Lord, and Giver of Life : Toward a Pneumatological Complement to George Lindbeck's Theory of Doctrine

by Moulaison, Jane Barter

• ISBN13: 9780889205017
• ISBN10: 0889205019
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2006-12-30
• Publisher: Utp Distribution

Summary

George Lindbeck once characterized postliberalism, which received its initial structure from his book The Nature of Doctrine, as an attempt to recover pre-modern scriptural interpretation in contemporary form. In Lord, Giver of Life: Toward a Pneumatological Complement to George Lindbeck's Theory of Doctrine, Jane Barter Moulaison explores the success of that effort through a close examination of Lindbeck's own theological contributions. Taking seriously the ecumenical promises of Lindbeck's writing (he was instrumental in advancing Lutheran and Roman Catholic dialogue throughout the 1960s, '70s, and '80s), this book brings Lindbeck's famous cultural-linguistic model of religion into dialogue with Christianity's theological forbearers: specifically, the Eastern progenitors of orthodox confession.This constellation of theological voices-Lindbeck, his supporters and detractors, along with patristic theologians-is meant not only to test the viability of a religious model but, more importantly, to advance Lindbeck's project in ways that have not yet been pursued. Among the critical questions engaged are: to what degree can the excesses of modern theology be overcome by a return to premodern sources? What are the implications of a constructive pneumatology to the cultural-linguistic model? Does this complement address the critiques of postliberalism, particularly those that consider the role of human agency, rationality, and autonomy?While Lindbeck recovers significant and forgotten elements of pre-modern biblical interpretation, the very formalism of his project sometimes obscures the theological underpinnings of premodern insights and practices. Through specific attention to Eastern Trinitarian theologies of the fourth century, this book exposes a rather persistent oversight within Lindbeck's recovery: namely, that alongside the regulative function of canon and doctrine, early biblical interpretation recognizes the role of the Holy Spirit in the appropriation of scripture, in the mission of the church, and in the defence of the gospel within the context of an unbelieving world. This book attends to these insights from the early churchs doctrine of the Holy Spirit in appreciative service to the cultural-linguistic model of religion.

Author Biography

Jane Barter Moulaison is an assistant professor of church history and theology at the University of Winnipeg

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements	xi
The Spirit Who Saves
Pneumatological Efficacy as the Fourth Regulative Principle	1	(14)
Introduction	1	(3)
Three Regulative Principles---and a Fourth	4	(4)
Development of an Argument	8	(2)
Methods and Sources	10	(2)
Conclusion	12	(3)
The Spirit and Language
Pneumatology and Theological Discourse	15	(20)
Introduction	15	(1)
The Picture of Theological Language That Holds Us Captive	16	(6)
Overcoming Modern Epistemologies: A Theological Rationale	22	(4)
How Are Doctrines Justified?	26	(5)
Conclusion	31	(4)
The Spirit and Truth
Pneumatology and the Apologetic Task	35	(32)
Introduction	35	(1)
Assessing Religious Truth	36	(5)
Assessing Lindbeck's Account of the Holy Spirit	41	(8)
McGrath's Critique of Lindbeck	49	(7)
Ad Hoc Apologetics	56	(3)
A Soteriological Epistemology	59	(5)
Conclusion	64	(3)
The Spirit's Address
Toward a Pneumatological Intratextual Theology	67	(40)
Introduction	67	(5)
Intratextual Theology and the Gospel's ``Untranslatability''	72	(12)
Intentionality	84	(14)
Apophaticism and Pneumatology	98	(4)
Conclusion	102	(5)
Life in the Spirit
The Church's Practices and Mission	107	(34)
Introduction	107	(1)
George Lindbeck's People-of-God Ecclesiology	108	(12)
A Pneumatological Corrective? Reinhard Hutter's Proposal	120	(6)
The Holy Spirit and the Church's Mission: A Patristic Alternative	126	(9)
Conclusion	135	(6)
Staying with Us
The Spirit between Culture and Kingdom, Language and Word	141	(12)
Aspects of a Conversation	141	(4)
More Than Two Men and a Bird: A Pneumatological Complement to the Cultural-Linguistic Model	145	(6)
Conclusion	151	(2)
Bibliography	153	(10)
Index	163