Toward a Comprehensive Theological Anthropology: Revere Franklin Weidner as a Guide
Dec 1, 2023
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Dr. Jordan Cooper explores the need to reevaluate traditional theological anthropological models and presents an alternative approach rooted in Lutheran Orthodoxy. The chapter discusses a contemporary theological anthropology rooted in scholastic realism as adopted by the Lutheran Orthodox writers of the 17th century. The author incorporates insights from Revere Franklin Widener's writings, explores the foundations of theological anthropology, and highlights the need for further development in the modern academy. Weidner's nuanced tricotomist view on the distinction between body, soul, and spirit, and their connection to God. Challenges faced by Lutheran Orthodoxy in understanding the relationship between the Amago Dei and fallen humanity. Difficulties faced by theological anthropology in the modern world, including materialism, existentialism, and post-structuralism/post-Marxism.
The current challenges in theological anthropology, such as the questioning of the sex binary and the denial of human nature, demand a new direction that remains faithful to confessional Lutheran theology while developing and moving forward.
Lutheran Orthodox writers and Reverend Franklin Weiner emphasized the impact of the fall and redemption on humanity, highlighting the economic rather than ontological focus of theological anthropology and providing the basis for human dignity.
Deep dives
The Relevance of Theological Anthropology in the Modern Era
The podcast episode explores the significance of theological anthropology in addressing current challenges and developments. It discusses how classical Lutheran dogmatics in the 16th and 17th centuries did not extensively address theological anthropology due to the absence of certain challenges. Present challenges, including the questioning of the sex binary, the denial of human nature, and the critique of older anthropological models rooted in Hellenistic categories, demand a new direction in theological anthropology that remains faithful to confessional Lutheran theology while developing and moving forward. The episode argues that Lutheran confessions provide a basis for further theological development and that theological anthropology should be grounded in scholastic realism as adopted by the Formula of Concord and the Lutheran Orthodox writers of the 17th century. The podcast proposes a contemporary theological anthropology that retains essentialist metaphysics, recognizes God's image in humanity as both accidental and essential, and explores the nature of body, soul, and spirit. It emphasizes the importance of addressing challenges posed by materialism, self-creationism, and the denial of objective human nature. The episode concludes with a call to action for the church to develop a robust theological anthropology that addresses these challenges in a faithful and relevant manner.
The Foundations and Nature of Theological Anthropology
This segment of the podcast delves into the foundations and nature of theological anthropology as discussed by the 17th-century Lutheran Orthodox writers and Reverend Franklin Weiner. It highlights the theological anthropology's three primary subjects: the nature of Imago Dei, the relationship between body, soul, and spirit, and the effects of the fall on human nature. The episode explains that Lutheran Orthodox thinkers emphasized the impact of the fall and redemption on humanity rather than providing a clear definition of humanity as such. It explores their understanding of the state of integrity and the state of corruption, emphasizing the economic rather than ontological focus of theological anthropology. The discussion further addresses the distinction between image and vestige, with reference to the remaining elements of the divine image in fallen humanity. It also examines the Lutheran Orthodox differentiation between nature, substance, and qualities or perfections, and concludes that the image of God is not accidental but tied to the human essence, providing the basis for human dignity.
The Contributions of Reverend Franklin Weiner
This part of the podcast episode highlights the contributions of Reverend Franklin Weiner to theological anthropology. It introduces his work, 'Anthropology on the Doctrine of Man,' in which Weiner synthesized and expanded upon the ideas of Lutheran Orthodoxy and incorporated insights from more recent authors. The episode focuses on Weiner's treatment of the divine image in man, acknowledging his rejection of the Roman Catholic division between image and likeness. It discusses how Weiner grounds the divine image in the spirit of man and distinguishes it from the body. His understanding of the Amago Dei encompasses elements such as self-consciousness, freedom, spirituality, and a threefold structure of the human spirit. The podcast also suggests how Weiner's work addresses the challenges posed by materialism, emphasizing the inner life of man and the realities of consciousness, moral sensibility, and will. It concludes by noting the importance of further development in response to the challenges of mechanistic materialism, existentialism, and post-structuralism/post-Marxism.
The Need for a Contemporary Theological Anthropology
This final section of the podcast episode emphasizes the need for a contemporary theological anthropology that addresses current challenges in a clear and comprehensive manner. It discusses three specific challenges that necessitate a robust theological anthropology. First, the challenge of mechanistic materialism questions the inner life of man and requires a strong theological defense of consciousness, will, and thought. Second, the existentialist emphasis on self-creation and the neglect of the bodily aspect of human life necessitates an affirmation of the goodness of bodily existence and the integration of the inner and outer self. Third, the post-structuralist/post-Marxist denial of objective human nature calls for a clear definition and understanding of human nature in order to confront ethical issues effectively. The podcast concludes with an exhortation to the church to develop a theological anthropology that engages with these challenges and provides a faithful and relevant understanding of human nature.
