The Journey of Modern Theology by Roger E. Olsen

7/29/2019 The Journey of Modern Theology by Roger E. Olsen

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TheJourneyofModernTheologyF r o M r e c o n s T r u c T i o n

T o d e c o n s T r u c T i o n

roger e. olson


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TheJourney

of ModernTheology

F r o M r e c o n s T r u c T i o n

T o d e c o n s T r u c T i o n

roger e. olson

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5/37

Tableof ConTenTs

Pac

A Imptat Nt A Ras bt Espcia

Psss a Scas

Itcti: he Cultural Context of Modern heology 7

1. Modernity Challenges Traditional Theology 3

The Context of Early Modern Theology

1.a. Science Revises the Heavens 33

1.b. Philosophers Lay New Foundations for Knowledge 44

1.c. Deists Create a New Natural Religion 8

1.d. Critical Philosophers Limit Religion to Reason 7

1.e. Realists, Romanticists and Existentialists Respond 8

2. Liberal Theologies Reconstruct Christianity

in Light of Modernity

2.a. Friedrich Schleiermacher Launches a

Copernican Revolution in heology 3

2.b. Albrecht Ritschl and His Disciples

Accommodate to Modernity 47

2.c. Ernst roeltsch Relativizes Christianity 67

2.d. Catholic Modernists Attempt to

Bring Rome up to Date



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3. Conservative Protestant Theology Defends

Orthodoxy in a Modern Way 3

4. Mediating Theologies Build Bridges Between

Orthodoxy and Liberalism 4

4.a. Isaak August Dorner Bridges the Gap Between

Liberal and Orthodox heologies 46

4.b. Horace Bushnell Searches for a Progressive Orthodoxy 67

5. Neo-Orthodox/Dialectical/Kerygmatic Theologies Revive theReformation in the Modern Context

5.a. Karl Barth Drops a Bombshell on the

heologians Playground 3

5.b. Rudolf Bultmann Existentializes and

Demythologizes Christianity 3

5.c. Reinhold Niebuhr Rediscovers Original Sin

and Develops Christian Realism 34

6. Chastened Liberal Theologies Renew and Revise the Dialogue

with Modernity 36

6.a. Paul illich Describes God as the Ground of Being,

a God Above God 37

6.b. Process heology Brings God Down to Earth 38

7. Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Radical Theologians Envision

a Religionless Christianity 4

8. Theologians Look to the Future with Hope 44

8.a. Jrgen Moltmann Renews Confidence in the

Final riumph of God 4

8.b. Wolfhart Pannenberg Revitalizes Rational Faith

in Historys God 476



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9. Liberation Theologies Protest Injustice and Oppression 3

10. Catholic Theologians Engage with Modernity 47

10.a. Karl Rahner Finds God in Human Experience 4

10.b. Hans Kng Advocates a New Paradigm

of Catholic heology 6

10.c. Hans Urs von Balthasar Bases Christian

ruth on Beauty

11. Evangelical Theology Comes of Age and Wrestles

with Modernity 6

12. Postmodern Theologians Rebel Against Modernity 64

12.a. Postliberal heologians and Stanley Hauerwas

Develop a hird Way in heology 67

12.b. John Caputo Deconstructs Religion withthe Kingdom of God 68

Ccsi 7

Ix 74



8/37

an ImPorTanT noTefor

allreadersbuT esPeCIally

forProfessorsand sCholars

Areader will not get fari tis bk witt aizi it is t astaitwa, bjctiv, p acta acct m t

Wic is t t sa it is t acta! I pstmit as tat ati it

is tat t is viw m w Ev istica sv is it-

ptiva viw m smwv i it pts t b abt jst t

acts Tis is amitt a aptica a itptiv sv

m t It stivs t b acta, bt, ivitab, t ats a isscs pspctivs wi it a t

T at a pbis p tat ts w isa wit sm t

bks itptatis a citica ccsis wi sti t bk

sas a aab sv, ippi st, imativ txtbk a -

c vm

Tis bks pima it aic is t scas m t-

bt stts, pasts a itst app T, ma s-tic sca bats abt t mvmts a pp iscss av

b avi mti i tts It is, i t ws, a ki

bis- viw m Cistia t (Nt v bis, cs,



9/37

1 he Journey of Modern heology

bt tis bis) I t ws, t itt is t pta bis,

as i a viw, t basic cts t sbjct Tik it, t,

as a satit viw a cit i wic t maj amaks a visib (b-cas t viw as b a) bt t v tai is visib

b m spcic, t accts t pisps, tias a

mvmts iv avi tti st i t tais sca ispts

v, xamp, ti cas I t cas amst v ps is-

css, is tt vv a ca smwat v, sa, t

as witi O scas avit pastims is t bat sc cas:

W? W? W? Hw mc? Bcas tis is a sv vics at scas, sc bats wi a b avi I sm cass (,

Ka Bat) t wi b mti i tts Tis wit a avs it

p t psss t a sc imsis it cassm cts a is-

cssis, si t capts as spibas T a is t im

as abt t ivs, cas, maj ias, acis a pssib pbms

ts tiks It is p tat ai tat mc abt a tia,

xamp, wi spak itst a t ai i pima scs



10/37

Introduction

The CulTuralConTexT

of modern Theology

Modern theology is thinking abt G i t ctxt m-

itt cta ts stmmi m t Eitmt T E-

itmt was t itcta vti, acti a Epa a at

Nt Amica scitis, tat ba wit t is a w atiaism i

pisp a scic i t svtt ct Eitmt tiks

tt t a pssssi a w kw a a w wa kwi

wic av tm a pivi psiti t j t s t past a

asi t acivmts t t T Eitmt, a its -

spi mit, wi b t sbjct sm t iitia capts tis

bk, s t bist pviw mst sc

Modernity Is Born in a Cultural Revolution

Ma scas at t bii t Eitmt a mit

wit Fc pisp R Dscats (159150), w ac a v-

ti i pisp cmpaab t tat Cpics i astm Ac-

James M. Byrne, Religion and the Enlightenment: From Descartes to Kant(Lousiville, KY: West-

minster John Knox, 1), ix.Much o this initial material about Descartess lie and thought is drawn rom A. C. Grayling,

Descartes: Te Lie and imes o a Genius (New York: Walker & Company, 2). Te beginning

o the Enlightenment is easier to identiy than the birth o modernity. Here, modernity is not



11/37


ci t is w tstim, wat t iscv kw tat cat

b bt H iv i t Tit Yas Wa (111) tat vas-

tat Ep; mc it was abt cicti iis bis a atisDscats wat t kw i t is a ctai kw t bas

vati, ait v ss vic, as t v sss, tt, ca

awas civ I st, was ki atia ctait a tt

iscv it i t simp tt cogito ergo suma ia tat

ac a aI tik; t I am Wat sac a b-

iv was ibitab kw, ctait, t a c-

tait, a w ati kw ici scic a iiT st was, a as b p t t pst, tat Eitmt-ispi

tiks t t kw as wat ca b ctai , wat cat

b asab bt Bi wit a simp, ca a istict ia tat cat

b bt, sc as s w xistc (bcas t bt as t xist)

a m it c a ti b kw Watv is ica -

qi b t atia ccpt cat b bt a t is ctai

t b t Tis is kw acci t wat m pisps caatiaism A s is pii spstiti Mst a Eitmt

tiks ik Dscats saw tis w appac t kw as a a -

tx Cistiait; t tt it c b pss it svic t -

s t ait Smti s app v tim as mit vp

t t Eitmt Paps t Eitmt pt a ssaist Ax-

a Pp (11) xpss t it tcm Dscatss a

t a atiaists Cpica vti i tt bst: Kw t

ts; psm t G t sca T pp st maki is ma

T t t t Eitmt, bsis pispica ati-

aism, was t scitic vti tat tk pac at abt t sam tim

a as ac mit T xact bii t scitic v-

ti is mc bat, bt v as a maj catast was Gai

Gaii (1512), w pv, b a asab bt, tat t

at a t pats vv a t sa ia pps b C-

equated with the modern world insoar as the latter is used politically o conquest and colo-

nialism. Scholars who treat modernity that way tend to date its beginning with Columbuss

discovery o the new world in 12.Alexander Pope, An Essay on Man, book 2, para. 1.



12/37

Introduction 19

pics a a ct b Gai pv im it si mat-

matics a t w ivti t tscp Wat was s atsaki

abt tat? Simp tat t Catic cc, wic was a aitmmb, a tat atitativ ctis tat t s vvs

a t at Mst Ptstats a (Lt cm Cp-

ics as a tic i t a atic) Gais iscv ca t atit

taiti it qsti; tis was ispt abt it itptatis

t Bib bt a maj attack iis atit its

Paps Gais mai ctibti t mii iis atit

was is Ltt t t Ga Dcss Cistia (115) i wic cascic ipt t a cc atit Gai asst tat

scitic act mst at iis bi w t cict (H ackw-

ts atit i matts savati) T Catic Cc

ti t sppss Gais iscv a w ias abt atit; it c-

iz t sis tat t ps t t stabiit scit a ct

wic was bas t ccs atit (mc it cs wit Ais-

tts pisp) Bt t was i back t w sci-tic iscvis, ma wic at ctaict wat iis at-

itis, ici tias, a tat s as

Yas a Gai a vt Cistia scitist a matmaticia, Isaac

Nwt (1212), a ammiti t t scitic vtis assat

atitativ taiti Acci t im, t ti ivs is ik

a vast maci b ixab a matmatica scibab aws sc as

avit Aai, Pp xpss t ppa Eitmt stimt:

Nat a ats aws a i i it; G sai Lt Nwt b! a a

was it4 Nwt ims was m itst i iscvi t at

t sc cmi Jss Cist ta i scic, bt t ct is is-

cvis a w pict a t t a impssi Eps it-

cta it tat taiti c t b tst aiti, a a, sai t

ivs pat b spiita picips a bis Wat c t b x-

pai b bsvab a scibab aws was xpai b c t a

G t aps Nwt pav t wa twa t csi a t aps,

avi m G spiita bis i t wkis at

Alexander Popes epitaph or Isaac Newton on his headstone in Westminster Abbey.



13/37


Wat was t ct t scitic vtis asicatis sm

taitia iis bis a t ccs attmpts t sic tm?

Aw D Wit (12191), psit C Uivsit a c-ic t waa btw scic a t i Cistm, ca

tat t ct wt it t ats at mbs tiki m

t ia tat t is a cssa ataism btw scic a ii5

Tis as b m t simpst a mst basic vviw t E-

itmt a its m cas t taitia Cistiait; a

capts wi a tm t i m tai T pit w is t sa tat sm-

ti w ca mit as t ts vts t svtt aa itt ctis a ai mmtm t at pis-

ps a scitists sc as Imma Kat (1210) a Cas

Dawi (10912) a tat mc it itc it t stam

Wst ct impss iimica t taitia Cistiait

Modernity Challenges Traditional Christianity

B mvi t a itct acct t ts mit aits cas t taitia Cistiait it ma b p t as t kw

wat is mat tt tis bk b tat pas taitia Cistiait6

aitia Cistiait is a mc ispt ccpt H it siats wat

C S Lwis ca m Cistiait i is ams bk tat titwic is

t t cmmit t v xpssi Cistia biMere Christianityc-

tais At Cistiait as awas ic mc ivsit, at ast sic

t as t apsts a ctia csss pvai t it O-

tx, Catic a Ptstat Cistias (v i t ccsiastica) T

act tat, at tims, t av aatmatiz at as tics s t

tact m t act tat t av taitia a ctai basic bis

Spi t tat csss w tak at bk, a ma av it

H a w t basic tts taitia Cistiait wi b pc

T vast majit Cistias a maj bacs biv i a psa

G w tascs at as its cat a w pvitia s v

Andrew D. White, A History o the Warare o Science with Teology in Christendom, 2 vols.

(New York: Appleton, 1), 1:1.I have spelled this out in much more detail in Te Mosaic o Christian Belie: wenty Centuries

o Unity and Diversity(Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 22).



14/37

Introduction 21

ist T as biv tis G is spm va i Jss Cist, w

is G icaat a w pm miacs a was ais bi m

at (sc tat t tmb was mpt) T biv tat t Bib, wvxact a st, cstitts a witt vati G T

biv tat t ti G, Fat, S a H Spiit, at ast ccasia

acts i spcia was i ma ist t pm miacs tat tasc a-

s abiit t pict xpai atia T biv tat ait is cssa

kwi G i t wa tat G wats t b kw b mas a tat

ii is sstia t ma i T biv tat Jss Cist is

bt ma a ivi a t S G m av ws at tcss pvi savati a mait a w wi t t tis w

wit jmt a mpti Tis is, cs, a miima acct

taitia Cistiait Ma Cistias wi wat t a t it, bt t pit

is tat at ast tis is wat a Cistias a cc psasis b-

iv ctia abt a miim a a a A, at ast, csvativ

Cistias a miatia psasis sti ts bis

T is m t tis st taitia Cistiait, wv, ta c-ti F a miim a a a mst, i t a, Cistias as biv

sc tis as tat t s vvs a t statia at H it wi

b assm t is a qaitativ ic, i tms basic Cistiait,

btw bi i a psa G a, sa, bi tat t s vvs

a t at b s, t v awas ciz t

tat icas a ic wat is sstia t Cistiait as a -

ii Hwv, at ast ppss , taitia Cistiait

wi a t t ba ctia csss Fm tim t tim

ackwmt wi b ma tat it as ic sm bis a ss

at tat w asi, t jst ca, b m iscvis

Evaica tia Mia Eicks (b 192) pps citi

a ic btw tasati t sp a tasmi it i attmpts

t ctxtaiz t ait7 At t ast, v ct as tasat t sp

a Cistia bi s tat it ca b st b pp tat ct Bt

s tasati awas ivv tasmati? Ds t sp its, s

Millard Erickson, Christian Teology,3 vols. (Grand Rapids: Baker, 13), 1:1122. One critic

said to me that these categories, translating and transorming, are static categories. My

response was and remains, Better static categories than no categories.



15/37


Cistiait its, ca sbstatia m ct t ct? Mst it? A

t, t, ma Cistiaitis a ait c a iv a

a m ati t ati a m ct t ct asa b ait Cistias vw? Tat is a pbm ais t its

pitc b mit H it wi b assm tt tat t is sc a

ti as m Cistiait, taitia Cistiait, tat is awas bi -

tiat, tasat, wit ct bt tat is t s ti t ct tat v at-

tmpt at tasati cssai ivvs tasmati sbstac

Tis wi b a bstac t sm as w biv t v as b

v a basic Cistia csss tat tascs its cta xpssisSc pp va sm appsi, wv, w t -

ct xtm vsis Cistiait Ha a bivs tat

Cistiait is cmpatib wit ati a vti (wic w

mak it maiss) T assmpti wi b, btt ws, tat

basic Cistiait as xist tw tsa as v i t vti

tat mst Cistias biv bs t it Tat t s vvs a a

statia at wi b tat, btt ws, as a sca, cmmbi, t pat t c Cistia cti It is t, xamp,

stat i t Apsts C a t Cistia c Tat Jss s

m t a, wv, is pat tat ctia c Mit ca-

bt Bt, it wi b assm , t ca t sca bis

sc as t statia at is t a ca t basic, sstia Cistiait

i t sam wa as t ca t miacs

At bstac sm as ma b tis bks assmpti tat

taitia, cassic, tx Cistiait cssai ics bi i t

spata, b wic is mat t ait s pws a

acis, spcia Gs, tat a ivv i spcia was i ist b

t k scic T w supernaturalcjs p a kis imas

a cais mc baa, spcia i ppa tt a aa, bt

t a tat is mat A cas t spata i basic, taitia

Cistiait is t scti Jss aitia, tx Cistiait

as awas ic bi tat Jss was ais m t a b t pw

G i a ma tat, i picip, tascs ata xpaatis I

t ws, it was a miac Wat is t assm is tat spata

a miac a cssai cta t scic; bi i tm s t



16/37

Introduction 2

cssai cict wit scic8 N s t spata, as s ,

assm a mtapsica aism ams sc tat ait is bk it tw

cmpti spsat a spat As wi b s i svam Cistia tiks (, Tmas Ri a Hac Bs) sp-

ata a miacs t cssai imp sc a aism i wic

G mst viat ata aws i t act spata

Modernity Births a New Cultural Ethos

Mit is t cta wat Wst pp swim i D s kw t

a i wat? Nit mst pp kw abt m ct m-it t ava ps m simp mas wats appi

w Tat is btt ca ctmpa M is t ab t c-

ta ts, t Zeitgeist, t spiit a a, tat as miat t it-

cta i Ep a Nt Amica s as a as

spa tt t w M t is t tat sks t c-

txtaiz Cistia bi i t ct mitsmtims b -

jcti mc it T tat is mit, wv, pti it ist a t b tak sis, is t m t9 A t tias

a tica mvmts scib i tis bk a m i t ss

tat t it cscis accmmat Cistia bi t mit

jct sc accmmati wi taki mit sis as a c wit

wic t mst ckv i b jcti it Ma tias,

paps t majit iscss i tis bk, a smw i btw ts

xtms, ackwi a t t tak mit it acct

bt accmmati t it catis jcti it patia M

tica spss, v accmmatis, t mit a a a

spctm a tak ma it ats, as wi b s

S, wat a t caactistics mit tat mak it sc a ca-

t taitia Cistia bi? Jams B it sas,

On this point and the entire subject o the supernatural, miracles and science, see chapters 3 and

o Alvin Plantinga, Where the Confict Really Lies: Science, Religion and Naturalism (Oxord:

Oxord University Press, 211), 12.One might wonder i there are such theologians. Is it even possible or a twentieth- or twenty-

rst-century theologian to do theology without the inuence o modernity? Perhaps not. How-

ever, some theologians seem more directly inuenced by modern moves and consciously inter-

act with them in their theologies. Tose will be the main subjects here.



17/37


Di t Eitmt t miat wic ii a pa i

Epa scit, ati vti m t appitmt kis a

mps t t tm i wic ct t itica a, cam sstai pss Qit simp t w aa bcam, t s t

at pas t sciist Max Wb, a mc ss bwitc pac0

B bwitc pac Wb (11920) mat maica, spata, -

qii ivi spiita xpaati wat apps Wb was

a st a scaiz m tiks w st t app Eit-

mt picips t sps b t psica sc as scit; was

t ats m, sca sci His viw tat t w,mai bt t psica a cta ams, a b a bwitc

pac b t it t Eitmt bt, as b cmmpac

am ci m itctas a mvs a saks scit

Bs pit is tat t ct t Eitmt bt abt, m-

it, sis mi ctai taitia was stai

t w O t was it i tat is wat w ca scaizatit

mstii a mtizi at a t scia Riisxpaatis a t tak a back sat t t bs

B ists a scibs sva caactistic ats mit

stmmi m t Eitmt T st is a mpasis t

pw as t iscv t tt abt mait a t w

Tat is t t sa tat b was asab b t is mit

i t Eitmt Gat pisps a tias sc as

Tmas Aqias (122512) w asab i ti w was, bt wat

t Eitmt itc was atiaism, atiaism; it t

t jct a caims t vati, ait taiti as atitativ xcpt

paps witi iis aizatis a abt ti ctis

Ts, wv, mit as c t m pii i t sp-

stiti A tis Eitmt ia as was mat t b bjctiv

biass m taiti vati ii T ia was t

Byrne, Religion and the Enlightenment, 11.Tis is clearly the attitude o White, who explained that in those periods [beore the scientic

revolution] when man [sic] sees everywhere miracles and nowhere law,when he attributes all

things which he can not understand to a will like our own,he naturally ascribes his diseases

to the wrath o a good being or to the malice o an evil being (History,2:1).Byrne, Religion and the Enlightenment, .



18/37

Introduction 25

Sck Hmsik viw m wt p atia tik

w w t vic a ic wv it witt a t

vst itsts psa pcsBs sc a at t Eitmt a mit is

skpticism wit a t t vab istittis a taitis t

past Skpticism abt taiti cms i ma sas a vaitis, bt

va a i a mit cas sspici taitis tt

caims Smtims tat taks t m xtm jcti t past a

its assmptis, a smtims it taks t m mat, v at,

qstii taitisA ti at t Eitmt a mit is t mc

a scitic wa tiki wic itctas a viab atativ

appac t kw m tat wic a miat miava

tt4 Pat a pac mit is t bi tat vti i t

psica w is b ata aws Evta tat ia as cpt it

t am cscisss (wit F) a scit (wit sciists ik

Wb) T w, ait, was i pcss iscatmt; t ivi pvic was aa ca a v ps asi b x-

tm Eitmt tiks ik Vtai (191) T Fc phi-

losophe wt a biti, sacastic pm a sm Cistias caim tat

tis is t bst a pssib ws, i spit a vi a ict s-

i, bcas G s v a a w av it t wa G, i

xists, Vtai sp, s xpai is was N, t w is

b ata aw a t b a capicis G Nt a Eitmt

tiks wt as a as Vtai t t philosophes, bt t a

impssi sk i am t cat it tat vti mst b

b Nwts mcaica aws a t b G, spit Nwt ims, w

a caim tat psics is tiki Gs tts a im

Modernity Creates Acids That Attack

Traditional Religion

ak t ti xtms, Bs t caactistic ats t Eit-

mt a scitic vti (a mit a, mit its)

Ibid., .Ibid., 1.



19/37


ca b scib as t micmptc atms ma as,

skpticism twa taitia bis t bas as, ici scic,

as vits, a scitisma qasi-ii t scitic mt, x-t t a wviw ca ataismas t pat twa pss Nt

v Eitmt tik wt t ts xtms, bt ki back v

t ctis sic Gai a Dscats ma pp tik ti iscv-

is st Wst cts t ixab ts pats T av b

ms attmpts b pisps, scitists a tias t cam t

tb wats ct b accmmati Cistiait t mit i

vais was a t vai s Tat is wat mc tis bk isabttiks, spcia tias, w av attmpt t cci

t ssc Cistiait wit mit, b i tat ssc

s tat it is tcab b t acis mit5

Wat a sm t acis mit bsis atiaism, skpticism

a scitism/ataism? O c a t ts secularismbi tat

i ca b iv sccss witt G iiwic as t t

pivatizati ii i wic it as vic i t pbic sqa Oc as a historicismbi tat vti i ist is ixticab

at casa t t istica vts A, a, c a op-

timismbi tat mit, i iv t cct i scit, wi a t

ivitab pss i vcmi mis a kis Aai, Vtai stat

it mst bt a, amitt, xtm, w wt tat t mis

taitia ii a t is sca xpaati w st i

ss spstiti, ss aaticism, ss mis6 Bt paps t si,

vii i aci mit is anthropocentrismpaci

t ma at t ct kw Tis pcss ba i t Rais-

sac, bt it bcam t sine qua non t Eitmt Ev t

m tm a aci mit aiss m it a cts a it

a assms it Aai, Pps sai abt s-kw stas as t

mtt t w m cta vti a its Zeitgeist: Kw

t ts; psm t G t sca T pp st maki is ma

It w b a mistak t tik tat mit, ici ts picips

Te phrase acids o modernity was coined by culture critic and essayist Walter Lippman in his

12 essay by that title inA Preace to Morals (New York: Macmillan, 12), 2.Quoted in Byrne, Religion and the Enlightenment, 1.



20/37

Introduction 2

a impss csiv t taitia ii, cssai as t t

mis Cistiait As w wi s tt tis bk, spit pic-

tis b sm aica Eitmt ppts sc as Vtai, Cisti-ait as is tt t a icasi miat b m-

it T st mit Cistiait, wv, was vtss

amatic As B pts it,

t at Cistiait was p abs Was Cistiait pimai a p-

sa ait i Jss Cist, at t t Pp, mmbsip i a patica

cc, a cmmitmt t t ma vas t sp, a v-cmpi-

cat vsi a simp mssa, jst a v bi mistak? A tsviws a ma ts ca b i t Eitmt7

Wat t Eitmt i, a mit s, is t st ii

i a Cistiait i patica bt c tm t csi tm-

svs i sva was Cmpa wit t atit t ccs i s-

cit tt t Mi As a w past t Rmati, ccs

icasi a t tak a back sat i t bs kw Kw as

cm t b as wat ca b pv b sca vic a a-mts A s, ici cc ctis, mst b smti t ta

kw, paps pii spstiti I sps t tis, ma

Cistia tiks wt a sac t ssc ii a Cisti-

ait tat c t b mi b Eitmt kw T -

sti csiati taitia Cistiait t its cstcti

spcia cstctis t a cti S aica i tis

pjct cstcti bcm tat wa cmmt tat mtias bcam s aai bi kick i t itc b mit tat

t jmp t t avi t pai bi kick Tat is a xtm

aasis m t; ma m tias, as w wi s, i

ti t ki Ma vaiat attmpt t taitia Cisti-

ait b citicizi mits tc t vac its w cmptc

A cavat is i at tis pit: Nt vti itc b t E-

itmt a mit is atmatica csiv t ii i a Cistiait i patica T pit is tat, tak t xtms, ctai

tcis m tt bcm csiv t taitia Cistia b-

Byrne, Religion and the Enlightenment, 1.



21/37


is a tat ts maj tcis, v t tak t xtms, pst

cas t taitia Cistiait M Cistia t as is

t ts cas i a vait was, a wt t a psitiv ativ is a jmt ca ma it b bsvs a citics

As tis bk wi sw, t tica spss t mit av b

wi ivsa t wa m aica, sca t t 190s t

ati-m amtaism Sti, tm sms t tt

mst tm: a si t cstct Cistiait t mak it imm m

t acis mit a spcia scic Ev tias w i

t amit tat as ti pjct sm t av b iv b tat mtivMit it b pssib t ii a Cistiait s tat t acis

mit cat am tm? Ca t b ma impvis t t avas

t Eitmt a scitic vtis? It sm t ma mvs

a saks ct tat Wit was it i is massiv 19 stA

History of the Warfare of Science with Teology in Christendom tat tai-

tia Cistiait awas ss w it was tat wa Bt wat i Cistia

t c b s tat it as ti t wit wat tata scics st? O appac t pac btw Cistiait a

scic is t mak scic t sp acts a ii, Cistiait i-

c, t sp vas T Gma Eitmt pisp Kat

it at sc a spaati a tas it t i Religion Within the Limits of

Reason Alone (19); ma itt-ct tias i tat

ppsa t cam tat w t wa scic wit ii

O t maj tms tis st m t is w vais

m tias av attmpt t cstct Cistiait

i it mit a spcia scic. Sm i tis st av t -

a i tat pjct; sm av act t mits cas b mai

jcti mit, spcia its acis Sti, a tm, i wa a-

t, a mit i cvsati a w ic b it Tat is

wat maks tm m tias Na t , w wi k at sm

tias w ca tmsvs, a iti as, pstm Tat

s t ma t i mit a w act b it Ev pst-

m tias b t mba bic m t

isa as t sk t cct ti tica wk i ati t tis c-

ta ts ca mit Paaxica, ca b bt m a



22/37

Introduction 29

pstm O ca b m a at t sam tim ati-m, as is t

cas wit amtaisms a kis, ici Cistia amtaism

S, i a a wa, tis vm is t st Cistia ts at-tmpts t at Cistiait t mit Mit is t a tim pi

bt a mist cta ts, bt it s sm t cat wit t a

btw 150 a 1950 i Ep a t Uit Stats wit its acts

asti t t pst8 Ctmpa t sms mc ss itst

i cati Cistiait wit mit ta was itt-ct

t t i t st a t twtit ct Sti, i m-

it is a, its is sti v mc i t aiT is vii m ca t taitia Cistiait

t wic v m tia sp Miacs is iss, a

sm m Cistia tiks sp spcia t tat Rvati

tat tascs ass asp is at iss, a sm m Cistia

tias sp spcia t tat Ots, as wi b s, sp

t t isss ais b mit S t is si tm tat tis a

t tias i tis st m t tt xcpt spit mits appat cas t taitia Cistiait Wat tis

tm a tt is ti t t wst wit t cas m-

it t taitia Cistiaitwat was cmm biv, v

tak at, b mst, i t a, Cistias svt it

as b t Eitmt a scitic vtis

Modern Theologians Accommodate to Modernity

Tt tis bk t pas accmmati t ( sm vaiat) wi

b s t t tias attmpts t cm t tms wit mits

ts I sm cass accmmati impis tatcc t tak t

w ts it acct i t I mst cass it mas m, smti

ik sbvsi t sp, tasmati sstia Cistiait, b m-

it Ev tia i tis bk pactics sm v accmm-

ati, at ast attmpti t tasat Cistiait s tat m pp ca

Te end o modernity is a much debated concept. Tere is no absolute answer to when, or i,

modernity as the dominant cultural ethos died. However, sometime shortly aer World War II

seems to be a reasonable estimate. Aer that what has come to be called postmodernity seems

to have set in. No doubt there is much overlap.



23/37


sta it a s tat its bis t ctaict matia acts bt

t it b m scic, sc as t s-ct sa sstm Nt v

tia accmmats b capitati basic tts Cistiait t tacis mit, wv Hwv, it is tis wits jmt tat sm

av Ra s tis tak t m batat ia a c cti

istic, tx Cistiait I amst v cas it taks t m -

itptati tat amts t tasmati Aai, ts a t as is

t aw, bt aw t mst b Tis bk wi a t sst w a

w m tias av stpp v tat i s tat ti m

Cistiait is cizab as attica CistiaO citi maki tat jmt is t cat t sp-

ata A t qt, i tis wits pii, m tias

av capitat t m ataism a skpticism abt t v ps-

sibiit miacs9 Tis sts i aica itptatis tm

(, Cists scti) as vts ait at ta as vts i tim

a spac O t aspits ctvs, paps v a wats

iss, i m t is t ccpt act G Wat s it mai a ct sap b mit t spak a act G? W tis is a

pbm wi bcm ca i t st w capts T iss is t wt

G is cat a sstai t w, smti vita a m

tias am T iss is wt G v acts witi t w, i

ist, i was tat a b scitic cmpsi a xpaati

Tat is, s G itv i t cs at t cas iq vts

ca miacs? Was Jss scti sc a vt? aitia Cisti-

ait sas it was M t is ivi abt it bcas it

appacs t accmmati t mit

An example is New estament theologian Rudol Bultmann (see chap. .b.), who interpreted

the New estament and theology in general with the modern presupposition that history is a

unity in the sense o a closed continuum o efects in which individual events are connected by

the succession o cause and efect. Tis continuum . . . cannot be rent by the intererence o

supernatural, transcendent powers (Existence and Faith, ed. Schubert Ogden [New York: Me-

ridian Books, 1], 212). Bultmann was not the rst or last modern theologian to recon-

struct Christian theology on the basis o that naturalistic principle. While supernatural may

not be a particularly helpul concept, because to some it implies a dualistic view o God and the

world, its denial by some modern theologians would seem to result in denial (oen by radical

reinterpretation) o crucial events o salvation history such as the resurrection.



24/37

modernITyChallenges

TradITIonalTheology

The Context of Early Modern Theology

One day in 1802Nap Bapat, mp Fac, ca as-tm Pi-Sim Lapac (1912), at a ctvsia bk

abt t ivs bas Isaac Nwts iscvis ata aws, t

xpai is csm T mp ask Lapac abt t pac G

i is acct t ivs, its ii a wkis Acci t pts

t tim, t astm pi, Je navais pas besoin de cette hypothse-

l (Si, I a tat ptsis)

t ava twt-st-ct Epa Amica Lapacs

statmt ma sm ctvsia, bt at t tim it b bas-

pm Nap ma t av b sak b it, bt cc atitis

a tias tt Ep a Nt Amica c sc

ias as s Lapac, wv, was m xpssi wat ma -

cat pp i Ep w cmi t bivtat t psica i-

vs c b xpai witt c t a cat ati sp-ata A t aps i kw t ivs w bi qick

Roger Hahn, Pierre Simon Laplace 17491827: A Determined Scientist (Cambridge, MA: Har-

vard University Press, 2), 12.



25/37


cs b t scitists t A Ras B t Eitmt

a scitic vtis vita v, Catic a Ptstat, b-

iv G cat a cts t ivs a tat spatapws a cs kp it i B t tim Lapacs pbicati

Mchanique cleste ( tasat Csm) i sva vms

m 199 t 105, ma vt iis m a wm biv

scic ca xpai mc bt c t b its xpai vti abt

t wspcia its ii a si Lapacs caati tat t

G ptsis was w i t psica scics cam as a

sck t tm; sm ai mbac it a sm jct it It was w,wv, a caim t b ck wit

Wat i scic c xastiv xpai t ivs? W, t,

w b G? Wat w b t t biv? Ma ctmpa

pp wi sa ii as t wit t i w, t spiita

savati t iivia, bt tat is t wat v ma Cistia

pp biv i Lapacs tim a b Mst Cistias a t

iis pp t bi i wat is ca ata ttabst, atia cssit G a tta xpaati t i-

vs Ma Cistias sc at Lapac a pp ik im as i-

sbivs a skptics Ov tim, wv, Lapacs pit

viw ai tacti a aa ba t pac ata t

a ca tx Cistia caims abt G as t cat, ss-

tai a pvitia v t ivs Cistia tiks

w ca abt maki t ait vat t t wi m

wviw ba ki was t sc Cistiait m t

b icasi icib taiti a m t pi im-

pssi tat atism was t b iis ivitab pacmt

Wat bt abt tis cisis a t pciv t accmmat

Cistia t t mit? Lapac i t cat t cisis;

m xpss it i a wa b b a pbic stat it ma

was ik t itt b i t ab t mps w cts w a

t sa t mp was ak Wat p t is stak caati a its

amat t was a cai vts i bt scic a pi-

sp tat t vti w ca a mitt Eit-

mt



26/37

Modernity Challenges raditional heology

1.a. Science Revises the Heavens

It a stat wit t simpst ias, bt sti t vtiiz t

Wst w I its Dcmb 1, 1999, iss, ime maazi acits ma t miim (wic was iic bcas t miim i

t cia ti a a at): Ja Gtb (191), i-

vt t mvab tp piti pss Paps it s av b a

itt-kw Facisca ia m Ea w was vai t Iqi-

siti a ii i Mic, Bavaia, ptcti t mp i

12 His am was Wiiam Ockam ( Occam) (125c 19) Am

t ctvsia ias, Ockam xpss wat cam at t b kwas Ockams aztat simp picip tat w cas scit

xpais a pm, m s t b psit At t tim, a

b a awas, pp t t appa t tw cass mst

vtsa ata a a spata F xamp, i a ps

bcam i, it c b bt bcas a imbaac i t bs ms

a a m As, cstia bis sc as pats w wi biv t

b mv bt b ata cs am tm (sc as sm ki ma-tic ) a b as Ockam, mc t t isma t ccs

maistim, sst tat t simpst xpaati was awas t wisst

a Ma scas s i Ockam a is az t sbt b-

ii a cta atqak ws scks w t b t mc at i

t scitic vti

Ockam i t pa i Mic, w t is mmt t

is i wk

bcas was xcmmicat b t pp Hwv,is ia was at xpss i ma it ms b miais t

scitic vti sc as Nwt, w sai, W a t amit m

cass ata tis ta sc as a bt t a scit t xpai

ti appaacs O t basis Ockams az, m scic as

aa iscv t , ata cas mst, i t a, psica b-

jcts a vts i t ivs a xc spata xpaatis

m t xpimta scics

Tis author lived and studied in Munich (1112) and looked or such a monument. I was

told there was one in the Franciscan church but could not nd it. Perhaps it had been destroyed

in the bombing o Munich during World War II.Quoted in Stephen Hawking, On the Shoulders o Giants (Philadelphia: Running Press, 22),

31.



27/37

he Journey of Modern heology

Copernicus proposes a revolution in science, and Galileo carries it out.

O t mst tat vts i m Wst ist was t

Catic Ccs cmati Gai Gaii is s tictic m Ai ist t ij (t t ccs ptati) is

t act tat was smi-cia abiitat b Rm i 1992, w

Pp J Pa II xpss t w was tat b t cc

T tais Gais cmati a s cmpicat tat attti

wi b iv tm ; wat is imptat st is wat Gai

aciv a its cts t scitic vti tat p ac m-

it a ca Cistia t t sac was t c-icts wit scic Sc it t sa tat t ccs tatmt Gai

m pbisi ps is iscvis i m t mi

Cistiaits cibiit i t m w ta a t vt

B Gai, ca taiti tat t s a t cstia

bis vv a t at A a, Aistt, a itia Gk pi-

sp amst baptiz b t miva cc, sai s M imptat,

wv, pp biv t Bib sai s Psam 10:5 (n) cas,H st t at its atis;

it ca v b mv

tat t at is mvi a mvab ma sm ik a tivia

matt t ctmpa pp, bt tat is bcas t av bcm

s t it pp i t sixtt ct, Nicas Cpicss s-

sti tat t at vvs a t s was scki, s mc s

tat t Pis astm (115) a t pbis is t as a m

m maki astmica cacatis a t as a statmt

ita act

Cpics aciv a at ap t imaiati as ctmpat

t cmpicat m t sa sstm ivsa i is itim

acct t wi bsvatis t mvmts t av

bis (pats, ms) a t at it a t psit ms sta

mvis wa a backwa Cpics it was t cmpx; waski a simp m wat w w ca t sa sstm His ima-

iativ ap was t a t tik tat paps a t pats, ici t

at, vv a t s W imai tat si, it



28/37

Modernity Challenges raditional heology 5

ma a mc simp, m at m tat btt matc wat

was bi bsv i pataims H aa tat is t t st-

ts w spa it a b Cpics was ppa t pbis itH kw w ctvsia it w b F as wk a bk tat

w xpai a tis ictic m t s a pats,

bt it was pbis as a i On the Revolutions of the Celestial

Spheres was pac i is as is atb As Cpics a, it

cat a stm ctvs a was wi cm as tica

Ev Mati Lt ca tat t Pis astm mst b isa4

W is Cpicss ictic m t sstm t cstiaspst sa sstmca t Cpica vti? Nt b-

cas it psits t vti t at a t s! Rat, it pac

bsvati a matmatica cacati at t ct ata scic

a ba t vtw t atit taiti

Cpicss mm as a b cips b tat Gai, w

st pv t ictic m t ivs acta t b

bt Gai was b i Ita a iv is ti i as a ait s t Catic Cc H sti at t Uivsit Pisa a tat mat-

matics a astm t a at t Uivsit Paa, w

wt sm is ctvsia scitic wks H cam sspici

b t Iqisiti bcas Cpicss ictic m

t ivs T pw Catic Caia Rbt Bami (152

121) a ca pbic tat Cpicss sstm c t b as

t ss it c b pv b psica mstatismti B-

ami a t s t taitia wviw tt imps-

sib Gai tt c pv it t b psica mstati

si w vsis t tscp tat c s at ta ts tat

xist i Cpicss tim H as ti t pv it t b st t

tis, smti tat timat ai

I 11 Bami a t Iqisiti Gai t cas is at-

tmpts t pv Cpicss t t F a wi b, bt i 12

Interestingly, a Lutheran theologian, Andreas Osiander, wrote the preace to Copernicuss book.

However, he explained that its view o the universe was only a hypothesis meant or convenience

o calculations and was not to be interpreted as a literal picture o the planetary system. Andrew

D. White recounts Luthers vitriolic reaction to Copernicus inA History o the Warare o Sci-

ence with Teology in Christendom, 2 vols.(New York: Appleton, 1), 1:122.



29/37


pbis is atst wks, Dialogue Concerning the wo Chief

World Systems, wic ai t ati is p Iica, iv

ctai twists a ts Vatica pitics btw 11 a 12, Gaiwas pmitt t pbis t bk S, wv, t w vaais

Vatica pitics, t bk a its at cam av citicism wic

t a tia b t Iqisiti I 1 Gai was ca v-

mt sspct s a pac s ast His bks w

ba, a was bi t pbis a m Hwv, i is

s ast, cti t wit bks tat w b pbis i

Ptstat citis a is atLat, t w cam t kw Gais mistatmt at t as t

Catic Cc It is wi biv tat ts w cm im kw

was it, bt t i t wat is p Cpicss ictic

m issmiat pbic O cs, it was t at T cibiit t

cc sak t a w w i t s cat m a wm Ep

T wa btw scic a taitia ii i Cistm a b,

a scic was sti t wi vita v batt m t Gai was isma b t ctvs v is scitic iscvis

a ti pbicati His mai -tm ctibti t t wa b-

tw scic a t was iavtt, wic is t sa v i-

t it t b a caati wa Tat was is Ltt t t Ga

Dcss Cistia, witt i 115 a pbis i 1 i Stasb, a

Ptstat cit T tt a t t s mc wit a spcic sci-

tic t iscv as wit t s scic a t i t

cati kw

T Ga Dcss Cistia was t wiw Fia Mici,

Dk sca, w a appit Gai t is psssip at t

Uivsit Pisa T css was itst i pttia cicts b-

tw t w scics a t Bib a ask a xpaati m a

i Gai, w cv t qst t im Gais sps -

vas a w attit twa t atisips btw scic, t Bib a

t, tat cat a bcam staa spcia am vt

scitists tt t scitic vti (Nt-s-vt scitists

sc as Lapac w a t it as w, bt i a it wa tat i t

a spct t t paps v t Bib)



30/37


It is impssib t asp w vtia Gais xpaati was

witt aizi tat b it t a b wi csi t q

t scics (I tat a tit, iv t t i t MiAs, scic mas a a v , iscipi wa sti a

tiki It was t imit t t psica scics) T vtia aspct

Gais w m stai t t i ati t t

psica scics is is impicit caati ipc t att m

t m I t , at ast, it ctibt t t ti t-

a its ati t t stats a ps-scic i t s ma

Eitmt tiks Tat was amst ctai t Gais itti, btt t t aw it csqcs, it a tat ct

I t tt, Gai cm t t css tat t ictic

m t ivs t b act a t m a vic maki caca-

tis abt t t catis pats a ms (wic is w ma

Cpicss s maa t a pmt it) Tat amissi ii-

ct t is mc at tia a cmati M imptat, wv,

ca tat t psica scics bsvati sc as astm imatts kw abt t psica ivs v w t sm t c-

taict t Bib a ctaict tica taiti a cti H

a tat w sc cicts ais, it is t tat mst ajst its tiki

a taci a t scic I ct, was sticti t t t spi-

ita sp savati a ivi t Cistia i (tics) a ti t

psica scics bsvati a cti i its pac i t psica

sp Ista t, t w w b tw Gaa, tt

t si ctis, scics t s i i t acamic w

Gai wt t at ts t am t ispiati a atit

t Bib, bt appa t t picip accmmati t xpai

w it smtims sms t stat as act tis tat cat b t, sc as

G avi s a as a t Nt vti i t Bib is mat

t b itpt as ita As, a m ctvsia, stat tat

t itti t H Gst is t tac s w s t av, t

w av s5 T a vtia statmt i t tt, wv,

Galileo Galilei and Stillman Drake, Discourses and Opinions o Galileo (New York: Anchor

Books, 1), 1321. Galileo knew that this epigram was not his originally; he was quoting

another source. Tis saying had been around or some time beore Galileo.



31/37


as t wit scics cmptc a ts ack cmptc i

matts ptaii t psica ait s tat ts itptatis

t Bib i sc matts must be revisedw t matia acts scicctaict tm H is statmt t tat ct:

Tat i t bks t sas tis w t a ctai sm psica

tts wic a s mstat, a ts tat a m stat; as

t t m, it is t c wis ivis t sw tat t t c-

taict t Scipts A as t t ppsitis wic a stat bt

t is mstat, ati cta t t Bib ivv b

tm mst b bt as a s b pv s b v ps-sib mas Nw i t mstat psica ccsis t b

sbiat t bibica passas, bt t att mst at b sw t t

it wit t m, t b a psica ppsiti is cm it

mst b sw t b t is mstata tis is t b t

b ts w t ppsiti t b t, bt b ts w j it t b

as Tis sms v asab a ata, ts w biv a a-

mt t b as ma mc m asi t aacis i it ta m

w csi it t b t a ccsiv I, i t att cas it wi

app tat t m t ats a pii t v ti pas, x-

ami t amts, pat t bsvatis, a cmpa t xpics,

t m t wi b cm i tat bi6

Ca st tat caati vas wat Gai ittat t

b p i matts pssib cict btw t Bib a

scic is wit t i it isists maitaii a taitia cti

i cict wit scic, a tat it wi ai i it sists t matia acts

scic I t st t tt Gai ma ca is itti: tat t-

mst bw t scic i sc cass a itpt Scipt s tat it

ts wat scic pvs

Oc aai, tat ma t at ctmpa as as it i t

as Gais ctmpais Tias w ta w t

tt was pbis i 1 Sm saw t csqc tat Gai

ims ma t av itt vtw t as a scic ata, spcia i matts tsi t am t spiita (savati,

Cistia i, cc )

Ibid.



32/37


Newton pictures the world as a great machine. Bt w av t t

cm t t bist sck scic a i st t Scic

ba t vis t avs wit Cpics a Gai; it aica -vis t avs wit Nwtaai, aaist t scitists w it-

tis Nwts iscvis a ts itptatis tm sm t

at G t t spiita am, t t i w t ma ps,

a t t avst psica ivs a its wkis

B i Ea a tai i t, pisp a matmatics,

Nwt was a pccis stt w ma v av b sm ki

savat H bcam a w, a tac, iit C, Cambi Uivsit,i is a twtis (His taci cati is iic i tat i t biv

i t iit, smti kpt mst t ims t avi ctvs)

Tt is ca as a pssia matmaticia w abb i ma

sbjcts, Nwt was mst itst i, a vt mst tim t, bibica

stis H was bsss wit itii t a t sc cmi

Jss Cista act sa vk i c a ivsit css w

is sti H was a vt bt tx Cistia w ab btsabt t it Cist a t iit Sti, i spit is tica bis,

tt is scitic iscvis as sppti ivi pvic at

ta mii it It istb im t at a tat is iscvis sm t

mak spata cass cssa; itpt is mcaica i-

vs b cas a ct as t sp Gs pvic T st

ata aws, psics, was t im tiki Gs tts a im

B ma accts, Nwt was t atst a mst itia sci-

tist w v iv7 His Philosophi Naturalis Principia Mathematica,

pbis i 1, is csi t at cassics m scic

It ai t atis t mcaistic wviw tat as b s b-

cia t scic a tat ca mc taitia t isa as it

t miacs Nwt ims i t cciv tat is wviw

t miacs; is iscips a at itpts w tat c-

csi Witt bt, wv, it ma bi i miacs m ict

a ais t qsti w a spata vts c b cci

wit t ivs b matmatica scibab ata aws

Daniel Burt, Te Biography Book (Westport, C: Greenwood Publishing Group, 21), 31.



33/37


Ev i sc stt as a t st w Nwt iscv

t aw avit Acci t t , t scitist was sitti

a app t w a app is a a istat tt taw ivsa avitatia cas i it s ppp it is a

ik t ss Ata i am spps ppp t Zss a

i Gk mt Tat is t st s a mts Hwv, it is

pbab bas smti t; Nwt ma av t is tat

st tt t aw avit wi cti t a a app

m a t Lik Cpicss imaiativ ap twa t ictic

sa sstm, Nwts iscv avit ma av b a at ap t imaiati spak b a psica vt bsv

Wat ma pp t sta abt

Nwts aw avit is tat it, ik a t st

Nwts aws at, is matmatica

scibab (s 11)

T pps pvii t qati is t t a it a tai x-

paati bt t pit t wat ma t, bt s, kw abtNwts aw avit a b xtsi a is aws at, ici

itia Ts a it t b ivsa aws tat ca b scib mat-

matica s tat t ca b s t pict t vts i t ata

w Witt tm pp w v av a t m (

mc s i m scic) I t ws, ttica, i

kws t xact cati a vcit a b a a t bis i -

ati t it, wit Nwts aws s ca pict pcis w it wi

b at a iv tim i t t Tat mas t ivs tis, bis,

matia titis, is cs t tsi itc A sppsiti ps-

sib tsi itc tws a mk wc, s t spak, it t

maci at, maki it impssib t pict ati pcis

Tis is w Lapac c caim tat a t G -

ptsis t xpai t csms a w it ctis T w pict

pait b Nwt, ittia t, is tat a at maci tat

ctis its w i ppta mti T pit is tat b ima-

ii it as sc ca scic pict t tsmti sstia t pac-

tica appicati m scic F xamp, s a Nwts is-

cv aws at, a astm am Em Ha pict

F = Gm1m2

r2

F. 1.1



34/37


t pcis a t t a cmt at am a im Usi Nw-

ts psics a matmatics, Ha pict its t svt-six as

a its ast appaac It i i t i 15xact svt-sixas a its appaac i 12

Fats ik tat mstat t v t cmptc scic bas

ata aws st as matmatica scibab, wic mas -

bakab I tat is s, wat s tat ma ii a spcia

Cistia bi i a spata G w acts pvitia, wit pps

a itti, i sps t pa? Wat abt miacs? Wat abt

as a ms? Wat abt wi? S ma qstis tw ais b Nwts w pict tat wt b ati Nwt

ims ask asw Sm Cistia tiks s t sav t a

b cai Nwts psics p G; ata aws ct a pps

itct w cat tm a ss tm t wk t is ta ppss

Ot Cistia tiks cc it s t matt bcas ii as

t wit ticswat t t ba t wit psics, wat is Yt

ts sst tat i G is t at t ata aws, as Nwtims biv, ca at tm a sti kp t ivs i i a

asi s tat scic ca its bsiss cacati a p-

icti A ts a m asws wi appa i st m t-

s attmpts t sp t t acis mit

Te scientifc revolution challenges traditional Christianity. T a

was 150a t bii t m a (wic ma at t 1,

t t Tit Yas Wa) Bisp Jams Uss Ia (151

15) pbis is amak bkAnnales Veteris estamenti, tasat

i 15 asAnnals of the World(t a xact tasati t Lati tit),

wic va t at t cati t w as Octb 2, 00

Uss, a wi spct sca, cacat t at cati bas

ms acts t p i is sac, bt is mai sc was t

Bib its His mts t tai s T pit is tat is c-

was wi accpt a wk its wa it t tts a

st ts ma Eis Bibs F ctis csvativ Cistias

p Usss sac a ccsi; it was mbac b ma as

qa wit Scipt its tat G cat t ti ivs i

00 was tatamt t i t atit t Bib



35/37


I 1925 Amica statsma a ati-vti activist Wiiam J-

is Ba (101925) tsti t pscti (a was, i act, t

a psct) at t ams Scps mk tia i Dat, ssHis cmbativ ctpat, s att a ati-amtaist c-

sa Cac Daw, ask Ba abt t a a ctai ck B-

tw 150 a 1925, cs, mc a app i scic Usi Gai-

s mts a Nwts aws psics a t iscvis t

scitic vti, ists a cm t amt tat t at was

a ta Uss caim B 1925 tat t at was miis as

was stt act mst cat pp i Ep a Nt AmicaT w -ts ik Ba w, tt wit ma t cs-

vativ Cistias, saw m scic as t m G T

cs tw issst a t at a vti Sic vti

was i ti viw ss a c ma bis t aimas, t -

jct t scitic caims abt t at a t ivs as w

Ba k at t ck i Daws a a pas Ba was

a smat ma a i ma was a m ma H a sv as Scta Stat Psit Ww Wis a a b is pats mi

psit i t ctis T sai, T Rck As is m

imptat ta t a cks Ev sm Bas ati-vti sp-

pts a Mc Amica a (T Scps tia was t st

vt bacast iv v ai atiwi) Ati-vti am-

taists w miiat a bit ti w cs t ptct ti ci

m t ss atism m scic T t cti t tac

tat t w was cat abt t tsa as a a tat vti

is a atist cspiac t vtw ii Nt a amtaists i

tis, bt it bcam wa ma amtaists t back i t -

i wa btw scic a ii

Pssiv Cistias, b ctast, capitat citica t t

atst ts i scic T ma pac wit scic b mbaci

watv scitists sai, v i it was m a ptsis t pv

T at itt a a twtit ctis saw ma pssiv,

iba Ptstat tias asti t miacs bcas t

tt t tm w xt t waa btw scic

a ii tat ii sm awas t s O sc pssiv



36/37


iba Ptstat tik was Aw D Wit, at t itia

tw-vm A History of the Warfare of Science with Teology in Chris-

tendom mti ai I 19 cc tat t issvi awa taitia piis ai sac itat was simp t at-

msp tt b t vpmt a scics i

t ast t ctis Vast masss mt, , mav a matic

assti, cmi it tis atmsp, av b issv a a w

issvi qit awa ik icbs i it t G Stam8 Ma

Cistia tias, as w sa s, a ai wit im a st

t cstct Cistia ctis s tat t w t b swpt awa bt ti scitic iscvis

Wat w a a sm Cistia tias appacs t t wa

btw m scic a taitia t? Wat ws a -

aizatis; t appacs a pbab as vai as t tiks w p-

ps tm O was tak b Ba a is amtaist cts:

m scic, at vaab sm its ivtis, is t b -

sist isa as it cicts wit t ita, taitia itptati tBib Ba a t amtaists w a cict m i ati t

t scitic vti a its sts Mst tm, wv, accpt tat

t at vvs a t sa act pit t b ti citics sc as

pssiv Ptstat past a tia Ha Ems Fsick (1

199), w t m is ppit i Nw Yk Cits Rivsi Cc:

Sa t amtaists wi? His asw i tat 1922 sm was a -

si N!mai ss w iba Cistias t tm!

Fsick w psts at Cistia appac t t wa btw

m scic a t: a aist, accmmati m Lik mst

pssiv, iba Ptstats is tim Fsick was ti t wa b-

tw scic a t a pt t accmmat t watv sci-

tists saiici miacs (bcas t imit at mst

scitists t biv Nwts aws qi) H m Pts-

tats t kp p t at wit scic a t t aaist it A a,

pac a wt, Cistiait is t abt w t avs , w

t at is, bt abt t aa awi t kim G

White, History, 2:33.



37/37


at t v a Cistia bt Fsick pvi a -

ati twtit-ct Amica Cistias wit bks xpaii

t t ssc Cistiait as tica ivi, t scia sp, wicas ti t wit t tis scic stis9 Tis appac is aist

i spaati scic a t it amst wattit cmpatmts

w t cat cict bcas t a abt ti it sb-

jcts It is aica accmmatiist i bwi t v scitic is-

cv v i tat iscv is a ptsis t t b pv (, t

ataistic viw t ivs as im a ivsa b

ata aws t t xcsi miacs)0

Fia, sm itt- a twtit-ct Cistias sp

t t wa btw scic a ii wi t t scitic v-

ti b catis cati scics matia acts wit vatis

vab tts Tis is t itatiist catiist appac t ac-

cmmati a is v simia t wat Gai it i is tt t

t Ga Dcss Cistia Miati tia Ba Ramm (191

1992), tai i scic a t, tk tis appac i Te ChristianView of Science and Scripture, i wic a aaist bt t ap-

pacs a ca Cistia t t aapt t t matia acts

scic (sc as t a t at) witt capitati t v sci-

tic ptsis, m t (, ataistic vti)

Mc m t is miat b vt cvt attmpts t sp

t t scitic vti a v a xtt, tis bk is tat st

1.b. Philosophers Lay New Foundations for Knowledge

T a was 1; t s-ca Eitmt i Epa ct was at

its pak, a sm pisps w bii t qsti its i-i

caims abt atms ma as a its pttia t b bjctiv,

kw ait as it is i its apat m vati ait a sv ma-

See Harry Emerson Fosdick,A Guide to Understanding the Bible (New York: Harper & Row,

1).o be air, not all undamentalists rejected science entirely; the conict model was practiced by

them in varying degrees. Similarly, not all progressive Protestants accommodated to every

whim o modern scientists, but they tended to rescue theology rom deeat at the hands o sci-

ence by separating them so that science explains the physical world while theology seeks to

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The Journey of Modern Theology by Roger E. Olsen

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