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A Study of George A. Lindbeck's A STUDY OF GEORGE A. LINDBECK’S ECCLESIOLOGY AND ITS ETHICAL IMPLICATIONS: A REFORMED ASSESSMENT By JUNSEOP KIM (u28526202) Dissertation Submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree: Philosophiae Doctor Department of Dogmatics & Christian Ethics In the Faculty of Theology University of Pretoria Supervisor: Prof. Daniël P. Veldsman August 2017 DECLARATION I, Junseop Kim, declare that the thesis, “A Study of George A. Lindbeck’s Ecclesiology and Its Ethical Implications: A Reformed Assessment,” which I hereby submit for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Dogmatics and Christian Ethics at the University of Pretoria, is my own work and has not previously been submitted by me for a degree at this or any other tertiary institution. FULL NAME: JUNSEOP KIM SIGNATURE: DATE: AUGUST 2017 i Table of Contents ABSTRACT ∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙ vii KEY WORDS ∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙ і x Chapter 1. Introduction .......................................... 1 1.1 The statement of the problem .............................................................................................. 1 1.2 The purpose of study ............................................................................................................. 4 1.3 The limitation of study ........................................................................................................... 6 1.4 Method: literature study ........................................................................................................ 7 1.5 A preview of each chapter .................................................................................................... 8 Chapter 2. A Survey of Recent Studies on Lindbeck ................................................................. 9 2.1 A survey of recent studies on Lindbeck ........................................................................... 9 2.1.1 In the light of the philosophy of religion .................................................................... 9 2.1.2 In the light of religious pluralism ............................................................................... 12 2.1.3 In the light of religious epistemology ....................................................................... 15 2.1.4 In the light of religious realism ................................................................................... 20 2.1.5 In the light of the relation between George A. Lindbeck and Karl Barth, especially in terms of intratextuality ................................................................................... 26 2.1.6 In the light of pragmatism ............................................................................................ 31 2.1.7 In the light of public ethics .......................................................................................... 37 2.2 An evaluation of recent studies on Lindbeck ................................................................ 40 Chapter 3. A Quest for the Hermeneutical Core of Lindbeck’s Theology (1): an Examination of Lindbeck’s Doctrinal Concern .............................. 42 ii 3.1 The hypothesis ....................................................................................................................... 42 3.2 Substantiating the hypothesis ........................................................................................... 42 3.3 An examination and evaluation of a possible rival to Lindbeck’s ecclesiastical concern ........................................................................................................................................... 43 3.3.1 A description of Lindbeck’s doctrinal concern ...................................................... 43 3.3.1.1 A significant feature of Lindbeck’s doctrinal concern: the inseparableness of a doctrinal concern from a religious concern ....................... 43 3.3.1.2 A sketch of Lindbeck’s view of doctrine ..................................................... 45 3.3.2 The influence of Lindbeck’s doctrinal concern on two subsequent theological studies on doctrine ............................................................................................ 50 3.3.2.1 The influence of Lindbeck on McGrath (1990) ......................................... 50 3.3.2.1.1 An analysis of McGrath (1990) ..................................................... 50 3.3.2.1.1.1 The structure and the theological significances of McGrath (1990) ........................................................................................................... 50 3.3.2.1.1.2 McGrath’s primary concern which is found in The Genesis of Doctrine ................................................................................................... 51 3.3.2.1.1.3 McGrath’s view of doctrine which is expressed in The Genesis of Doctrine .................................................................................... 52 3.3.2.1.2 McGrath’s assessment of Lindbeck’s view of doctrine ........ 58 3.3.2.2 The influences of Lindbeck on Vanhoozer (2005) ................................... 59 3.3.2.2.1 An analysis of Vanhoozer (2005) ................................................. 59 3.3.2.2.1.1 The significance of Vanhoozer (2005): a postconservative, canonical-linguistic attempt to overcome Lindbeck (1984) .................. 59 3.3.2.2.1.2 Vanhoozer’s view of doctrine which is found in The Drama of Doctrine ................................................................................................... 60 3.3.2.2.2 Vanhoozer’s assessment of Lindbeck’s view of doctrine .... 63 3.3.3 An assessment of the attempt to consider Lindbeck’s doctrinal concern as the hermeneutical core of his theology ............................................................................. 64 Chapter 4. A Quest for the Hermeneutical Core of Lindbeck’s Theology (2): an Examination of Lindbeck’s Ecclesiastical Concern ....................... 68 iii 4.1 Internal evidence ................................................................................................................... 68 4.1.1 The first period: preparation for an ecumenical journey ..................................... 69 4.1.1.1 His childhood in China: an experience of interdenominationalism ........ 70 4.1.1.2 His college time in U.S.: his interest in Roman Catholicism ................... 73 4.1.2 The second period: his ecumenical journey in Paris ........................................... 75 4.1.3 The third period: his ecumenical journey in Rome ............................................... 78 4.1.3.1 The preconciliar stage of this period .......................................................... 78 4.1.3.2 The Second Vatican Council ....................................................................... 81 4.1.3.3 The postconciliar stage of this period ........................................................ 83 4.1.4 A conclusion from internal evidence ........................................................................ 89 4.2 External evidence .................................................................................................................. 90 4.2.1 An ecclesiastical concern as a common agenda of theologians relating to Lindbeck ..................................................................................................................................... 90 4.2.1.1 An ecclesiastical concern of theologians who had an influence on Lindbeck ....................................................................................................................... 90 4.2.1.1.1 Hans W. Frei and his ecclesiastical concern ........................... 90 4.2.1.1.2 Paul L. Holmer and his ecclesiastical concern ........................ 93 4.2.1.1.3 David H. Kelsey and his ecclesiastical concern ...................... 94 4.2.1.2 An ecclesiastical concern of Yale-trained postliberal theologians ......... 97 4.2.1.2.1 James J. Buckley and his ecclesiastical concern .................. 97 4.2.1.2.2 Joseph A. DiNoia, O.P. and his ecclesiastical concern ........ 98 4.2.1.2.3 Garrett Green and his ecclesiastical concern........................ 100 4.2.1.2.4 Stanley Hauerwas and his ecclesiastical concern ............... 101 4.2.1.2.5 George Hunsinger and his ecclesiastical concern ............... 103 4.2.1.2.6 Bruce D. Marshall and his ecclesiastical concern ................ 106 4.2.1.2.7 William C. Placher and his ecclesiastical concern ............... 109 4.2.1.2.8 George W. Stroup and his ecclesiastical concern................ 112 4.2.1.2.9 Ronald F. Thiemann and his ecclesiastical concern ........... 114 4.2.1.2.10 David S. Yeago and his ecclesiastical concern .................. 116 iv 4 2.1.2.11 David B. Burrell, C.S.C. and his ecclesiastical concern ... 119 4.2.2 A conclusion from external evidence ..................................................................... 121 4.3 A conclusion ......................................................................................................................... 122 Chapter 5. A Reformed Assessment of Lindbeck’s Ecclesiology and Its Ethical Implications ........... 124 5.1 An analysis of Lindbeck’s ecclesiology ........................................................................ 124 5.1.1 A unitive ecumenicity-centred ecclesiology ........................................................
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