Theology in search of foundations / Randal Rauser.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Rauser, Randal D.

Contributor:

Hazel M. Hussong Fund.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Knowledge, Theory of (Religion).

Foundationalism (Theory of knowledge).

Physical Description:

vii, 313 pages ; 23 cm

Place of Publication:

Oxford ; New York : Oxford University Press, 2009.

Summary:

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.

Contents:

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.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Local Notes:

Acquired for the Penn Libraries with assistance from the Hazel M. Hussong Fund.

ISBN:

9780199214600

0199214603

OCLC:

316233324

Publisher Number:

99935268254