116 research outputs found
The Incarnation
No full textThis book gathers together essays, published and unpublished, in which Brian Hebblethwaite explores and defends the Christian doctrine of the Incarnation against its modern critics. He shows what would be lost from the Christian religion if non-incarnational Christology (a way of understanding Jesus Christ without belief in his divinity) were to be adopted by the Christian churches. He begins by examining some of the problems raised by this challenge to traditional doctrine, then considers the contribution of Austin Farrer to Christology, and goes on to analyse the recent trend towards Unitarianism in contemporary theology. In a new, concluding essay, Canon Hebblethwaite answers criticisms of his contribution to the current debate on the Incarnation.</jats:p
The Ocean of Truth
No full textThis short 1988 book offers an alternative reading of the impact of modernity on Christian faith to that advanced by Don Cupitt in the TV series and book The Sea of Faith. It is a spirited defence of belief in the objective reality of God and in life after death, as opposed to Cupitt's radically interiorised and expressivist conception of religion. As attractive as many may find a denial of the traditional doctrines of the Church in favour of an anti-metaphysical, non-dogmatic expressivist version of Christian faith, Hebblethwaite insists that of greater importance is the question of truth at stake here, and it is on the question of truth that he focusses his attention. After arguing against Cupitt's response to the modern situation, the author tries to show how belief in an objective God is not only possible despite the impact of modern science and historical criticism, but indeed highly plausible.</jats:p
Truth, religious dialogue, and dynamic orthodoxy essays in honour of Brian Hebblethwaite
No full textMultiple Incarnations
No full textIn the recent literature Brian Hebblethwaite has argued against St Thomas Aquinas that multiple incarnations are metaphysically impossible. In this paper I show that Hebblethwaite is mistaken and that multiple incarnations are metaphysically possible, although there may be good reasons why God ensures there is only one actual incarnation.In the recent literature Brian Hebblethwaite has argued against St Thomas Aquinas that multiple incarnations are metaphysically impossible. In this paper I show that Hebblethwaite is mistaken and that multiple incarnations are metaphysically possible, although there may be good reasons why God ensures there is only one actual incarnation
The Philosophical frontiers of Christian theology : essays presented to D.M. MacKinnon /
No full text"Donald MacKinnon's published writings, 1937-1980" / compiled by Paul Wignall: p. 239-248.Includes index.The borderlands of ontology in the New Testament / C.F.D. Moule -- Athens and Jerusalem / G.W.H. Lampe -- The concept of mind and the concept of God in the Christian fathers / Christopher Stead -- Kant and the negative theology / Don Cupitt -- Ideology, metaphor, and analogy / Nicholas Lash -- Theological study / S.W. Sykes -- Optimism, finitude, and the meaning of life / R.W. Hepburn -- Practical necessity / Bernard Williams -- Religion, ethics, and action / Stewart Sutherland -- Theological realism / T.F. Torrance -- Notes on analogical predication, and speaking about God / Roger White -- 'True' and 'false' in Christology / Brian Hebblethwaite
'Solved by sacrifice' : Austin Farrer, fideism, and the evidence of faith
No full textCHAPTER ONE: A perennial (if controversial) concern in both theology and philosophy of religion is whether religious belief is ‘reasonable’. Austin Farrer (1904-1968) is widely thought to affirm a positive answer to this concern. Chapter One surveys three interpretations of Farrer on ‘the believer’s reasons’ and thus sets the stage for our investigation into the development of his religious epistemology. CHAPTER TWO: The disputed question of whether Farrer became ‘a sort of fideist’ is complicated by the many definitions of fideism. Chapter Two thus sorts through these issues so that when ‘fideism’ appears in subsequent chapters a precise range of meanings can be given to it, and the ‘sort of fideist’ Farrer may have become can be determined more accurately. CHAPTER THREE: Although Farrer’s constant goal was to develop ‘a viable and sophisticated natural theology,’ an early moment of philosophical illumination involved recognising the limits of reason. Chapter Three begins with a sketch of Farrer’s life, looks at his undergraduate correspondence where some ‘fideistic’ themes are first articulated, and then focuses on his classic text of ‘rational theology,’ *Finite and Infinite* (1943). CHAPTER FOUR: In subsequent years, Farrer became increasingly open to placing a greater emphasis on faith. And yet, he continued to press the question: ‘Can reasonable minds still think theologically?’ Chapter Four argues that, stimulated by Diogenes Allen’s doctoral dissertation and citing it explicitly, Farrer’s *Faith and Speculation* (1967) attempts to blend Allen’s more fideistic position with a continuing concern for legitimate philosophical critique. CHAPTER FIVE: The fifth chapter evaluates the significance of Farrer’s final position in the context of contemporary religious epistemology and the current wide-spread interest in spirituality. In conclusion, Farrer finally seems to locate theistic evidence not primarily in nature or reason, but in holy lives and our own attempts to live by faith: ‘It is solved by sacrifice.
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