An accidental blog

"If God is sovereign, then his lordship must extend over all of life, and it cannot be restricted to the walls of the church or within the Christian orbit." Abraham Kuyper Common Grace 1.1.

Thursday 30 August 2018

Completed concept map of Basden's Dooyeweerd

I have over the last few days posted concept maps taken from my interpretation of Basden's discussion of Dooyeweerd's philosophy from Chapter 3 of his book Foundations of Information Science


To complete the posts here's a black and white version of all the maps put together - click on the image to enlarge it.


Wednesday 29 August 2018

Monday 27 August 2018

Saturday 25 August 2018

Friday 24 August 2018

Thursday 23 August 2018

Wednesday 22 August 2018

Kuyperania 2017 - Koers 83(1)

My review of books and articles on Kuyper published during 2017 is now online at the Koers website.

Bishop, S., 2018. Kuyperania 2017. KOERS — Bulletin for Christian Scholarship, 83(1). Available at: https://doi.org/10.19108/KOERS.83.1.2361

In it I look at the following:


Bartholomew, C.G. 2017. Contours of the Kuyperian Tradition. Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic.
De Brujine, A. 2017. Abraham Kuyper’s surprising love of the Jews. 
Journal of Reformed Theology, 11(1-2):24-46. 
De Jong, J.A. 2017. The heart and soul of Abraham Kuyper: reflections on his meditations. Calvin Theological Journal, 52(1): 37-61.
Douma,  J. 2017. Common Grace in Kuyper, Schilder, and Calvin: Exposition, Comparison, and Evaluation. Lucerna: CRTS Publications.
Eglinton, J. 2017.Varia Americana and race: Kuyper as antagonist and protagonist. Journal of Reformed Theology, 11(1-2): 65-80. 
Henderson, R. 2017a. The development of the principle of distributed authority, or sphere sovereignty. Philosophia Reformata, 82(1):74-79. 
Henderson, R. 2017b. Rumours of glory: Abraham Kuyper’s Neo-Calvinist theory of art, Pro Rege, 45(4):1- 9. Available at: http://digitalcollections.dordt.edu/pro_rege/vol45/iss4/1.
Jeom Ok Kin, Luther. 2017. A. Kuyper’s View of Sphere Sovereignty and the Korean Church: For its Preparation of the Post-Secular Society. Atlanta, GA: Covenant Innovation Pub.
Joustra, R. 2017. Abraham Kuyper among the nations. Politics and Religion, 1-23. 
Kennedy, S. 2017. Review of Pro Rege (volume 1) and Common Grace (volume 1) by Abraham Kuyper. International Journal of Public Theology 11(3): 365-367. 
Kuyper, A. 2017. On Islam: Abraham Kuyper Collected Works in Public Theology. Translated by Jan van Vliet; edited by James D. Bratt with Douglas Howard. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
Kuyper, A. 2017. Pro Rege: Living Under Christ the King: Volume 2. Translated by Albert J. Gootjes; edited by John Kok and Nelson D. Koosterman. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
Liou, J. 2017. Taking up #blacklivesmatter: A neo-Kuyperian engagement with Critical Race Theory. Journal of Reformed Theology, 11(1-2): 99-120. 
Mouw, R.J. 2017. Of pagan festivals and meta-narratives: Recovering the awareness of our shared humanness. Scottish Journal of Theology, 70(3): 251-263.
Pass, B.R. 2017. A shy hope in the heart? Religious journalism in Australia and the Kuyperian legacy. Stellenbosch Theological Journal, 3(1): 327–342.
Van der Velde, A. 2017. Johanna and Henriette Kuyper: Daring to Change their World. Philipsburg, NJ: P&R Publishing.
Van der Jagt, H. 2017. Coffee-colored Calvinists: Neo-Calvinist perspectives on race in the Dutch Colonial Empire. Journal of Reformed Theology, 11(1-2):47-64. 
Van Vliet, J. 2017. Islam according to journalist Abraham Kuyper. Pro Rege, 46(1): 12 - 25.
Wagenman, M. 2017. The Power of the Church: The Ecclesiology of Abraham Kuyper. Independently 
Published. 

Concept maps of Basden on Dooyeweerd (2 of 8) - starting points

Concept map of Basden's description of Dooyeweerd's philosophy: Starting points 


Tuesday 21 August 2018

Concept maps of Basden on Dooyeweerd (1 of 8)

In a previous post, I put up some 'concept' maps of Danie Strauss' Introduction to Dooyeweerd. In the next few days, I'll post concept maps of Andrew Basden's description of Dooyeweerd's philosophy.

The maps are taken from Chapter 3 of Basden's excellent book Foundations of Information Systems.


Thursday 16 August 2018

Recent articles from Glenn Friesen

Glenn Friesen has posted two interesting pieces on his blog:

by
J. Glenn Friesen
©2018

Abstract
Jonathan Chaplin’s analysis of Dooyeweerd’s philosophy is helpful in discussing (1) the state’s role in harmonizing and protecting individual and communal interests within various societal spheres and (2) Dooyeweerd’s ideas of public justice and public interest, which he uses to justify state intervention in other societal organizations. But Chaplin continues a conservative reading of Dooyeweerd. This is due to (a) his misunderstanding of the ideas of individuality structures and enkapsis (b) his misunderstanding of enkaptic relations among institutions, natural communities, organized communities and free associations, (c) a consequent incorrect distinction between internal and external functions of the state and (d) an inadequate discussion of the idea of human rights. Dooyeweerd’s use of enkapsis allows him to develop a view of societal sphere sovereignty very different from that of Abraham Kuyper, and one that allows the intervention of the state in other societal organizations because there is a one-way enkaptic relationship
And:
by Glenn Friesen
©2018

Abstract
Many writers claim to follow reformational principles, but have used these principles in very regressive and reactionary ways to support and to promote the political ideas of the religious right. They have used ideas of religious presuppositionalism, worldview and religious antithesis to argue that those who do not share their own worldview do not know the true facts. They have misused the idea of sphere sovereignty to argue for the minimal state. And they have rejected the idea of human rights and have discriminated against others. This complicity with right wing politics has become clearly evident in their support for the policies of President Trump.

Also, Glenn's piece I've mentioned before is now online: New Research on Groen van Prinsterer and the Idea of Sphere Sovereignty Philosophia Reformata

Tuesday 14 August 2018

Concept map of Dooyeweerd's philosophy - based on Danie Strauss' outline

Danie Straus has written an excellent introduction to Herman Dooyeweerd's Philosophy (2015):

It is available as a pdf here.

I have attempted to summarise it in one concept map (the term is Novak's). Here it is (clicking on the image will enlarge it):


Here's the text outline of the map:


Dooyeweerd's philosophy by DFM Strauss
    1. Herman Dooyeweerd
      1. Dogma of the autonomy of theoretical thought
        1. Human reason
          1. Autonomous
          2. No prior theoretical assumptions
          3. Self-sufficient
      2. Early works
        1. 1920s Struggle for Christian Politics
        2. 1926 Inaugural lecture
          1. Free University
        3. 1931 Crisis in humanistic political theory
        4. 1935-36 NCTT
          1. Science of law
        5. 1917 PhD
      3. Philosophical trends
        1. Orderliness of creation
          1. A theoretical view of reality
            1. Can't be avoided
      4. Alternative approach
        1. Theoretical thought
          1. Theoretical view of reality
            1. Ground motive
              1. Christian scholarship
                1. Christian life and worldview
      5. Transcendental critique
        1. Theoretical thought can't have it's starting point within itself
          1. Then other aspects will be the sole mode of explanation
          2. Must transcend the diversity of all aspects
            1. Needs supra-temporal point of departure
      6. Ground-motives
        1. Communal driving forces
        2. Form-matter
        3. Creation, fall, redemption
        4. Nature-freedom
        5. Nature-grace
    2. Ultimate commitments
      1. Religion
        1. 1. Giving direction to all - life-encompassing
        2. 2. Faith
    3. Basic contours
      1. Creation
        1. Subject to God-given laws
      2. Creator
      3. Theory of Modal law-sphere
        1. Everyday experience
        2. The 'how' question
        3. Subject-object
          1. All function in all aspects
            1. Humans function actively in all aspects
            2. Plants object functions in post-biotic aspects
            3. Animals object functions in post-sensitive aspects
        4. Multi-aspect of humans
        5. Law side
        6. Factual side
          1. Presuppose
            1. Uniqueness
              1. Sphere-sovereignty
            2. Coherence
              1. Sphere universality
              2. Retrocipations 
              3. Anticipations
                1. Opened up through process of meaning disclosure
        7. Faith Ethical Jural Aesthetic Economic Cultural-historic Logical-analytical Sensory Biotic Physical Kinematic Spatial Arithmetical 
          1. Meaning-nucleus
            1. Irreducibility
            2. Indefinability
              1. Primitive terms
            3. Uniqueness
    4. Dimension of ontic time
      1. Time
        1. Embraces all aspects & entities
        2. Law side
          1. Time duration
        3. Factual side
          1. Time order
    5. Dimension of (natural & societal) entities
      1. Entities & events 
        1. Function in all modal aspects
      2. State
        1. Citizens
          1. Quantitative
          2. Alive
            1. Biotic 
        2. Territory
          1. Spatial
        3. Freedom of movement
          1. Kinematic
        4. Power of the sword
          1. Force
        5. Law enforcement
          1. Jural
        6. Tax paying
        7. Sense of belonging- feeling at home
          1. Sensory-psychic
        8. National identity
          1. Logical-analytic
        9. Political parties
          1. Credo
      3. Societies
        1. Differentiated
          1. Qualifying/ guiding functions
        2. Undifferentiated
          1. Extended family
          2. Sib/ clan
    6. Legacy of reformational philosophy
      1. Foundation for Reformational philosophy
        1. 5 yearly conferences
      2. Scholars
        1. Physics
          1. Stafleu
        2. Maths
          1. Strauss
        3. Biology
          1. Diemer
          2. Duyvene De Wit
        4. Linguistics
          1. Weideman
        5. Economic
          1. Goudzwaard
        6. Law
          1. Hommes
        7. Politics
          1. Koyzis
          2. Chaplin
        8. Theology
          1. Ouweneel
          2. Troost
      3. Universities
        1. Special chairs in the Netherlands
      4. Dooyeweerd's collected works
        1. Published
        2. Translated




Here are the sections from the complete map:






Monday 13 August 2018

Concept mapping

Concept mapping was developed by Joseph Novak. In this biographical video clip he discusses some uses of concept maps:




And here's a concept map of a concept map:


David Ceri Jones (2015) Ch 6: conclusion


Friday 10 August 2018

David Ceri Jones (2105) Ch 3: A Glorious Morn

Hugh Williams' painting Y Sasiwn Gyntaf - the first Joint Association of English and Welsh Calvinistic Methodism, Watford, nr Caerphilly (1943):






Thursday 9 August 2018

Wednesday 8 August 2018

David Ceri Jones (2015) Chapter 1




The map for chapter 1 got rather large - so I've had to chop it up into section (click on the maps to enlarge)





















Tuesday 7 August 2018

David Ceri Jones (2015) Prologue

I've recently been rereading David Ceri Jones' book on the Evangelical Revival, The Fire Divine (IVP, 2015). As I've done so, I've drawn out a few concept maps - over the next few days I'll post them.



Here's the first one from the prologue: