scholarly journals The doctrine of providence in the Institutes of Calvin – still relevant?

2010 ◽  
Vol 44 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
C.F.C. Coetzee
Keyword(s):  
Current Debate ◽  
Reformed Theology ◽  
Reformed Tradition ◽  
Origin Of Species ◽  
The World ◽  
Reformed Churches ◽  
Providence Of God ◽  
The Relationship

In the reformed tradition and theology, the doctrine of provi- dence has always been important and relevant, so much so that it forms an integral part of the reformed confessions. At the same time some of the most difficult theological questions are raised regarding this doctrine, questions like the following: Is God in control of everything? What is the relationship between the providence of God and sin, suffering, man’s responsibility, et cetera? In our times the doctrine as such is questioned or even rejected. What makes this topic even more important is the commemoration of the publication of Darwin’s book, “The origin of species”, coupled with the renewed emphasis on Darwinism, evolutionism and atheism.1 From the perspective of the Calvinistic-reformed theology and in the light of the com- memoration of Calvin’s birth 500 years ago, it is important to determine the relevance of Calvin’s thoughts on a number of important issues in the current debate, e.g. the doctrine on God, providence and creation, sin, suffering, et cetera. It is also determined that Calvin’s thoughts are reflected in the reformed confessions, which is still the living faith of reformed churches all over the world.

scholarly journals Hope Abjuring Hope: On the Place of Utopia in Realist Political Theory

2017 ◽  
Vol 46 (5) ◽  
pp. 671-697 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mathias Thaler
Keyword(s):  
Political Theory ◽  
Status Quo ◽  
Literary Genre ◽  
Current Debate ◽  
Utopian Fiction ◽  
Double Function ◽  
The World ◽  
The Status ◽  
Judith Shklar ◽  
The Relationship

This essay reconstructs the place of utopia in realist political theory, by examining the ways in which the literary genre of critical utopias can productively unsettle ongoing discussions about “how to do political theory.” I start by analyzing two prominent accounts of the relationship between realism and utopia: “real utopia” (Erik Olin Wright et al.) and “dystopic liberalism” (Judith Shklar et al.). Elaborating on Raymond Geuss’s recent reflections, the essay then claims that an engagement with literature can shift the focus of these accounts. Utopian fiction, I maintain, is useful for comprehending what is (thus enhancing our understanding of the world) and for contemplating what might be (thus nurturing the hope for a better future). Ursula K. Le Guin’s novel The Dispossessed deploys this double function in an exemplary fashion: through her dynamic and open-ended portrayal of an Anarchist community, Le Guin succeeds in imagining a utopia that negates the status quo, without striving to construct a perfect society. The book’s radical, yet ambiguous, narrative hence reveals a strategy for locating utopia within realist political theory that moves beyond the positions dominating the current debate. Reading The Dispossessed ultimately demonstrates that realism without utopia is status quo–affirming, while utopia without realism is wishful thinking.

scholarly journals The Promises and Dangers of Public Theology

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 133
Author(s):  
SEUNG-GOO LEE
Keyword(s):  
Religious Pluralism ◽  
Public Theology ◽  
Trinitarian Theology ◽  
Reformed Theology ◽  
The World ◽  
The Relationship

In this article, I examine how public theology developed during the last several decades and point out several pitfalls in it. During this examination, I also draw out several ways in which Reformed public theology could be presented to avoid the dangers of public theology. That is, it must be based on Trinitarian theology and must be orthodox in the sense that it should not hold to a pluralistic view of salvation and not be panentheistic in its understanding of the relationship between God and the world. KEYWORDS: Public theology, Reformed theology, religious pluralism, panentheism, Trinity, doing theology

scholarly journals Journey from isolation

2011 ◽  
Vol 67 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Wim A. Dreyer
Keyword(s):  
Ecumenical Movement ◽  
The Road ◽  
The World ◽  
Reformed Churches ◽  
The Relationship

Since the Ottawa Consultation in 1982, the relationship between the Nederduitsch Hervormde Kerk van Afrika (NHKA) and the World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC) was nonexistent. In the NHKA it became progressively clear that it would be impossible to travel the road of faith alone. This article examined the factors which contributed to the growing isolation of the NHKA, especially nationalism, a particularistic ecclesiology and the rejection of Apartheid by international ecumenical bodies. It also reflected on efforts of the NHKA to return to the international ecumenical movement.

Measuring the World: Exploration, Empire and the Reform of the Royal Geographical Society, c. 1874–93

2005 ◽  
Author(s):  
Max Jones
Keyword(s):  
Education System ◽  
Scientific Revolution ◽  
Origin Of Species ◽  
Victorian Britain ◽  
Geographical Society ◽  
The World ◽  
New Imperialism ◽  
British Education ◽  
The Relationship

This chapter discusses the relationship between geography, exploration and empire. It focuses on the Royal Geographical Society (RGS) and how it influenced the organisation of knowledge in Victorian Britain. It describes the transformation of the RGS, resulting from four forces in which new imperialism acted as catalyst rather than a cause: firstly, the scientific revolution unleashed by the publication of Darwin’s Origin of Species in 1859; secondly, the global rise of ideas of bureaucratic government and expertise; thirdly, the expansion of the British education system; and finally, the challenge posed by the inexorable extension of the map of the world.

scholarly journals Afrikaanse gereformeerde kerke in Suid-Afrika en ekologie

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rikus Fick
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Religious Communities ◽  
Refined Formulation ◽  
The World ◽  
The Status ◽  
Practical Guidelines ◽  
Reformed Churches ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
The Church ◽  
The Way

The Afrikaans reformed churches in South Africa and ecologyA plethora of studies describing the scope of destruction of the ecology has been published since the 1970s. Lately, Christianity has been accused of being partly responsible for this. Despite the fact that South Africa is one of the ten largest polluters in the world, local religious communities only started voicing an opinion on this matter during the late 1980s. Only in the early 1990s did the reformed churches in South Africa begin some soul searching and the matter was placed on the agenda. The question raised in this article is: What contribution have the reformed churches in South Africa made towards averting this crisis? The author considers criticism levelled at Christianity in general and at the reformed churches in particular; the status of ecology in the dogma of these churches; the contributions made by theologians, and important decisions taken by synods. Three phases were noted in the way the synods dealt with the issue: Firstly, it was acknowledged that a crisis exists and that the church is neither innocent nor can she remain indifferent; secondly, theologians reflected deeply on this matter and offered a refined formulation of a creed to articulate the relationship between God, creation and man. Lastly, practical guidelines were proposed. It was found that the reformed churches have contributed significantly towards alerting people to the fact that the crisis also has religious implications; that the faithful should obey Biblical guidelines; and that there are implications for life, liturgy, education, and theological training.

The Relationship between Science and Religion in Britain, 1830–1870

1975 ◽  
Vol 44 (4) ◽  
pp. 505-522 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Ruse
Keyword(s):  
Natural Selection ◽  
Present Article ◽  
Science And Religion ◽  
Origin Of Species ◽  
The World ◽  
Religious Reasons ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
General Fact

It is almost a truism that when Charles Darwin'sOrigin of Speciesfirst appeared, in 1859, many people found its evolutionism to be unacceptable for religious reasons. They thought the theory of natural selection working by random variations conflicted with long-held and cherished beliefs about God and His relationship with man and the world. But although the general fact of the religious opposition to Darwinism is well-known, precise questions about the nature of the opposition—if indeed there was total opposition—have yet to be answered fully The present article seeks to go some way towards the asking and answering of such questions, although the discussion will keep to relatively sophisticated thinkers who took both science and religion seriously, and who were therefore concerned to achieve some harmony between the two. It will not deal with those who cared only for either science or religion.

The “Reception of Calvin” in Later Reformed Theology: Concluding Thoughts

2011 ◽  
Vol 91 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 255-274
Author(s):  
Richard A. Muller
Keyword(s):  
Recent Work ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Reformed Theology ◽  
Reformed Tradition ◽  
The Reformation ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Dead ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Continuity And Discontinuity

The following essay surveys and reflects on the conference as a whole. It identifies a series of significant developments in the study of later Reformed thought, notably a series of ways in which scholarship has moved beyond the dead-ends of older approaches such as the notorious “Calvin against the Calvinists” school of thought. Among other points, the issue of continuity and discontinuity in the history of Protestant thought has received considerable nuance, the diversity and variety of Reformed thought is identified both in the Reformation roots of issues and in the later developments, and the questions of the relationship of Calvin to the Reformed tradition and of the reception of his thought by later generations are reviewed. The conference, therefore, confirms the recent work of reassessing the development of “Calvinism” and points toward significant areas for future research.

scholarly journals ‘Covenanting for Justice’? On the Accra Document, Reformed Theology and Reformed Ecclesiology

2009 ◽  
Vol 65 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dirkie J. Smit
Keyword(s):  
Internal Structure ◽  
Main Argument ◽  
Reformed Theology ◽  
The Earth ◽  
The World ◽  
Reformed Churches ◽  
Implicit And Explicit

The essay provides a brief summary of the main argument of the Accra Document drafted by the World Alliance of Reformed Churches and entitled ‘Covenanting for Justice in the Economy and the Earth’. The focus is on discovering and describing the internal structure, the logic and focus, and thereby some of the most important implicit and explicit theological and ecclesiological convictions, suppositions and claims of the document, as far as possible in its own terminology. It then offers a tentative theological assessment, pointing out four very typical Reformed characteristics of the document, including its typical confessional nature and style. It finally suggests some ecclesiological implications arising from the document, again calling to mind four very specific characteristics of Reformed ecclesiology. On the whole, the essay serves as an invitation to further study, discussion and refl ection on the challenges and calling implied in the document.

Kazakhstan’s Economic Growth in the Context of the World Economy

2006 ◽  
pp. 133-146 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Arystanbekov
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Economic Policy ◽  
World Economy ◽  
World Ocean ◽  
Direct Access ◽  
Crude Petroleum ◽  
Nation States ◽  
The World ◽  
The Relationship

Kazakhstan’s economic policy results in 1995-2005 are considered in the article. In particular, the analysis of the relationship between economic growth and some indicators of nation states - population, territory, direct access to the World Ocean, and extraction of crude petroleum - is presented. Basic problems in the sphere of economic policy in Kazakhstan are formulated.

Virginia Woolf and Being-in-the-world

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emma Simone
Keyword(s):  
Virginia Woolf ◽  
Historical Context ◽  
The Political ◽  
Cartesian Dualism ◽  
Self And Other ◽  
The World ◽  
Binary Oppositions ◽  
The Individual ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Existential Perspective

Virginia Woolf and Being-in-the-world: A Heideggerian Study explores Woolf’s treatment of the relationship between self and world from a phenomenological-existential perspective. This study presents a timely and compelling interpretation of Virginia Woolf’s textual treatment of the relationship between self and world from the perspective of the philosophy of Martin Heidegger. Drawing on Woolf’s novels, essays, reviews, letters, diary entries, short stories, and memoirs, the book explores the political and the ontological, as the individual’s connection to the world comes to be defined by an involvement and engagement that is always already situated within a particular physical, societal, and historical context. Emma Simone argues that at the heart of what it means to be an individual making his or her way in the world, the perspectives of Woolf and Heidegger are founded upon certain shared concerns, including the sustained critique of Cartesian dualism, particularly the resultant binary oppositions of subject and object, and self and Other; the understanding that the individual is a temporal being; an emphasis upon intersubjective relations insofar as Being-in-the-world is defined by Being-with-Others; and a consistent emphasis upon average everydayness as both determinative and representative of the individual’s relationship to and with the world.

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