Faith, Form and Fashion, (Cascade Books, Wipf and Stock)
This is a detailed examination of the theological innovations of
Kevin Vanhoozer and John Franke. Each proposes that doctrinal and
systematic theology should be re-cast in the light of postmodernity. No longer
can Christian theology be foundational, or have a stable metaphysical
and epistemological framework. Vanhoozer advocates a theo-dramatic reconstruction of Christian doctrine, replacing the timeless
propositions of the “purely cerebral theology” of the Reformed tradition in
favour of a theology that does justice to the polyphony of multiple biblical
genres. Franke holds that theology is part of a three-way conversation
between Scripture, tradition, and culture,
with an uncertain outcome.
This study shows that each of these proposals is based on
misunderstanding and exaggeration, and that the case against foundationalism is unclear and unpersuasive. It is argued that Vanhoozer’s appeal to
revelation as divine speech-acts is not as radical as he thinks, and his
epistemology is weak. In the hands of postmodernity, Christian theology abandons its exactness and the standards of care that are a notable feature of doctrinal constructions.
