In 2012 a group of scholars gathered at Princeton Theological Seminary for a conference titled, “Calvinism and Democracy.” The purpose of this conference was to reflect upon the neo-Calvinist legacy, to explore its theological roots, and to assess in what ways this tradition might provide resources for democratic criticism and renewal. The Kuyper Center ReviewContinue reading “Calvinism and Democracy”
Category Archives: Neo-Calvinism
(Review) Beyond the Modern Age
In Beyond the Modern Age: An Archaeology of Contemporary Culture Bob Goudzwaard (Free University Amsterdam) and Craig Bartholomew (Redeemer College) provide an in-depth examination and critique of four modern worldviews. These four worldviews are: 1) the classical modern worldview, 2) the structural-critical worldview, 3) the cultural-critical worldview, and 4) postmodernism. In formulating their critique they leanContinue reading “(Review) Beyond the Modern Age”
What is the Relationship between the Church and the Academy?
The issue is of considerable contemporary relevance. A very large number of colleges and universities in the United States were founded by denominations of the Christian church. Some of the most famous — Harvard, Yale, Princeton — retain selected elements of this foundation — an architecturally distinguished college chapel, for instance, or prayers at graduationContinue reading “What is the Relationship between the Church and the Academy?”
The Kuyper Center Review – Calvinism and Democracy
In 2012 a group of scholars gathered at Princeton Theological Seminary for a conference titled, “Calvinism and Democracy.” The purpose of this conference was to reflect upon the neo-Calvinist legacy, to explore its theological roots, and to assess in what ways this tradition might provide resources for democratic criticism and renewal. The Kuyper Center ReviewContinue reading “The Kuyper Center Review – Calvinism and Democracy”
Top Ten Books of 2014
Christmas is the best time of the year to make lists! Santa Claus is checking his list of kids who were naughty and nice, deciding which kids are going to get presents and which kids are going to get coal. The nice kids are making lists of toys they want. (God bless the greedy littleContinue reading “Top Ten Books of 2014”
Middle Knowledge & Geerhardus Vos
If Al Gore had become President of the United States, America would not have gone to war in Iraq. If the Broncos beat the Seahawks in the Super Bowl, the world would be a better place. If Johnny had asked Susie out on a date, she would say yes. All these statements are examples ofContinue reading “Middle Knowledge & Geerhardus Vos”
Geerhardus Vos on Atonement
A lot of criticisms leveled against penal substitution (PSA) are based upon the fact that PSA is far to commercial in nature. It makes it seem as though God is subject to some abstract economic theory over which he is not sovereign. It is also said that it makes atonement a cold unloving action inContinue reading “Geerhardus Vos on Atonement”
Bavinck’s Virtue Ethics
In “Distinctively Common” an essay by Clay Cooke – a PhD candidate at Fuller Seminary and Free University of Amsterdam – he notes that Herman Bavinck has a unique Reformed take on virtue ethics. Bavinck believes that “We can profit from Aristotelian thought, and without doubt Aristotle’s ethics is basically the best philosophical ethics.” –(NotesContinue reading “Bavinck’s Virtue Ethics”
Abraham Kuyper vs. John Rawls
Today I came across an interesting article by Gordon Graham on Neo-Calvinism and Contemporary Political philosophy. In this article he contrasts the two extremely different visions of Abraham Kuyper and John Rawls. For instance, consider this claim by Kuyper: “No political scheme has ever become dominant which was not founded in a specific religious orContinue reading “Abraham Kuyper vs. John Rawls”
Kuyper the Liberation Theologian?
No. He was not a liberation theologian, far from it, however some of the things he says certainly latches on to the same type of issues that liberation theologians have attempted to address. Must not the spirit of the Compassionate One be poured out over our whole government administration? We are not a pagan butContinue reading “Kuyper the Liberation Theologian?”