A New Movement
While catching up on Bloglines (only 10,000 items to go!) I ran across an older posting of Josiah's on theological progress. Like Josiah, my own theology and philosophy has changed a great deal since I was 18 (which is a very good thing, I think). I'm more "liberal" in some areas, more "conservative" in others, and in some, just different.
But that is all unimportant. What is important, and what was prompted by the post, is that it is now time for a new theological movement. Specifically, given the recent proliferation of theological post-conservatism, post-liberalism, post-foundationalism, and post-fundamentalism, I believe it is now time for a post-theonomy movement.
I see many potential advantages to this. On the one hand, using the dreaded term theonomy automatically gives it a certain air of controversy and edginess. In both politically liberal and conservative Reformed circles, to announce that one has any sympathies to theonomy is only slightly more alarming than announcing that one has a jacket of dynamite strapped to oneself and will be gaining 72 virgins in just a moment. Such a guaranteed emotional response can prove useful for marketing purposes.
On the other hand, using the "post-" prefix also automatically makes the movement both hip and ambiguous. When faced with such disconcerting and potentially sticky questions such as "do you really believe in theonomy?", we can simply respond with the statement "we are post-; such questions are irrelevant. We have moved beyond that." Meanwhile, we can calmly sit, smoke cigars, drink black-and-tans, and discuss the benefits of amalgamating Derrida, Lindbeck, and Bahnsen.
Any takers?
June 29, 2005 11:25 AMTrackback URL for this entry: http://baltiblogs.com/mt/mt-tb.cgi/6156
After looking up the word, theonomy, which I had heard before and trying to find biographies on Derrida, Lindbeck, and Bahnsen, at least people with those last names that I am fairly certain you are talking about, I’m down with drinking BLACK-and-Tans and smoking cigars and talking about some hip and ambiguous post-theonomics (is that a word?!).
Is this an attempt to say that those that are believers should have a worldview that encompasses every aspect of your life, including political agendas to whatever degree appropriate? Or that moving beyond theonomy means it is a bunch of bunk and us Christians should just seek to love everybody?
Granted as I ask those questions I am neither drinking nor smoking, so please don’t hold that against me.
Pondered by Jeff Price at June 30, 2005 12:22 PMOops. Thanks for catching the blank/black typo.
The purpose of my blather was twofold:
1. Create an excuse to smoke cigars and drink black-and-tans
2. Poke fun at the current evangelical trend to be post-everything.
No serious insight beyond that was intended. :)
Pondered by maphet at June 30, 2005 12:28 PM