Trauma theory and Reformed theology represent two fields of inquiry that many have proposed entai... more Trauma theory and Reformed theology represent two fields of inquiry that many have proposed entail precommitments that preclude one another. Trauma theory studies and treats the devastating consequences of tragedy, whereas Reformed theology has a reputation for protecting particularly strong God-concepts no matter the psychological toll it takes. Yet, if the two fields of inquiry and their respective knowledge bases are placed into charitable conversation, prompted even to reform one another, then vistas of mutual reinforcement emerge which have not previously been significantly highlighted. This is accomplished through identifying common elements in betrayal trauma theory and the theological notion of covenant, which consequently supply practical pastoral reflection on care for the traumatized with homogenous strategies for healing.
In this paper, I source recent innovations in grief theory to reimagine Christian lament and the ... more In this paper, I source recent innovations in grief theory to reimagine Christian lament and the theological parameters of legitimate grief. John Perrine contributed exegetical insights, adding him as co-author, on pp. 187–192.
Both egalitarian and complementarian positions on gender relations in marriage appeal to the Trin... more Both egalitarian and complementarian positions on gender relations in marriage appeal to the Trinity as evidence for their view, resting on an authority analogy between the Father Son relationship and the husband-wife relationship (whether to establish the existence of authority, or lack thereof, within both Father-Son and husband-wife relationships). The thesis of this article is that the metaphysical statuses of the Trinitarian relations do not serve as evidence for or against either view, because no such analogy exists. The argument contains three elements: (1) a categorical taxonomy with which to classify the various ways one can predicate metaphysical truths of the Trinitarian relations; (2) an evaluation of test arguments for and against the complementarian appeal to the Trinity, made on the basis of the categorical taxon-omy; and (3) the dangers of maintaining an authority analogy between the Trinity and marriage for future work on a theology of gender.
Matt McCormick argues that because a thinking mind must be able to make subject-object distinctio... more Matt McCormick argues that because a thinking mind must be able to make subject-object distinctions with objects outside of itself, and God is everywhere immediately present to all objects (according to a classical conception of omniscience), he cannot truly make this distinction and therefore cannot think. Here, I probe McCormick’s Kantian notions of psychological representations and metaphysics and explore a version of classical theism that may evade his critique.
Trauma theory and Reformed theology represent two fields of inquiry that many have proposed entai... more Trauma theory and Reformed theology represent two fields of inquiry that many have proposed entail precommitments that preclude one another. Trauma theory studies and treats the devastating consequences of tragedy, whereas Reformed theology has a reputation for protecting particularly strong God-concepts no matter the psychological toll it takes. Yet, if the two fields of inquiry and their respective knowledge bases are placed into charitable conversation, prompted even to reform one another, then vistas of mutual reinforcement emerge which have not previously been significantly highlighted. This is accomplished through identifying common elements in betrayal trauma theory and the theological notion of covenant, which consequently supply practical pastoral reflection on care for the traumatized with homogenous strategies for healing.
In this paper, I source recent innovations in grief theory to reimagine Christian lament and the ... more In this paper, I source recent innovations in grief theory to reimagine Christian lament and the theological parameters of legitimate grief. John Perrine contributed exegetical insights, adding him as co-author, on pp. 187–192.
Both egalitarian and complementarian positions on gender relations in marriage appeal to the Trin... more Both egalitarian and complementarian positions on gender relations in marriage appeal to the Trinity as evidence for their view, resting on an authority analogy between the Father Son relationship and the husband-wife relationship (whether to establish the existence of authority, or lack thereof, within both Father-Son and husband-wife relationships). The thesis of this article is that the metaphysical statuses of the Trinitarian relations do not serve as evidence for or against either view, because no such analogy exists. The argument contains three elements: (1) a categorical taxonomy with which to classify the various ways one can predicate metaphysical truths of the Trinitarian relations; (2) an evaluation of test arguments for and against the complementarian appeal to the Trinity, made on the basis of the categorical taxon-omy; and (3) the dangers of maintaining an authority analogy between the Trinity and marriage for future work on a theology of gender.
Matt McCormick argues that because a thinking mind must be able to make subject-object distinctio... more Matt McCormick argues that because a thinking mind must be able to make subject-object distinctions with objects outside of itself, and God is everywhere immediately present to all objects (according to a classical conception of omniscience), he cannot truly make this distinction and therefore cannot think. Here, I probe McCormick’s Kantian notions of psychological representations and metaphysics and explore a version of classical theism that may evade his critique.
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