In Defence of the Defence

Foto Blur: Barcelona

UWTSD, (2009), PhD Viva for Theodicy and Practical Theology (2010).

As noted earlier in this PhD Viva series, my tutors placed much emphasis on empirical and practical theology. This was done for the sake of thesis originality. I agreed on the originality point.

I also agreed that problem of evil and theodicy work needed practical theology, associated. However, I reasoned the thesis needed more philosophy of religion and philosophical theology material within the pre-Viva version, than I was advised to include.

As it turned out, the external and interviewer reviewers requested more work in regard to philosophy of religion and Reformed theology. Practical and Empirical theology was largely downplayed within the Viva review.

I had provided a very significant amount of work and citations from John S. Feinberg, John Calvin and from others within Reformed theology, but the external reviewer had one writer in particular, he suggested I use in final revisions, in regard to Reformed methodology. This suggested theologian was John R. Franke.

I complied. This was In Defence of the Defence and required eight months additional work.

Below are some related Doctoral excerpts.

PhD thesis

Concerning objectivity, within this thesis my Reformed perspective shall not be spared from an objective evaluation and critique as a result of empirical findings. Again, this is not to indicate, in any way, that I wish to avoid intellectual challenges to Reformed theology as concepts from both conservative and liberal perspectives shall be reviewed and examined within this work.

John R. Franke (2005) provides, within The Character of Theology, a recent academic method of examining and explaining Christian and Reformed theology which are reasoned to exist, in part through Biblical revelation. Franke (2005: 8-10). This approach by Franke and others is an appropriate precursor to a discussion of Feinberg’s Reformed sovereignty approach.

Franke mentions that some evangelicals will have difficulties with his approach that takes a non-traditional look at theology and not only a traditional Biblical approach. He reasons that what is Biblical should not just be assumed and should be a subject of intellectual scrutiny, and on this point I fully agree. Franke (2005: 8-10).

I consider myself primarily Reformed as opposed to primarily evangelical. Many evangelicals will struggle with the compatibilism accepted within my PhD thesis.

CALVIN, JOHN (1539)(1998) The Institutes of the Christian Religion, Book II, Translated by Henry Beveridge, Grand Rapids, The Christian Classic Ethereal Library, Wheaton College. http://www.ccel.org/ccel/calvin/institutes.html

CALVIN, JOHN (1539)(1998) The Institutes of the Christian Religion, Book IV, Translated by Henry Beveridge, Grand Rapids, The Christian Classic Ethereal Library, Wheaton College. http://www.ccel.org/ccel/calvin/institutes.html

CALVIN, JOHN (1540)(1973) Romans and Thessalonians, Translated by Ross Mackenzie, Grand Rapids, Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.

CALVIN, JOHN (1543)(1996) The Bondage and Liberation of the Will, Translated by G.I. Davies, Grand Rapids, Baker Book House.

CALVIN, JOHN (1550)(1978) Concerning Scandals, Translated by John W. Fraser, Grand Rapids, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.

CALVIN, JOHN (1552)(1995) Acts, Translated by Watermark, Nottingham, Crossway Books. 

CALVIN, JOHN (1553)(1952) Job, Translated by Leroy Nixon, Grand Rapids, Baker Book House. 

CALVIN, JOHN (1554)(1965) Genesis, Translated by John King, Edinburgh, The Banner of Truth Trust.

FEINBERG, JOHN.S. (1986) Predestination and Free Will, in David Basinger and Randall Basinger (eds.), Downers Grove, Illinois, InterVarsity Press.

FEINBERG, JOHN.S. (1994) The Many Faces of Evil, Grand Rapids, Zondervan Publishing House. 

FEINBERG, JOHN.S. (2001) No One Like Him, John S. Feinberg (gen.ed.), Wheaton, Illinois, Crossway Books.

FRANKE, JOHN R. (2005) The Character of Theology, Baker Academic, Grand Rapids.