Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Postliberal'

This thesis explores the theological appropriation of 'postmodern' or 'antirealist' strands in contemporary philosophy. The examples considered in detail are the 'internal realist' philosophy of Hilary Putnam, and George Lindbeck's 'postliberal' theology as outlined in his books, The Nature of Doctrine. Putnam has developed what he calls 'internal realism' as an attempt to forge a middle path between realism and relativism. 'Relativism' is defined broadly as saying that our viewpoint is always particular and local. Thus the world of knowledge, fact and value is radically dependent on a local language. Since there is no neutral language available for us to judge these particular local languages, it follows that one view may be considered as 'good' as any another. Putnam's internal realism concedes that what we call 'objective knowledge' is always description from a particular point of view, yet does not require us to revise our ordinary understanding and use of 'objective'. Our belifes are never context-free, but there is still such a thing as getting it right and getting it wrong. So Putnam claims to hold a neo-Kantian position which accepts the postmodern critique of a neutral rationality but which avoids relativism. George Lindbeck also claims that postliberal theology sets up a methodology which allows a middle way. Postliberal theology has some of its origins in Wittgenstein's philosophy of language, in particular his concept of 'language-games'. These have their own rules (grammar) and vocabulary, and they are internally consistent. That is, they create their own conditions of meaning. A religion for George Lindbeck is a language-game, what he calls a 'cultural-linguistic' system. The community of faith defines itself through its language and practice. However, I suggest religions cannot be construed as Wittgensteinian language-games and that Lindbeck's project falls into an unwanted relativism. The conclusion of the thesis is that Putnam's internal realism is unable to provide support for Lindbeck's postliberal position. It is further concluded that Putnam's philosophy is more reminiscent of the kind of liberal theology (opposed as Lindbeck) typified by the work of the Catholic theologian, David Tracy.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Florida State University, 2009.
Advisor: Martin Kavka, Florida State University, College of Arts and Sciences, Dept. of Religion. Title and description from dissertation home page (viewed on Nov. 17, 2009). Document formatted into pages; contains xi, 374 pages. Includes bibliographical references.

The extensive critical response to George Lindbeck's book, The Nature of Doctrine, has frequently overlooked the author's own primary intent to propose an innovative 'grammatical' approach to the function of doctrine (or 'rule theory'), which would explicate, and replicate, observed ecumenical instances of doctrinal 'reconciliation without capitulation'. This current research evaluates and tests, in a way which has not previously been undertaken by either Lindbeck or his critics, the extent to which a regulative approach to doctrine can provide a fruitful model with which to approach current ecclesial conflicts. This will be achieved by applying a modified version of rule theory within the case study of a contemporary ecclesial conflict. Following a clarification and modification of Lindbeck's rule theory, I undertook a qualitative analysis of Christian liturgies, autobiographical accounts and position statements in the context of a single controversy (Church of England debates concerning same-sex relationships), to assess the extent to which a modified version of rule theory would provide a useful model with which to approach similar contemporary ecclesial conflicts. An analysis of the beliefs and practices of representative groups (as evident within their liturgies, autobiographical accounts, and descriptions of 'faithful discipleship') was undertaken, to ascertain whether operative regulative principles, akin to 'grammar', could be identified, and to test whether a comparison of identified 'grammars' would prove reconciliatory. The research discovered that the operative 'grammar' of different representative groups could be identified and compared, and that the modified version of rule theory had the ability to: disentangle debates about apparently inexorably conflicted positions over particular practices or beliefs; and facilitate a deeper understanding of the regulative principles which shaped interlocutors' practices and beliefs, which would make a valuable contribution to the debate, but not necessarily in an immediately reconciliatory way. Consequently, this research has discovered that a modified version of rule theory does provide a helpful model with which to approach contemporary controversies, offering the potential for both the discovery of 'grammatical' coherence where it is present, and the identification of the true location and extent of 'grammatical' differences if they are present. Therefore, the modified version of rule theory under consideration is shown to provide a basis for dialogue which may variously lead to: a recognition of previously obscured 'grammatical' coherence; a form of reconciled diversity; the identification of promising areas for the negotiation of a new shared 'grammar'; or the recognition of the presence of irreconcilably divergent 'grammars', which may, in some instances, lead to a degree of ecclesial separation.

This thesis offers a systematic engagement with the theological hermeneutics of Hans Frei. The two key conceptual categories are “the logic of belief” and “the content of God”. The former refers to the grammatical ordering of theological statements: Frei is concerned to distinguish grammatical logic from ontology, and to establish the actual starting point for any given theological enterprise. Frei’s own preference for a “linear” and “cumulative” method built upon the starting point of a realistic narrative reading of the gospels is unpacked and explored. The second category, “the content of God”, refers to Frei’s search for an account in which God has actual reality, as opposed to a mere metaphysical abstraction. Indeed, for Frei, the arrival – or failure to arrive – at a ‘concrete’ account of God is the test of any theological starting point, as evidenced in the ability or otherwise to do exegetical justice to the narrative shape of the crucifixion-resurrection sequence. The thesis demonstrates that for Frei, the starting point in the logic of belief must be the identity of Jesus Christ as revealed in scripture, and only on that basis can a concrete content of God be posited. In so doing, the intention is to set Frei very firmly within his mid-twentieth century context, in particular his engagement with and ultimate rejection of existentialist and Neo-orthodox theology. Accordingly, the thesis traces the development in Frei’s thinking of these two conceptual categories, from his doctoral thesis on Barth’s early theology up to and including his twin publications, The Eclipse of Biblical Narrative (1974) and The Identity of Jesus Christ (1975). Later works by Frei are also considered in relation to these. The thesis does not stop at the mid-twentieth century, but illustrates the continued relevance of Frei’s hermeneutical theology into this century, putting him in conversation with a number of systematic and biblical theologians. Suggestions are made as to his applicability to modern theological concerns, including the debate surrounding the being and action of God: a field where he has yet to be deployed successfully.

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Instituto Presbiteriano Mackenzie
This study addresses the postliberal theology of George Lindbeck, presented in his book The Nature of Doctrine, as a theory of religion and religious doctrine. It presents the life, thought and work of Lindbeck, reflecting on his three key influences: Ludwig Wittgenstein, and the importance given to language; Clifford Geertz, and semiotic perspective of culture; and Hans Frei, and the role of narrative. It discusses the culturallinguistic proposal of a non-theological theory of religion as an option to cognitivepropositional and experiential-expressive approaches. It introduces the regulative theory of religious doctrines, which is constructed from the two models as opposed to traditional theories of the doctrine, called by Lindbeck propositionalist and symbolist. It reflects on the postliberal theology, which is presented as the successor to both the classical model pre-liberal, and of theological liberalism, as judged by three criteria: fidelity as intratextuality, applicability as futurology, and intelligibility as a skill. It analyzes, finally, the various arguments presented by Lindbeck favorable to its culturallinguistic approach, and the critical reception to the project, suggesting contributions of his approach to a theory of religion.
Este trabalho aborda a teologia pós-liberal de George Lindbeck, apresentada em seu livro The Nature of Doctrine, como uma teoria da religião e da doutrina religiosa. Apresenta a vida, o pensamento e a obra de Lindbeck, refletindo sobre suas três influências fundamentais: Ludwig Wittgenstein, e a importância dada à linguagem; Clifford Geertz, e a perspectiva semiótica de cultura; e Hans Frei, e o papel fundamental da narrativa. Discute a proposta cultural-lingüística de uma teoria não-teológica da religião como opção às abordagens cognitivo-proposicional e expressivo-experiencial. Introduz a teoria regulativa das doutrinas religiosas, que é construída a partir da oposição aos dois modelos tradicionais de teorias da doutrina, denominados por Lindbeck proposicionalista e simbolista. Reflete sobre a teologia pós-liberal, que se apresenta como sucessora tanto do modelo clássico pré-liberal, quanto do liberalismo teológico, sendo julgada por três critérios: fidelidade como intratextualidade, aplicabilidade como futurologia, e inteligibilidade como habilidade. Analisa, por fim, os vários argumentos apresentados por Lindbeck favoráveis à sua abordagem culturallingüística, bem como a recepção crítica ao projeto, sugerindo contribuições de sua abordagem a uma teoria da religião.

Esta dissertação se insere na temática mais ampla do processo recente de integração da América do Sul, caracterizado pelo fenômeno o regionalismo pós-liberal. O objetivo deste trabalho é analisar os fatores políticos e econômicos que influenciaram a posição brasileira em relação ao regionalismo sul-americano na última década, mais notadamente no período compreendido entre os anos de 2003 e 2010. A tese aqui defendida é de que a ampliação das ações para o desenvolvimento regional, a qual passa por uma mudança no modelo de regionalismo brasileiro, não é fenômeno meramente conjuntural, resultante de fatores materiais (alta dos preços das commodities) ou ideacionais (chegada ao poder da corrente autonomista representada pelo governo do Partido dos Trabalhadores). Trata-se, isto sim, de um novo imperativo político, qual seja, a legitimação do país no continente em um contexto em que as diferenças políticas e econômicas entre o Brasil e seus vizinhos tornam-se cada vez mais gritantes, e pelo qual far-se-á necessária uma ação para a correção das assimetrias estruturais existentes na região, da qual o Brasil será o principal financiador. Nesse sentido, além de descrever quantitativamente a atuação dos principais vetores de atuação do Brasil no âmbito da integração estrutural no continente (IIRSA, BNDES e FOCEM), busca-se realizar uma análise crítica da atuação do país Banco na região, avaliando se, efetivamente, pode-se verificar uma rationale política consistente e direcionada a partir da ação dos referidos instrumentos de política externa.
This work fits into the broader theme of the recent process of South American integration, characterized by the phenomenon of "post -liberal regionalism". The aim of this work is to analyze the political and economic factors that influenced the Brazilian position in relation to the South American regionalism over the last decade, most notably in the period between the years 2003 and 2010. My thesis is that further actions for regional development are not merely a passing phenomenon, resulting from material factors (high commodity prices) or ideational factors (arrival at power of autonomist wing represented by the Workers' Party). It derives, rather, from a new political imperative, namely, the legitimacy of the country in the continent in a context in which political and economic differences between Brazil and its neighbors become increasingly glaring. Such a context would force the country to undertake actions necessary to correct the existing structural asymmetries in the region. In addition to quantitatively describe the performance of the main vectors of Brazil's foreign policy within the field of structural integration (IIRSA, BNDES and FOCEM), we seek to perform a critical analysis of the performance of the country in the region, assessing whether, effectively, it is possible to verify a consistent policy aiming at the correction of such asymmetries. If this policy is effectively verified, we would also try to understand how does it fit into the broader goals of the Brazilian Foreign Policy throughout the period.

This dissertation explores the hermeneutical impasses which have resulted from the recent debates about the theological interpretation of Scripture between revisionist theologian David Tracy and postliberal theologian Hans Frei and suggests that locating the role of Scripture in the economy of redemption would ease many of these methodological tensions. The works of Evangelical theologian Kevin Vanhoozer and Ressourcement theologian Henri de Lubac, it is argued, provide helpful resources for these discussions as these theologians explicitly seek to explain the role of Scripture in mediating the relationship between Christ and the Church. The dissertation suggests that examining the role of Scripture in the context of the economy does provide helpful insights for hermeneutical method as it shows the intrinsic unity between the literal reading of Scripture and Scripture's spiritual interpretation, as well as the intrinsic unity between Scripture and Church in receiving Scriptural mediation. It is concluded that these insights ease ongoing tensions between Frei and Tracy by showing that Frei's insistence on the plain sense of Scripture is compatible with Tracy's insistence on the transformative disclosure of Christ in Scripture.
McAnulty College and Graduate School of Liberal Arts
Theology
PhD
Dissertation

The genre affiliation is a postmodern study: Virtual Reality (VR) becomes a comprehensive concept, in the face of modernism's illusion, when rhetoric validates all discourses. All is VR. The study is in three sections with an overall introduction and conclusion: the first section introduces VR in its postmodern setting, the second section establishes the postmodern timeless/spaceless paradigm of HyperReality in which all Hermeneutics are being done from, the last section draws the paradigm into the Creatio Ex Nihilio discourse of the Scriptures. The proposed theological model is an intratextual theological model, however when YAHWEH precedes language then all discourses become intratextually part of the Biblical discourse. Human creativity is a metaphorical journey; the Fall was the outset of two languages, one in the presence of YAHWEH, while the other one void of this presence led to a nihilistic abstract constellation. Sin in VR is the unbiblical appropriation of this constellation.
Thesis (M.Th.)

The medium is the message in the first place: the medium as presence, as the author. His contribution to the academic world is his academic Holographic Memoirs. His story, the author's memoirs, is a fictive-narrative discourse with an organic ubuntu open-endedness. The Hologram is both an autobiography, but also all the information at all places simultaneously – nonlocal in quantum physical terms - within an intense hallucinating dream: no illusion, but rather a HyperReality with all its Virtual Identities. The invention of tram hopping is the plot of the story. The plot is like an hourglass where the first part of the story is the emptying of the sand, the deconstruction of modernism, but while the top chamber runs empty and the bottom chamber fills up, so the deconstruction is simultaneously a dependent arising/(social) construction/ubuntuing to revival – the synagogal Shekinah presence of YAHWEH. The top chamber is the unreasonable Newtonian physics and the bottom chamber reasonable quantum physics. The metaphysics (before the physics) of the top chamber is poststructuralism and deconstruction, while the bottom chamber is the virtual Hebraic worldview that delutively merges ubuntu and Buddhism. The long narrow neck in the middle is the moonily narrative that lives us with psychology (Psycho-logic) lost in sociology (Social-physics). Hermeneutics is set forth in the same contrasting hourglass of the top chamber, the inherited tradition, emptying to what it should accomplish – (virtual) presence.
Philosophy and Systematic Theology
D. Th. (Systematic Theology)

The medium is the message in the first place: the medium as presence, as the author. His contribution to the academic world is his academic Holographic Memoirs. His story, the author's memoirs, is a fictive-narrative discourse with an organic ubuntu open-endedness. The Hologram is both an autobiography, but also all the information at all places simultaneously – nonlocal in quantum physical terms - within an intense hallucinating dream: no illusion, but rather a HyperReality with all its Virtual Identities. The invention of tram hopping is the plot of the story. The plot is like an hourglass where the first part of the story is the emptying of the sand, the deconstruction of modernism, but while the top chamber runs empty and the bottom chamber fills up, so the deconstruction is simultaneously a dependent arising/(social) construction/ubuntuing to revival – the synagogal Shekinah presence of YAHWEH. The top chamber is the unreasonable Newtonian physics and the bottom chamber reasonable quantum physics. The metaphysics (before the physics) of the top chamber is poststructuralism and deconstruction, while the bottom chamber is the virtual Hebraic worldview that delutively merges ubuntu and Buddhism. The long narrow neck in the middle is the moonily narrative that lives us with psychology (Psycho-logic) lost in sociology (Social-physics). Hermeneutics is set forth in the same contrasting hourglass of the top chamber, the inherited tradition, emptying to what it should accomplish – (virtual) presence.
Philosophy & Systematic Theology
D. Th. (Systematic Theology)