid van akademiese dissiplines. ‘n Opbloei in gelukstudies gaan gepaard met ‘n ondersoek na die retoriek van geluk. Teoloë benader hierdie ondersoek vanuit ‘n verskeidenheid van uitgangspunte, maar daar blyk ‘n doelbewuste skuif te wees vanaf die retoriek van geluk na die retoriek van menslike florering. Die intuïtiewe tuiste van so ‘n ondersoek is die soteriologie, met die verlossingsleer se fokus op die goeie nuus van die evangelie. Derhalwe benader hierdie studie ook die ondersoek na geluk vanuit die landskap van verlossing, by wyse van teologiese karteerwerk, en word drie kontemporêre diskoerse daarin geïdentifiseer. ‘n Eerste diskoers beeld verlossing as versoening uit, en het daarmee hoofsaaklik ‘n forensiese interpretasie voor oë. Johannes Calvyn, Friedrich Schleiermacher, en Willie Jonker word as drie invloedryke van hierdie diskoers voorgehou. ‘n Soteriologiese logika van geloof speel binne hierdie diskoers ‘n sentrale rol, ook uiteindelik in die uitbeelding van menslike florering as vroomheid, vreugde, en troos. ‘n Tweede diskoers beeld verlossing as bevryding uit, en het daarmee hoofsaaklik ‘n etiese interpretasie ingedagte. Gustavo Gutiérrez, Mercy Oduyoye, en Russel Botman word as drie invloedryke tipes van hierdie diskoers voorgehou. ‘n Eskatologiese logika van hoop funksioneer binne hierdie diskoers, ook uiteindelik in die uitbeelding van menslike florering as ‘n vervulde lewe, genesing, en waardigheid. ‘n Derde diskoers beeld verlossing as transformasie uit, en het daarmee hoofsaaklik ‘n estetiese interpretasie ingedagte. Serene Jones, Ellen Charry, en Denise Ackermann word as drie invloedryke tipes van hierdie diskoers voorgehou. ‘n Skeppingslogika van liefde is aan die orde binne hierdie diskoers, ook uiteindelik in die uitbeelding van menslike florering as genade, geluk, en seën. Sáám funksioneer hierdie drie logikas binne triadiese verband om op die vrae en uitdagings van die dag te reageer. Kontemporêre diskoerse oor verlossing het, ten slotte, in al drie die vorme wat in hierdie studie uiteengesit word te make met menslike florering – hetsy as vroomheid, vreugde, of troos; as ‘n vervulde lewe, genesing, of waardigheid; as genade, geluk, of seën. i Stellenbosch University https://scholar.sun.ac.za Abstract of dissertation (English) An inquiry into the nature and manifestations of human happiness is evidently today an important focus for many academic disciplines. The contemporary revival in happiness studies is accompanied by studies on the rhetoric of happiness. Theologians approach such inquiries from a variety of perspectives, but it would appear as if a deliberate shift from the rhetoric of happiness to the rhetoric of human flourishing is taking place. The intuitive location of such an inquiry is soteriology, because of the doctrine of salvation’s focus on the good news of the gospel. Therefore this study approaches the inquiry into happiness from the landscape of salvation, by way of theological cartography, wherein three contemporary discourses are identified. A first discourse portrays salvation as reconcilitation, wherein a forensic interpretation plays a pivotal role. John Calvin, Friedrich Schleiermacher, and Willie Jonker are examined as three influential types of this discourse. A soteriological logic of faith is identified as a central pattern within this discourse, also in portraying human flourishing as piety, joy, and comfort. A second discourse portrays salvation as liberation, wherein an ethical interpretation plays a central role. Gustavo Gutiérrez, Mercy Oduyoye, and Russel Botman are held up as three influential types of this discourse. An eschatological logic of hope is identified as an important pattern within this discourse, also in portraying human flourishing as a fulfilled life, healing, and dignity. A third discourse portrays salvation as transformation, wherein an aesthetical interpretation plays a core role. Serene Jones, Ellen Charry, and Denise Ackermann are employed as three influential types of this discourse. A creative logic of love is inextricably wound into this discourse, also in portraying human flourishing as grace, happiness, and blessing. Together, these three logics function within triadic form in order to respond to the questions and challenges of the day. In conclusion, contemporary discourses on salvation appear to have, in all three of the forms outlined in this study, to do with human flourishing – whether as piety, joy, or comfort; as a fulfilled life, healing, or dignity; as grace, happiness, or blessing. ii Stellenbosch University https://scholar.sun.ac.za Table of contents Opsomming van proefskrif (Afrikaans) i Abstract of dissertation (English) ii Acknowledgements viii Foreword x Chapter 1: Exploring Human Flourishing 1 1.1 Introduction 1 1.2 The revival of happiness studies 2 1.2.1 A revival accross disciplines 2 1.2.2 A revival within theology 7 1.3 The rhetoric of human flourishing 9 1.3.1 A shifting rhetoric: from happiness to flourishing 9 1.3.2 Flourishing as blossoming and thriving 13 1.3.3 Objections to the rhetoric of human flourishing 19 1.3.4 A soteriological approach to human flourishing 21 1.4 Inquiring after human flourishing 23 1.4.1 Interpreting human flourishing 23 1.4.2 A broader inquiry 26 1.4.3 A detailed inquiry 27 1.4.4 Systematic unsystematic theology 28 1.5 Imagination, interpretation, and inquiry 31 1.5.1 Why imagination? 31 1.5.2 Patterns of imagination 33 1.5.3 Forms of imagination 35 1.6 The art of theological cartography 36 1.6.1 Mapping and remapping 36 1.6.2 Three approaches, three coordinates 37 1.7 Conclusion 41 Chapter 2: Salvation as Reconciliation 44 2.1 Introduction 44 2.2 Piety? Salvation as union with Christ 45 (John Calvin) Stellenbosch University https://scholar.sun.ac.za 2.2.1 Introduction 46 2.2.2 Nature and function of Christian doctrine 47 2.2.3 Methodological strategies in interpreting doctrine 52 2.2.4 Salvation as union with Christ 54 2.2.5 Pious human beings? 61 2.2.6 Conclusion 69 2.3 Joy? Salvation as blessedness 70 (Friedrich Schleiermacher) 2.3.1 Introduction 70 2.3.2 Theology of consciousness 73 2.3.3 Nature and function of Christian doctrine 78 2.3.4 Methodological strategies in interpreting doctrine 85 2.3.5 Salvation as blessedness 89 2.3.6 Joyous human beings? 97 2.3.7 Conclusion 105 2.4 Comfort? Salvation as gift of God 107 (Willie Jonker) 2.4.1 Introduction 107 2.4.2 Theology as faith seeking understanding 108 2.4.3 Nature and function of Christian doctrine 111 2.4.4 Methodological strategies in interpreting doctrine 115 2.4.5 Salvation as gift of God 121 2.4.6 Comforted human beings? 131 2.4.7 Conclusion 135 2.5 Conclusion 136 Chapter 3: Salvation as Liberation 138 3.1 Introduction 138 3.2 Fully alive? Salvation as communion 139 (Gustavo Gutiérrez) 3.2.1 Introduction 139 3.2.2 Theology as critical reflection on praxis 142 3.2.3 Nature and function of Christian doctrine 146 3.2.4 Methodological strategies in interpreting doctrine 150 3.2.5 Salvation as communion 156 Stellenbosch University https://scholar.sun.ac.za 3.2.6 Fulfilled human beings? 166 3.2.7 Conclusion 170 3.3 Healing? Salvation as wholeness 171 (Mercy Oduyoye) 3.3.1 Introduction 171 3.3.2 African women’s theology 172 3.3.3 Nature and function of Christian doctrine 178 3.3.4 Methodological strategies in interpreting doctrine 182 3.3.5 Salvation as wholeness 185 3.3.6 Healed human beings? 191 3.3.7 Conclusion 194 3.4 Dignity? Salvation as reconciliation 195 (Russel Botman) 3.4.1 Introduction 195 3.4.2 A theology of transformation 197 3.4.3 Nature and function of Christian doctrine 202 3.4.4 Methodological strategies in interpreting doctrine 208 3.4.5 Salvation as reconciliation 211 3.4.6 Dignified human beings? 216 3.4.7 Conclusion 220 3.5 Conclusion 222 Chapter 4: Salvation as Transformation 224 4.1 Introduction 224 4.2 Grace? Salvation as God’s gift of grace 225 (Serene Jones) 4.2.1 Introduction 225 4.2.2 Nature and function of Christian doctrine 227 4.2.3 Methodological strategies in interpreting doctrine 230 4.2.4 Salvation as God’s gift of grace 234 4.2.5 Graced human beings? 240 4.2.6 Conclusion 243 4.3 Happiness? Salvation as living and being well 244 (Ellen Charry) 4.3.1 Introduction 244 Stellenbosch University https://scholar.sun.ac.za 4.3.2 Nature and function of Christian doctrine 247 4.3.3 Methodological strategies in interpreting doctrine 250 4.3.4 Salvation as living and being well 258 4.3.5 Happy human beings? 260 4.3.6 Conclusion 265 4.4 Blessing? Salvation as freedom and grace 266 (Denise Ackermann) 4.4.1 Introduction 266 4.4.2 Feminist liberation