A Reformed assessment of George Lindbeck’s ecclesial ethics

Junseop Kim

doi:10.4102/ve.v39i1.1813

Abstract

Lindbeck’s theology can be defined as an ecclesiology. For the ultimate concern in his life and thoughts is an ecclesiastical one. His ecclesial ethics is based on his ecclesiology. It has two aspects: the intra-systematic view of truth and the cultural-linguistic view of religion. From a Reformed viewpoint, it attempts to overcome theological liberals’ universalistic and reductionist tendency by emphasising the particularity of religions. It also focuses on the -intra-textual and performative aspects of Christian ethics. Its notion of incommensurability, however, has difficulty in explaining the continuity between the world of the Bible and the extrabiblical world, and between religions. In contrast, Reformed theology can solve the problem by using the idea of revelatory continuity.Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implication: As a Reformed intradisciplinary assessment on George Lindbeck’s ecclesial ethics, this article maintains that his notion of incommensurability finds it difficult to explain the continuity between the world of the Bible and the extrabiblical world, and between religions, and that a Reformed idea of revelatory continuity can be its solution.

Highlights

Internal evidence indicates that throughout Lindbeck’s life, an ecclesiastical concern has been developing and actively working: his ecclesiastical concern is reflected in all his activities and works
Lindbeck’s cultural-linguistic ecclesial ethics claims that there should be the virtue of mutual respect in intra-Christian relation, based on the principle of convergence, and in interreligious relation, grounded on the concept of incommensurability
In a Reformed view, there exists a revelatory continuity between the world of the Bible and the extrabiblical world

Summary

A Reformed assessment of George Lindbeck’s ecclesial ethics

Read online: Scan this QR code with your smart phone or mobile device to read online. For the ultimate concern in his life and thoughts is an ecclesiastical one His ecclesial ethics is based on his ecclesiology. From a Reformed viewpoint, it attempts to overcome theological liberals’ universalistic and reductionist tendency by emphasising the particularity of religions. It focuses on the intratextual and performative aspects of Christian ethics. Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implication: As a Reformed intradisciplinary assessment on George Lindbeck’s ecclesial ethics, this article maintains that his notion of incommensurability finds it difficult to explain the continuity between the world of the Bible and the extrabiblical world, and between religions, and that a Reformed idea of revelatory continuity can be its solution

Introduction

A Reformed assessment on Lindbeck’s ecclesial ethics4

A Reformed examination of the notion of incommensurability

Conclusion