Vicissitudes Of Reformed Theology In The Twentieth Century

Preliminary Material /George Harinck and Dirk van Keulen --Introduction /George Harinck and Dirk van Keulen --Swiss Reformed Theology in the Twentieth Century /Christian Zangger --Reformed Theology in Germany in the Twentieth Century /Georg Plasger --A Christianized Society according to Reformed Principles: Theological Developments in The Netherlands in the Twentieth Century /Abraham van de Beek --The Theological Course of the Reformed Churches in The Netherlands /Dirk van Keulen --From Common Grace to Secularization /Barend Kamphuis --Reformed Theology in Britain in the Twentieth Century: A Bibliographical Survey /Allan Sell --The Theological Reflection of the Transylvanian Reformed Church in the Twentieth Century /Botond Gudor and Foka van de Beek --From Princeton to Wheaton: /John Bolt --Reconciling Two Kingdoms and One Lord: Conservative Presbyterians and Political Liberalism in the United States /Darryl Hart --On Adventures and Misfortunes: More Stories about Reformed Theology in South Africa /Dirkie Smit --'Our own Point of View ... ': /Dolf Britz --A Reformed-Theological Perspective on the Gereformeerde Kerke in Suid-Afrika and Apartheid /Dries le Roux du Plooy --An Historical Survey of the Church and Theology of the Reformed Tradition in Korea /Yung-Jae Kim --List of Contributors /George Harinck and Dirk van Keulen --Index of Names /George Harinck and Dirk van Keulen.

What does it mean to be Reformed Christians in the world today ? and in Africa and South Africa? What does it mean to commemorate the legacy of John Calvin (1509-1564) after 500 years ? in a modern world characterised by democracy, by popular notions of human dignity and human rights, by worldwide struggles for individual freedoms and for social justice, by a global economy in crisis ? when social historians argue about the lasting contribution of Calvin and his followers precisely with respect to all these modern phenomena? The 28 essays by Dirkie Smit selected for this volume deal with such questions.

Although we should acknowledge the fragility of memory, we should nevertheless affirm the remarkable ability of memory to reform and transform our identity. Our memories and ways of remembering are, however, often marked by trauma and violence. Memory, therefore, not merely reforms; it too is in need of reformation, redemption and transformation. With this emphasis in mind, Reforming Memory grapples with the question what a responsible engagement with the past entails, also for Christians and churches associated with the Reformed tradition. The history of Reformed churches in South Africa is, one can argue, a deeply divided and ambivalent one. The same figures are heroes to some and villains to others; historic events are deeply ambiguous and conflicting views surround different discourses. Yet the histories, and perhaps futures, of these churches and traditions are inextricably interwoven. Reforming Memory fundamentally combines an interest in the notion of ?memory? with an interest in (South African) Reformed theology and history. Central is the question: how should we remember and represent the past responsibly? The essays collected in this book engage in different ways with this question, attending in the process to some episodes in the history of the Dutch Reformed Church, some influential Reformed theologians, and some important Reformed practices and confessional documents.

This book presents a synthesis of Alan Sell's theology drawn from his voluminous publications. As Sell's doctrinal views are explored and interpreted, his indebtedness to P. T. Forsyth becomes clear. What emerges is a theology rooted in and flowing from the Cross-Resurrection event. Standing in the Separatist, Dissenting, and Nonconformist traditions, Sell advocates a wholehearted commitment to a Congregational ecclesiology, which he maintains carries the potential to break through the log-jams holding up the establishment of full ecumenical relationships across the churches. Saddened by Christianity's many sectarianisms, Sell's intentions are thoroughly catholic; while his faithfulness to the Christian tradition handed on to him is matched by a willingness to receive insights from beyond it. The result is a generous, if eclectic, expression of Christian orthodoxy. The critical phase of the book turns upon the question whether Sell's "generous" orthodoxy is generous enough: Do his theological conclusions actually do justice to the life and ministry of Jesus? And secondly are they credible in the contemporary world? For all Sell's commitment to apologetics does his theology actually speak to contemporary hearers?

Gerrit Cornelis Berkouwer (1903-1996) was a great master of dogmatic and ecumenical theology. He was a Reformed Protestant thinker, with roots in Dutch neo-Calvinism, a holder of the Chair in Dogmatics (1945-1974) at the Free University, Amsterdam, a position previously held by his two illustrious neo-Calvinist predecessors, Abraham Kuyper (1837-1920) and Herman Bavinck (1854-1921). Echeverria provides a much needed in-depth analysis and critique of his theology, particularly his evolving relationship with Catholicism in light of Vatican II. His contention is that Berkouwer’s careful and nuanced examination of Catholic theology—as well as possible responses to his critiques—offers important clues for the contemporary ecumenical project.

An in-depth discussion among Reformed theologians on the thesis that only by a radical option for religion without ulterior motive - even good motives -, true religion can be safeguarded from abuse and be linked to God’s love for man without ulterior motive.

Reformed theology remains one of the most vibrant fields of discussion in the study of Christianity. This authoritative collection introduces and analyses the key contexts, classic texts, and lingering themes of this theological tradition.

Former colleagues and students honour Prof. Dr. A. van de Beek with contributions in this Festschrift on themes that have become central in his theology: christology, theology of Israel, eschatology, theology of the church, creation theology, and freedom of religion.