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Does Theology Presuppose Faith?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 January 2009

Hendrik M. Vroom
Affiliation:
Vrije Universiteit, De Boelelaan 1105, 1081 HV Amsterdam

Extract

One reason why the legitimacy of theology as an academic discipline is disputed, is the claim that theology presupposes faith. Such a presupposition, it is said, constitutes a danger for the academic nature of theology and, indirectly, its place in the university; in an academic discipline a scholar cannot proceed from a specific consideration which can not be discussed and which one can not give up without placing oneself outside that discipline, i.e., Christian theology. Therefore, while Christian theology is a valid intellectual pursuit for Christians who reflect on the content of their faith, it does not fall within the contours of an academic discipline which is universally accessible. Such is the rationale, and it involves not only Christian but Jewish and Islamic theology as well and in general all reflection on religion and philosophy of life which is undertaken in particular circles and which proceeds from unverifiable assumptions which lack universal endorsement. In this article we are concerned with the objection that theology is not properly academic (‘wissenschaftlich’) because of its unverifiable presupposition that God exists and its being connected to a particular religious community. Theology presupposes faith, it is said, and the point of dispute is whether any academic discipline may have such a presupposition. Three different things may be implied by this objection.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Scottish Journal of Theology Ltd 1992

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References

page 146 note 1 Cf. Molendijk, A. L., ‘Om de onafhankelijkheid van de theologie. Het principe van “Voraussetzungslose Wisscnschaft”,’ Adriaanse, H.J. and Krop, H. A., ed., Theologie en rationaliteit (Kampen, 1988), pp. 139161Google Scholar. For the discussion in the second half of the nineteenth century and around the turn of the century cf. p. 145.

page 147 note 2 Some years ago Matthias Gatzemeier strongly opposed the control of ecclesiastical authorities, who exercise influence within the community through the work of theologians who are appointed by them. With reference to instances of ecclesiastical discipline, he proposes that the churches be deprived of their control in the formation of moral decisions. Theologie als Wissenschaft? Vol. I–II (Stuttgart, 1974/1975)Google Scholar; in particular, Vol. II, pp. 135–69.

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page 149 note 8 Barth, K., Church Dogmatics, 1/1, 2nd. ed., tr. Bromiley, G. W. (Edinburgh, 1975), p. 188fGoogle Scholar. According to Barth, one may not establish an entirely universal concept of knowledge because the possibility remains that the knowledge of the Word of God will be excluded from it.

page 149 note 9 Barth, I/I, pp. 189ff.

page 149 note 10 Barth, I/I, p. 193.

page 149 note 11 Barth, 1/1, p. 194; cf. also the following passage: ‘The fact of God' Word does not receive its dignity and validity in any respect or even to the slightest degree from a presupposition that we bring to it. Its truth for us, like its truth in itself, is grounded absolutely in itself. The procedure in theology, then, is to establish self-certainty on the certainty of God, to measure it by the certainty of God, and thus to begin with the certainty of God without waiting for the validating of this beginning by self-certainty,’ p. 196.

page 150 note 12 Barth, I/I, p. 199.

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page 151 note 19 Cf. Adriaanse, et al. , Theologie, p. 124ffGoogle Scholar; theology has at least three tasks: to structure and systematise, to act, and to justify one' belief; this justification is also an apologetic directed to those outside the tradition.

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page 152 note 21 Kuitert, Filosofie, p. 78f.

page 152 note 22 Kuitert, Filosofie, p. 78.

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page 162 note 35 If God does not prevent it, then certainly neither do theological studies or the church. Cf. Schillebeeckx, E. … belief does not know of any stormfree zone where criticism does not penetrate: Geloofsverstaan (Bloemendaal, 1972), p. 214Google Scholar.

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page 163 note 37 From the point of view of the recognition of the authority that is ascribed to the Bible within Christian theology the same applies to the proposition ‘God exists’: it is only understandable within the whole of Christian thought. For a hermeneutical consideration see Veenhof, J., ‘The Holy Spirit and Hermeneutics,’ The Challenge of Evangelical Theology: Essays in Approach and Method, ed. Nigel M. de S. Cameron. (Edinburgh, 1986), pp. 105122.Google Scholar