Bøker av John Douglas Morrison

This work examines Thomas Forsyth Torrance''s concern for the modern re-entrenchment of dualism as it has negatively affected the Christian faith and the realist knowledge of God in Christ. Additionally, an analysis is made of Torrance''s program to faithfully restore theological thinking, theological science, and true objectivity out of the Christocentric-Trinitarian self-disclosure of God via the modern return to critical realist epistemology in the physical sciences (e.g., Einstein, Polanyi). The study concludes with a critical examination of the adequacy and completeness of Torrance''s endeavor (the problem of residual dualism) in the light of his own theological and redemptive concerns.John Morrison''s book brings to light the contribution of the most important English language Protestant theologian of this century. Unlike others who have attempted to present Torrance''s oeuvre by means of one or other of his guiding principles, Morrison draws them together into a coherent whole. Morrison''s command of the ideas and spirit of Torrance is masterful. The splendid interrelations and potencies of Torrance''s writing are unfolded in this highly competent work.Kurt Richardson, Gordon-Conwell Theological SeminaryJohn Morrison has given the theological world a discerning analysis of the theology of one of the seminal thinkers of our time. T. F. Torrance''s theology is so broad and deep in its scope that it is difficult to master, but Dr. Morrison has done an outstanding job of plumbing the depths of this great Scottish theologian.... This scholarly, comprehensive study is a major contribution toward helping us understand the theology of the great Edinburgh theologian.I. John Hesselink, Albertus C. Van Raalte Professor Emeritus of Systematic Theology, Western Theological SeminaryThough Torrance has been hailed by some as ''one of the most substantial figures in recent Western intellectual history,'' he has also been called ''one of the most neglected'' (Alisdair I. C. Heron). Morrison''s new book seeks to correct this imbalance. This is a thorough examination of T. F. Torrance''s theological writings; it is an erudite work that lays bare the very core of Torrance''s thought, places it in context, traces its sources, and seeks to determine its implications for contemporary theology. Balanced as it is between homage and critical analysis, this book should prove indispensable for anyone who is interested in Torrance or in the ever-enduring and ever-changing dialectic between faith and reason.Carlos M. N. Eire, Professor of History and Religious Studies, Yale UniversityThis is a careful, accurate, thorough, and illuminating presentation of T. F. Torrance''s thought together with various positive and negative assessments of his thought. It will be useful to anyone interested in systematic theology (and philosophical theology) because serious questions are raised and analyzed. This book definitely represents competent scholarship. The author wrestles with Torrance''s position, presents his own critique of Torrance with a constructive proposal which, if he is correct, would lead in the direction Torrance has set for himself - toward a unified theology grounded in Christ and thus in the immanent Trinity. He makes his points well and does not shrink from difficult questions. All in all Dr. Morrison writes convincingly.Paul D. Molnar, Professor of Systematic Theology, St. John''s University, New YorkJohn Douglas Morrison was born in Billings, Montana. He holds a B.A. from the University of Montana, an M.Div. and a Th.M. from Western Seminary, and an M.A. and a Ph.D. from the University of Virginia (Philosophical Theology). He has published journal articles on Kierkegaard, Calvin, Barth, and Torrance. He teaches theology and philosophy at Liberty University and Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary, Lynchburg, Virginia.

Has God said? Has God actually spoken, declared himself and his purposes to us? Historically the Christian faith has affirmed God's redemptive, revelatory speaking as historical, contentful, redemptive, centrally in Jesus Christ and, under Christ and by the Spirit, in the text of Holy Scripture. But in the past three centuries developments in Western culture have created a crisis in relation to historical, divine authority. The modern reintroduction of destructive dualisms, cosmological and epistemological, via Descartes, Newton, Spinoza, and Kant have injured not only the physical sciences (e.g., positivism) but Christian theology as well. The resulting "eclipse of God" has permeated Western culture. In terms of the Christian understanding of revelation, it has meant the separation of God from historical action, the rejection of God's actual self-declaration, and especially in textual form, Holy Scripture. After critical analysis of these dualistic developments, this book presents the problematic effects in both Protestant (Schleiermacher, Bultmann, Tillich) and Roman Catholic (Rahner, Dulles) theology. The thought and influence of Karl Barth on the nature of Scripture is examined and distinguished from most "Barthian approaches." The effects of dualistic "Barthian" thought on contemporary evangelical views of Scripture (Pinnock, Fackre, Bloesch) are also critically analyzed and responses made (Helm, Wolterstorff, Packer). The final chapter is a christocentric, multileveled reformulation of the classical Scripture Principle, via Einstein, Torrance, and Calvin, that reaffirms the church's historical "identity thesis," that Holy Scripture is the written Word of God, a crucial aspect of God's larger redemptive-revelatory purpose in Christ.

Has God said? Has God actually spoken, declared himself and his purposes to us? Historically the Christian faith has affirmed God's redemptive, revelatory speaking as historical, contentful, redemptive, centrally in Jesus Christ and, under Christ and by the Spirit, in the text of Holy Scripture. But in the past three centuries developments in Western culture have created a crisis in relation to historical, divine authority. The modern reintroduction of destructive dualisms, cosmological and epistemological, via Descartes, Newton, Spinoza, and Kant have injured not only the physical sciences (e.g., positivism) but Christian theology as well. The resulting ""eclipse of God"" has permeated Western culture. In terms of the Christian understanding of revelation, it has meant the separation of God from historical action, the rejection of God's actual self-declaration, and especially in textual form, Holy Scripture. After critical analysis of these dualistic developments, this book presents the problematic effects in both Protestant (Schleiermacher, Bultmann, Tillich) and Roman Catholic (Rahner, Dulles) theology. The thought and influence of Karl Barth on the nature of Scripture is examined and distinguished from most ""Barthian approaches."" The effects of dualistic ""Barthian"" thought on contemporary evangelical views of Scripture (Pinnock, Fackre, Bloesch) are also critically analyzed and responses made (Helm, Wolterstorff, Packer). The final chapter is a christocentric, multileveled reformulation of the classical Scripture Principle, via Einstein, Torrance, and Calvin, that reaffirms the church's historical ""identity thesis,"" that Holy Scripture is the written Word of God, a crucial aspect of God's larger redemptive-revelatory purpose in Christ.""John Morrison's Has God Said? rightly identifies the central issue in an Evangelical doctrine of Scripture. It's all about the meaning of 'is,' as in 'the Bible is the Word of God.' Carefully distinguishing Barth's own position from 'Barthian' pretenders, Morrison analyzes various contemporary options, Evangelical and non-Evangelical, and then offers his own constructive proposal. Morrison's new position builds on Barth's (not Barthian!) Christocentric insights even as it reclaims the Scripture principle in a manner that even Calvin could applaud."" Kevin Vanhoozer Trinity Evangelical Divinity School""For those who want to think deeply about what it means to say that the Bible is the word of God, John Morrison brings wide-ranging resources and careful reflection. Reading this book is a challenging but rewarding task."" Millard Erickson Baylor University ""Bravo to John Morrison for addressing a weighty issue in philosophical theology that is seldom even proposed, let alone faced squarely in recent academic discussions. Far from avoiding the general trend in recent critical thought, Morrison is to be commended for his affirmation that Scripture is an intricate component of God's redemptive self-revelation to a needy world. This volume places front and center God's work through Jesus Christ and in the very text of Scripture. I highly recommend this rigorous intellectual investigation and subsequent call to reaffirm Scripture as a crucial element in the revelation of God's loving actions to a needy creation."" Gary R. Habermas, Liberty UniversityJohn Douglas Morrison is Professor of Theology and Philosophy at Liberty University and Liberty Theological Seminary. His first book, Knowledge of the Self-Revealing God in the Thought of Thomas Forsyth Torrance, has received much recognition both in Europe and North America. In addition, he has written numerous articles on the church fathers, Calvin, Kierkegaard, Barth, and various developments in Roman Catholic thought.