DESCRIPTION:

This is a CATS doctoral seminar, also open to a very limited number of advanced master's level students. The course will focus on the thought of Abraham Kuyper, with some attention to the relationship of his theology of culture to his active involvement in 19th century public life in the Netherlands; among other activities, he founded a major political party, was a member of the national parliament for several decades, and served for a few years as Prime Minister. Among the Kuyperian themes to be discussed are: the cultural mandate, sphere sovereignty, common grace, and the antithesis between fallen and redeemed patterns of cultural life.

An understanding of "Christ and culture" issues is crucial to the life of the Christian community. Kuyper was not only an important original thinker in the Reformed tradition--his theology was shaped in very direct ways by his involvement in church and society. The question of how his thought can be re-contextualized for contemporary discipleship has a significant bearing on practical ministry topics.

The seminar will meet three hours a week for discussion.

Bratt, James, ed. Abraham Kuyper: A Centennial Reader. Eerdmans, 1998.

Kuyper, Abraham. Lectures on Calvinism. Eerdmans, 1943.

Van Til, Henry R. The Calvinistic Concept of Culture. Baker, 2001.

Bolt, John. A Free Church, A Holy Nation: Abraham Kuyper's American Public Theology. Eerdmans, 2001.

Heslam, Peter S. Creating a Christian Worldview: Abraham Kuyper's Lectures on Calvinism. Eerdmans, 1998.

Lugo, Luis. Religion, Pluralism and Public Life. Eerdmans, 1998.

McGoldrick, J. E. Abraham Kuyper: God's Renaissance Man. Evangelical Press, 2000.

Mouw, Richard J. He Shines in All That's Fair: Culture and Common Grace. Eerdmans, 2001.

In addition to active participation in seminar discussions, a research paper (minimum 20 pages) on some aspect of Kuyper's thought.

For master's level students: written permission of the instructor.

Elective.

None.