Herman Bavinck's Christian Worldview with Gray Sutanto
Nov 27, 2023
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Join Dr. Caleb Leonard and Dr. Gray Sutanto as they delve into Herman Bavinck's Christian Worldview, discussing its relevance in contemporary theology, the interconnectedness of thinking and being, reconciling materialism and dynamism, and the influence of modern thinkers like Tim Keller and Christopher Watkin.
A Christian worldview is not just a set of beliefs, but a cosmic sense of the world that provides unity and coherence to all aspects of life.
Neo-Calvinism emphasizes engaging with modernity while maintaining orthodox Christian beliefs, seeking to advance the Christian faith in the contemporary context.
Deep dives
The Importance of a Christian Worldview
In this podcast episode, Dr. Gray Sotanto discusses the significance of a Christian worldview through the lens of Herman Bavinck's book on the topic. He argues that a Christian worldview goes beyond a set of beliefs and is a cosmic sense of the world that provides unity and coherence to all aspects of life. This worldview seeks to understand the unity and diversity in thinking, being, becoming, and acting and recognizes the organic unity of creation. It emphasizes the importance of recognizing the image of God in oneself and others and how it shapes our view of the world.
Neo-Calvinism and Its Relevance Today
The podcast also delves into the topic of Neo-Calvinism, which is a modern movement rooted in the works of Abraham Kuyper and Herman Bavinck. Neo-Calvinism emphasizes the importance of engaging with modernity while maintaining orthodox Christian beliefs. It rejects the notion of retreat or opposition to modern society and instead seeks to advance the Christian faith in the contemporary context. The podcast recommends exploring works by Tim Keller and Christopher Walken as examples of contemporary thinkers who align with this Neo-Calvinist perspective.
Resources for Further Study
For those interested in delving deeper into the topic of Christian worldview and Neo-Calvinism, several recommended resources are mentioned in the podcast. These include Bavinck's book 'Christianity and Science' as a more accessible introduction, his four-volume 'Reformed Dogmatics' for a comprehensive study of his theology, Christopher Walken's 'Biblical Critical Theory' for a modern application of Neo-Calvinist thought, and James Eglinton's biography of Bavinck titled 'Bavinck: A Critical Biography'. Additionally, the podcast recommends their own show, 'Grace in Common', which explores Bavinck and Kuiper's thoughts and the Neo-Calvinist tradition.
Embracing the Unity and Coherence of a Christian Worldview
The podcast episode emphasizes the importance of developing and embracing a Christian worldview that recognizes the unity and coherence of all aspects of life. It challenges listeners to see beyond mere sets of beliefs and engage with the cosmic sense of the world presented by Christianity. By understanding the organic unity of creation and recognizing the image of God in oneself and others, individuals are called to adopt a posture of gratefulness and engage with modernity in a way that reflects the teachings of Bavinck and the Neo-Calvinist tradition.
In this episode, Caleb in joined by Dr. Gray Sutanto (PhD, University of Edinburgh) Assistant Professor of Systematic Theology at Reformed Theological Seminar to discuss Herman Bavinck's work Christian Worldview. Together they discuss Bavinck's answers to life's ultimate questions about origin, meaning, morality, and destiny. As listeners will learn from this discussion, only Christianity offers answers to these questions in a way that meets our truest needs and satisfies our deepest longings.