christ the transformer of culture - Calvin College

320 Pages·2009·14.56 MB·English

CATATN THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY

ANALYSIS AND CRIMIQUE OF “CHRIST THE TRANSFORMER,

OF CULTURE" IN THE THOUGIIT OF H. RICHARD NIEBUHR

ADISSERT AION SURMITTED TO.

‘THE FACULTY OP TIT DIVISION OF THEOLOGY

TN CANDIDACY FOR LH BFCRET. OF

DOCTOR OF PITT OSOPHY

DEPARTMENT OF SYSTEMALIC TTTOLOGY

BY

MICHAFT. TUGENE WITTMER

GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN

MAY 2000
Copyright & 2000 hy Michael Eugene Wintmer
All righ.s reserved
9

GALVEN PHRGLOGIOAL SEMINARY

SF toe U4 C008

This disserlaion entitled

ANALYSIS AND CRITIQUE OF "CHRIST TUE TRANSFORMER OF CULTURE”
INTHE THOUGHT OF . RICIIARD NEBUBR

writen by
MICHATL EUGENE WITTMER
znd subunited in paral ff limentof
te requirement forthe degree of
Doctor of Philosophy
fas heen accepted by the failly of Calvin Theological Seminary

up the recommendation of die undossigned readers:

John Bele
Je mamory oF Dr, Joe Crasford

ncouzager, mentor, and lend
CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS,

ANSTRACT

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
T, Nature othe Probism
W, Survey of Schocarship
UL, Method of Lacestngesion
TV. Conclosiony of the Investigation
CHAPTER TWO: CREATION AND FALL
1. Creation
A. Actaf Creation
Ceeation, Providence, and Redempliom ws a Single Act

1
2. Ceeaton, Judgment, snd Redlomption us a Single 8
3. Creation, Jugmen, and Redemption as Sequcntial Aots

B, Axolovicuf Slutus of Creation

Rekaioal

L ne Theory
2, Crcation’s Velue Thee ls Relation to God
3, Momarity’s Urique Relutiva © God,

4, Nature of God

Tr, Pall

(A portance the Pal

B, TTiswicity of Genes.s Chapter thioe
1, Nisbuhr's Perspective on Seriptune
2. Niehuhy's Perspective on Gen, 3

©. Definition of Sx.
1, theories ofthe Pull
2, Sim Ts u Religious Category
2. Sin Js Distrist ot God!
4 Sin Is Disloyaly ta God

DP. Demonstration of Sia

1, Henotheiem

a, Seeutay Examples of Henotheism
bs Religious haarmples nf Renatheie

Bulytheism
2. Coniie vith Others

B. Consoquences of Sin

CHAPTER THRET: REDEMPTION
|. Definition af Redsraption
UL, Mothod of Reverption: Raulcul Mouothelam
A. Radical Morntheiv v's Trust ia God
2H. Radical Monotheisn's Lavaly to God
Radical Manotheism's Servi ta Creation
TL, Agents of Redlerprinn
|A, God In the Primary Agent
God Accomplishes Redeapuon

i
2. Humity’s Active Role m Redempton
3. Humenity's Responsive Role in Redemption!

FB. osu Chest Inthe Prisnary Chistian Revelation of God

1, Reyelntion Appears in Symbolic Farin

o4

109

101

we

104
12

us
1
ibs
2
1
128
130

13
a, Nature of Revelatinn
by, Nature of Syrabsie

2 The Primary Christian Symbol s Jesus Chast

a, Nature of Jesus Christ
b, ork ul Jesus Christ

C, The Church Advances the Kingdom of God

1D, Other Religions May Advance

12 Kingdom of Goal

TV. Batent of Redemption

CTISPTER TOUR: CHRIST THE TRANSFORMER OF CULTURT.
1. ‘Theologica, Faundstnon ofthe Christ anu Culture Problem,
U. Niebeta’s DeEniios of Clini and Cure

A Definition of Christ,
B, Definition of Cua

TL, Siebutu’s Typology

A, forenduciney Tssues
B. Revical Chvistinity: Cluist Agus! Cultre

©, Cultural Chistisnity: Chvist Of Culture

1D. Synchesist Christieaity: Christ Above Cure

Ti, Duslist Christiuty; Christ und Culture in Puraox

F, Convervionis! Chriisrity: Christ the Transfocmer 02 Cullare

{. a Biblcct-Theologiesl Advantages
2. lus Representatives
3, lis Mesting ancl Application ia Niebubr’s Th

logs

IV, War: Test Case for Nishubr’s Conversion st Christianity
A. God's Action in War
BB Human Response te Gait Action 7 War

1. Terpretation
2. Renponsive Action

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63

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158

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16

13

wa

188

188
193

wr

98
202
208
au
24
217

217

Sas

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4

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CHAPTER FIVE: CRILIQUE
L Unitarinisir
AA. Niebube's Profession of T-initarianisan
B. icbuhe’s Detamatrarion of Uniteianisin
©. Limpliomsors fir Tis Coasersionist Position

LL, Canflation of Cyeacion. Fall ane Redomption

A. Alence of Chronological -stmetioms
B. Consequences

LLL, Universalism

TV. Conftation Betwoon Homnity’s Natural and Supernaucal Keds

APPENDIX: THESES FOR TIT DISSTRTATION DEFENSE

SELECL BIBLIOGRAPLTY
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS,
1am profoundly gravel for che superior education whic: I reveived ut Culsin

Thealogival Seminary, tm prrticula, T wish uo thank De. Richard Muller, who explained

«nd rel for me the mcthod of scholarship, aml Dr. Renal Feenstra whose eatetul
cntiulaioastaght me the value of eological psision

1 am especialy tani for the coximitos which supervied his wssertation: co
Dr.John Bol, whose visio and enthasiasr:inspica tis cisscrttion and eee within

naa deep yearning Wu become a thevleyian; i» De, Jahn Cooper. whose meticvlaus

ovals. ep suggestions for im-wement made both msself and this paper beter
andto Dr. Alten Verhey, shi kiully 9d me ‘0 a deepor and more gppreswive reading
of H. Rihard Niebutu, ‘Thank you all or persevering with me thoughout the course of
this projec

{re net chamkfl amy ling wile, fle, wh hes shared with ms both he
triuyphs und trials of graduate theological educulwn. Her erseaveting suppot has
celeased me co do my best ak remied me that cher i fe ater sehwol.Taxmk yw
eon, fr weal a home in which the joys nf ie are savored and its sorrows ace more

cust endure
ABSTRACT

“This dissertation otumines the world view slogan, “Chuist the erunsfoner of
sullure," in the thought of ls cwathr, H. Richard Niebuhr. Although the phrase is
‘opular in Nev-Calvinist cis

lus study nds tht ibe meaning in Niebubr's theology

Aloviates from Reformed orthodoxy

In order to nuders:aed ‘shat Nicbgor antercls hy Christ runsforening cuiture, 8

gin hy aullning hls understanding of the nbicul parative of sxeation, fall, and

redlomplion. Niebuhr describes the tice commurily thu! exits balieeen Gadd,
sndividoas, and the vest of oration, atortupaely, unsaily salayt eke Us
comunity by distrusting God 2nd being disloyal to his cause, Such depravity manifests
icselfin various henotheinns and polycheisas, which at bocom i «form of
authropocennis. Nevertheless, God wil inevitably recone the world to hrasell by

insciing tai’ enmcheism within peop'e. Sach ridical faith learns Us trust Go an

then so-ve as cau in the world hy "tranatoceing the cute.”
An viow of his enlive theology, we uiscover thar Niebulu's signature doctrine of

radical monothoism quite pesilyinluences his fallure to make adequate of lear

distinctions concerning the Iramcreatin of cull in four important accas. lest
[Niebatu’s fice co preserve persanal ditnctions within the Godhead leads him te

sabserie ca Laiterianine, ‘This Unitarian prohibits Niebuhr fiom giving adeqaste
attention co the Holy Spi, which in wurn prevents hima from stating precisely bow ths

Lraesfoematioa af eelure vecurs snd from 2

ny Furmity an ative cole ia the peocess,