Theology In Search Of Foundations University Press Scholarship Online

In the history of Western thought, Christian theology was once considered to be 'the Queen of Sciences'. Today it has been marginalised by a prevailing scepticism. Randal Rauser confronts the problem of developing a public voice for the theologian as engaged in true theological science while not compromising the commitment to the Christian community of faith. This book posits a viable account of theological rationality, justification, and knowledge that avoids the twin pitfalls of modern rationalism and postmodern irrationalism. Theology is freshly understood as a rigorous and rational truth-seeking discipline that seeks theoretical understanding of divine reality. Throughout the modern era the predominant epistemological position has been classical foundationalism, a position now widely rejected by philosophers and theologians alike. Philosophers recognize that it fails to achieve a plausible account of rationality, justification or knowledge, while theologians recognize the extent to which classical foundationalist strictures have distorted Christian doctrine. In its place many philosophers and theologians alike have adopted a nonfoundationalist epistemology, which is in turn often associated with a problematic alethic and metaphysical antirealism. Engaging with the ideas of key thinkers from Descartes, Locke, and Kant, to Bruce Marshall and Alvin Plantinga, Rauser provides an accessible and provocative survey of the theological terrain of the modern - and postmodern - era, arguing in favour of a return to a moderate foundationalism. The justification of theology within the public square remains a matter of pressing concern. After the dissolution of Christendom, a number of Christian philosophers sought to justify theology relative to a foundation of reason (René Descartes, John Locke) or primal experience (Immanuel Kant). While theologians widely accepted these preconditions and so sought to defend theology by appealing to proof and evidence or religious experience, these efforts more often distorted theology. In order to navigate this debate over theological justification one must understand central epistemological concepts, including faith and reason, justification and knowledge, and foundationalist and coherentist theories of noetic structure. Philosophically, the theory of classical foundationalism that has dominated in modernity has crucial, if not quite fatal, weaknesses. Recently many philosophers, like Richard Rorty and Hilary Putnam, have embraced a non‐foundationalist epistemology. While philosophical non‐foundationalism has been appropriated by theologians like Stanley Grenz and Nancey Murphy as a way to ensure theological justification and autonomy, the anti‐realist non‐foundationalist themes are deeply problematic and impact adversely on Grenz's and Murphy's proposals. Bruce Marshall offers another way to appropriate non‐foundationalism that avoids anti‐realism while explaining justification and truth within a Trinitarian framework. Unfortunately, Marshall's theory also faces significant philosophical and theological objections. The failure of non‐foundationalism warrants a return to foundationalism, albeit in the moderate form proposed by Alvin Plantinga. While objections remain, Plantinga's proper‐function foundationalism provides the best account of theological rationality, justification, and knowledge, while grounding theological rigour, prima facie doctrinal conservatism, and the potential for a robust ecumenism 0199214603......Page 1 Contents......Page 10 Abbreviations......Page 11 Introduction: Whatever Happened to the Polemicist?......Page 12 1. Descartes, Locke, Kant, and the Crisis of Justification......Page 17 2. Justifying Theology in Reason and Experience......Page 36 3. On Foundationalism and Other Concepts......Page 67 4. The End of Classical Foundationalism......Page 94 5. Philosophy and Theology After Foundationalism......Page 118 6. A Critique of Non-foundationalism......Page 150 7. Non-foundationalist Trinitarian Theology......Page 178 8. A Critique of Trinitarian Non-foundationalism......Page 204 9. Moderate Epistemological Foundationalism......Page 235 10. Theology as Foundational and Analytic......Page 266 Bibliography......Page 296 C......Page 318 F......Page 319 K......Page 320 P......Page 321 S......Page 322 V......Page 323 Z......Page 324 In The History Of Western Thought, Christian Theology Was Once Considered To Be 'the Queen Of Sciences'. Today It Has Been Marginalised By A Prevailing Scepticism. Randal Rauser Confronts The Problem Of Developing A Public Voice For The Theologian While Not Compromising The Commitment To The Christian Community Of Faith. Descartes, Locke, Kant, And The Crisis Of Justification -- Justifying Theology In Reason And Experience -- On Foundationalism And Other Concepts -- The End Of Classical Foundationalism -- Philosophy And Theology After Foundationalism -- A Critique Of Non-foundationalism -- Non-foundationalist Trinitarian Theology -- A Critique Of Trinitarian Non-foundationalism -- Moderate Epistemological Foundationalism -- Theology As Foundational And Analytic. Randal Rauser. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.