Chapter Nine: Dangers - The Modern European Pedigree
S.1. Preamble
"There is a pervasive nexus of reinforcement running between ... J and European modernity ... (that) has insinuated itself into the interpretation of Paul" (p284).
S.2. Justification as Paradigm
J addresses: (p285( salvation, truth, civil society, punishment and hell( (theodicy) (p286), Christ's death and atonement, assuaging conscience and affirming performance (p287), Law versus Gospel (Judaism), critique of alternatives (p288), growth promoting, universal, sola scriptura.
S.3. Justification as a Widespread Conservative Theological Paradigm
The centre of Gospel is faith (p289); and the centre of Christianity is belief. Billy Graham: Man's Problem, God's Answer, Man's response (p290). Bill Bright (p291).
S.4. Justification as a Widespread Liberal Theological Paradigm
Bultmann: man prior to revelation of faith; man under faith; P1 human will, individuality and ethical nature, law and conscience, natural theology (p292) P2 salvation meritocratic or retributive; righteousness imputed only to the Christian; grace takes place in the event of proclamation; faith is the condition for receiving righteousness (p293). J Paradigmatic because Paul is pivotal and can be read solely in terms of J (p294).
S.5. Justification and Modern Philosophical Individualism
Bultmann liberals lean towards Descartes (p295) whereas conservatives more empirical.
5.1 The Cartesian Tradition and Theological Liberalism: the transfer of epistemology from God to the person, from omniscience to the quest for certainty. Kant built on cogito ergo sum designating the will free; influences Lessing and Schleiermacher (p296). Lessing's "broad and ugly ditch" between the true self and the uncertain world but faith alone operates in the self. Schleiermacher: "The questing self-consciousness of the individual characterised by faith is ... the starting point ... and climax of Christian theology.", elaborated by Bultmann (p297-99).
5.2 The Empiricist Tradition and Theological Conservatism: Hobbes, Locke, Hume, J.S. Mill relating to the mechanical reality of Newton and Laplace, linked with J P1 (p300); truth can be grasped by rational individuals.
S.6. Justification and Liberal Political Individualism (p301)
Locke: possessive individualism; society exists by contract only; religion is private (p302); belief is contractual and God not a tyrant (p303); the powerful metaphor of currency (p304); and J's ethics confined to sexuality incapable of challenging a tyrannical state; where J does not fit with liberalism it offers no resistance (p305). The success of liberalism in the West: American independence and the French Revolution (p306); from J to patriotism to nationalism (p307) (the clash of J non-ethical and liberal state behavioural demands - KC)). Dismisses Weber on Protestantism and capitalism but J and Locke protect capitalists against aristocrats and monarchs )(and socialist - KC)) (p308) ((consider J P1 and Rawls Original Position - KC)) (p209).