voices :: clark h. pinnock
Narrative Theology
Theology has been enamored by this rationalist ideal on the (dubious) assumption that people are basically rational beings who need to be appealed to with abstract arguments. This is not only untrue in relation to people, it refuses to take seriously the plain fact that in Christianity truth is in the story. Narratives are not just cute ways of expressing truth that would be better expressed in propositions. Story truth is dynamic in nature and invites us to participate in ways that propositionally oriented theology does not.
Christian theology’s primary task ought to be to explore and proclaim the Christian story, which is what gives meaning to doctrines in the first place. The job of theology is to expound the story and tell us what the meanings are. Doctrines that help us understand the story better are good and true; doctrines that ruin and distort the story are false and harmful.
The truth of the Christian story is symphonic and polyphonic. The interplay of meaning is practically inexhaustible.
|| Clark H. Pinnock, Tracking the Maze: Finding our way through modern theology from an evangelical perspective
What are some examples of doctrines that help vs doctrines that hinder? Thanks! =)
kris anne said this on 5 July, 2008 at 7:39 pm