Listening and Learning
“In my article on Berkouwer in New 20th Century Encyclopaedia of Religious Knowledge, I draw attention to Berkouwer's refusal to accept "simplistic either-or's ... in which the fulness of truth is torn apart".
Gerrit Cornelis Berkouwer (1903-1996), Dutch theologian. He studied at the Christian Gymnasium and at the Free University of Amsterdam, obtaining a doctorate there in 1932. As pastor in the Gereformeerde Kerken (1927–45), he served in Oudehorne and Amsterdam. Also lecturer in modern theology at the Free University of Amsterdam (1940–45), he became professor of systematic theology there in 1945 and continued until his retirement in 1973. He was an observer at Vatican Council II (1962) and a member of the Royal Academy of the Sciences. His Studies in Dogmatics (14 vols., 1952–76) have earned high praise. The importance of Berkouwer lies in his refusal to accept "simplistic either-or’s … in which the fulness of truth is torn apart” (A Half Century of Theology, 208) and his “conviction that theology, if it is to be meaningful … had to be a theology directed to the pulpit” (L. B. Smedes). Other significant works include The Triumph of Grace in the Theology of Karl Barth (1956), The Second Vatican Council and the New Catholicism (1965), and A Half Century of Theology (1977).
- From Biographical Entries from New 20th-Century Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge
Here's the passage I mentioned in that short biographical article:
"Dilemmas always are a source of polarization. we quickly go over to simplistic either-or's ... in which the fulness of truth is torn apart. And in the atmosphere of false polarities, we often stop listening to each other and lose our ability to understand each other's words. With this, irritation and pique poison the theological discussion. But it is striking and, at the same time, reassuring that the clear intent of the gospel comes through even in the midst of theological polarization, especially when all the parties intend to be faithful to the gospel." (A Half Century of Theology, p. 208).
This quotation provides the central theme of my own work on Berkouwer - "The Problem of Polarization: An Approach based on the Writings of G C Berkouwer."”
Charles C started this discussion 12 months ago. ( )
