In this paper, I trace the development of modern theology, arguing that its quest for certainty stems from a deeper desire for emotional safety and security. The thesis is that behind the dominant epistemological strategies of modern theology lies an often-unacknowledged affective impulse: the desire to feel safe in an unstable world. By highlighting this … Read more
The purpose of this paper is to argue two points. The first point is that the concept of perichoresis emerges from the field of Christian theology as a form of “tacit knowledge.” The second point is that perichoresis as a form of tacit knowledge creates a more holistic prolegomenon for the creator-creature relationship than does … Read more
In recent years, several voices have begun advocating for ‘Christian Platonism’ as the only consistent pro-Nicene metaphysic. At the forefront of this movement is Hans Boersma, who proposes a Christian Platonist ‘sacramental ontology’ in which all creation participates in Christ as a divine ‘embodiment.’ While I am sympathetic to the need for a realist Christian … Read more
The formation and training of ministers in InterVarsity Christian Fellowship is undergoing significant change to meet the evolving challenges of university ministry. Based on the educational preferences, generational distinctives, and missional contexts of InterVarsity’s interdenominational staff, the author and collaborators have developed a curriculum that deliberately centers methodology, instead of content, in its pedagogy. The … Read more
The question of whether or not metaphysics can be encapsulated within confessional frameworks remains complex and contentious. This paper demonstrates the interplay between metaphysical assumptions and theological convictions, particularly within the Reformed tradition. Drawing upon recent critiques and theological insights, it argues that metaphysics, particularly the concept of actus purus (pure act), has been a … Read more
While “religious trauma syndrome” and “spiritual abuse” are today readily arrayed to understand the impact of highly controlling socio-religious structures, the burgeoning scholarly category of theologized trauma has also made it clear that religious doctrine “lands” in concrete ways on embodied human life. In many eras, these somatic impacts of doctrinal discourse have had harmful … Read more
Edgar Young Mullins (1860-1928), the preeminent Southern Baptist theologian of the early twentieth century, developed the influential doctrine of “soul competency” that continues to shape Baptist identity. This paper argues that Mullins’s theological method prioritized individual religious freedom that was rooted in a modernist conception of individualism. While Mullins’s concept of “soul competency” remains foundational … Read more