I'm a bit late to this party, but this is a most interesting lecture:
Dr. Riddlebarger's Lecture, "B. B. Warfield on Arminians and Evangelicals"
I came across this lecture last year, and was surprised to find out Warfield granted evolution. Regardless, it's a very interesting lecture.
"Warfield's view of evolution may appear unusual for a conservative of his day. He was willing to accept that Darwin's theory might be true, but believed that God guided the process of evolution, and was as such an evolutionary creationist. His avid interest in amateur science was shared by many Victorian clerics and Warfield's views were not atypical."[Source]
I don't believe in evolution myself (save for microevolution), but Warfield's example has always struck me as provocative given the dominance of militant young earth creationism in Protestant circles. Here's a guy whom many of those same people would consider the modern father of biblical inerrancy, yet, surprise, he isn't a dogmatist about this so-called Great Burning Issue that supposedly deeply impacts our trust in the Scriptures.
ReplyDeleteIt's good to "get off the reservation" of one's own narrow take on the tradition every once in a while, see what others of equal competence and faith in one's own broad tradition believe.
Take a listen:
ReplyDeletehttp://reformedforum.org/ctc139/
then take up and read. Zaspel brings Warfield considerably farther back on the Creation issue from the places where he's been taken.
It's good to "get off the reservation" of one's own narrow take on the tradition every once in a while, see what others of equal competence and faith in one's own broad tradition believe.
ReplyDeleteThe lesson for me is always related to idolatry, and not to rest my faith in any scholar.
then take up and read. Zaspel brings Warfield considerably farther back on the Creation issue from the places where he's been taken.
I am familar with Zaspel, but i haven't read the book. We did get him on ISI when he first released his Warfield book.
Thank you for the link, I'll check it out.
Good point about idolatry. But how would you identify idolatry in this particular context? I would identify it as (1) either taking the dictates of Modern Science as absolutely normative for how we read Scripture or (2) taking a very narrow slice of the biblical interpretive pie as absolutely normative for how we think about science.
ReplyDeleteGood point about idolatry. But how would you identify idolatry in this particular context?
ReplyDeleteI'm constantly aware of tendencies to make everything into an idol. what's the famous Calvin line about idol factories? Warfield's embracing evolution just served as a reminder to not worship theologians, however brilliant.
Warfield probably gets a "Reformed" pass on this issue, because it probably doesn't effect his overall body of work.
I think that famous Calvin quote goes: "The human heart is an idol factory - yea, even the heart of Reformed people, especially when they think they have transcended all idolatry."
ReplyDeleteSo I'm told by reputable sources, anyway. :P
"The human heart is an idol factory - yea, even the heart of Reformed people, especially when they think they have transcended all idolatry."
ReplyDeleteI would agree with this. I go to a primarily Dutch church.
We have the same thing in Lutheranism, we have people idolizing for example, the father of LC-MS, C F W Walther.
ReplyDeleteThe dude could never be wrong, and if you try to criticize him, then you must be a heretic.
I have posted topics on my blog about the mis-statements or overstatements of Walther and I am now avoided like a plague.
The best of men are at their best, (just) men.
LPC
We have the same thing in Lutheranism, we have people idolizing for example, the father of LC-MS, C F W Walther
ReplyDeleteYes, I've been warned of your negativity to Saint Walther. (:
About 6 years ago I belonged to a Lutheran list and what I saw there; the brutal honesty, the ability to examine and critically appraise Lutheran position, aside from the BoC, made me comfortable to become one.
ReplyDeleteI consider my self a Confessing Lutheran not a Lutheran Fundamentalist.
Of course Waltherians would deny me the term.
Just letting you know that the ability to not swallow everything a respected theologian says is a healthy disposition.
LPC
I'll keep my eye on you.
ReplyDeleteI've never read much of Walther. I never had any desire to, since I've got more than enough Luther to read.
James,
ReplyDeleteIn the US, specially in LC-MS, they are more Waltherians than Luther-ans.
You won't miss a thing by skipping Walther. You are so right, you already have a material to last a lifetime just reading Luther.
LPC
Thanks. I saw a book one time on Lutheran history. I should've bought it.
ReplyDelete