Hegel and Christian Theology A Reading of the Lectures on the Philosophy of Religion

by Hodgson, Peter C.

• ISBN13: 9780199235711
• ISBN10: 0199235716
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2008-02-03
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

Peter C. Hodgson engages the speculative reconstruction of Christian theology that is accomplished by Hegel's Lectures on the Philosophy of Religion , and provides a close reading of the critical edition of the lectures. He analyzes Hegel's concept of the object and purpose of the philosophy of religion, his critique of the theology of his time, his approach to Christianity within the framework of the concept of religion, his concept of God, his reconstruction of central Christian themes, and his placement of Christianity among the religions of the world. Hodgson makes a case for the contemporary theological significance of Hegel by identifying currently contested sites of interpretation and their Hegelian resolution.

Author Biography

Peter C. Hodgson is Charles G. Finney Professor of Theology, Emeritus, at Vanderbilt University.

Table of Contents

Notes on the Text	p. x
Introduction
Hegel as a Theologian of the Spirit	p. 3
Hegel's Life and Career in Brief	p. 3
Speculative Philosophy and the Logical Deep Structure	p. 6
Philosophy of Religion as Theology	p. 12
Theologian of the Spirit	p. 16
Hegel's Writings on Religion	p. 22
Early Theological Writings	p. 22
Jena Writings	p. 27
Phenomenology of Spirit	p. 32
Encyclopedia of the Philosophical Sciences	p. 40
Foreword to Hinrichs's Religion	p. 45
The Four Versions of the Lectures on the Philosophy of Religion	p. 47
Hegel and the Theology of His Time	p. 52
The Object and Purpose of the Philosophy of Religion	p. 52
Characteristics of Modernity	p. 56
Critique of Previous and Concurrent Theologies	p. 58
Speculative Philosophy of Religion and Theology	p. 68
Elements of a Hegelian Christian Theology
Christianity and the Concept of Religion	p. 75
The Threefold Division of the Philosophy of Religion	p. 75
The Concept of Religion	p. 78
Christianity as the Consummate, Revelatory Religion	p. 85
Speculative Redescription of the Christian Metanarrative	p. 98
The Concept, Knowledge, and Worship of God	p. 101
The Concept of Religion and the Concept of God	p. 101
The Abstract Concept of God	p. 103
The Knowledge of God	p. 106
Proofs of the Existence of God	p. 115
The Worship of God	p. 123
Trinity: God as Absolute Spirit	p. 127
Absolute Spirit and Trinity	p. 127
The Christian Doctrine of the Trinity	p. 132
The Speculative Idea of the Trinity	p. 135
Traces and Anticipations of the Trinity	p. 137
Creation, Humanity, and Evil	p. 141
Creation of the World	p. 141
Human Nature	p. 147
The Story of the Fall	p. 150
Knowledge, Estrangement, Evil	p. 151
Christ and Reconciliation	p. 155
The Possibility, Necessity, and Actuality of Reconciliation	p. 155
The Ministry, Teaching, and Person of Christ	p. 163
The Death of Christ	p. 169
The Resurrection and Ascension of Christ	p. 175
Spirit and Community	p. 177
Transition from the Sensible to the Spiritual Presence of Christ	p. 177
The Intersubjectivity of the Community of the Spirit	p. 181
Institutional Forms of the Community of the Spirit	p. 185
The Community and the World	p. 193
The Passing Away of the Community?	p. 202
Christianity and World Religions	p. 205
World Religions in the Philosophy of Religion	p. 205
Four Renditions of Determinate Religion	p. 207
Conceptual Play: A Geography of Religions	p. 217
Hegel's Affinity with and Critique of Asian Religions	p. 219
Hegel's Evolving Treatment of Judaism	p. 228
Toward a Religion of the Concrete Spirit	p. 237
Conclusion
The Theological Significance of Hegel Today	p. 247
Hegel's God: Counterfeit or Real?	p. 248
Heterodoxy and Ontotheology: Spirit	p. 259
Totality and Infinity: Wholeness	p. 265
Language and History: Narrative	p. 273
Tragedy and Redemption: Christ	p. 276
Self and Other: Community	p. 280
Unity and Diversity: Pluralism	p. 282
Bibliography	p. 285
Index	p. 296
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.