Martin Luther: The Problem with Faith and Reason

by David Andersen, John Warwick Montgomery (Preface by), Paul Helm (Foreword by)

Overview

Luther's critics have consistently charged him as an irrationalist and pessimist concerning reason's capabilities, and even by his followers as a fideist who sees little or no relationship between faith and reason. In this book, David Andersen offers a fresh and timely re-evaluation of Luther and his understanding of the relationship between faith and reason based upon a thorough engagement with Luther's mature writings. Dr. Andersen persuasively argues that, far from being either an irrationalist or a fideist, Luther stands within an empiricist tradition and that his pronouncements on fallen human reason can be understood only from that philosophical perspective. Based upon recent research into the writings of William of Ockham, who positively influenced Luther in this area, Dr. Andersen also shows that Luther can no longer be charged as a pessimist concerning human knowledge. Reason has an important role to play for Luther in bringing one to faith, and the objectivity of Christ's resurrection serves as that focal point that validates all Christian discourse. In subordinating itself to the facts of the death and resurrection of Christ for the forgiveness of sins, reason's created function is restored to some extent as it receives that forgiveness in the words of Holy Scripture and the visible means of Baptism and the Lord's Supper.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781620326008
Publisher:	Wipf & Stock Publishers
Publication date:	09/01/2012
Series:	Christian Philosophy Today , #10
Pages:	196
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

David Andersen holds a Ph.D. in theology from Wycliffe Hall, Oxford/Coventry University and has taught at several American universities. He lives in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Table of Contents

Preface John Warwick Montgomery 9

Foreword Paul Helm 11

Introduction 13

Part 1 Epistemology and Logic

Chapter 1 The Problem in its Historical Context 28

The Christian Era 35

Chapter 2 Luther's Beginning: Eden and the Fall 40

The Garden 40

Reason's Limits 44

The Fall 45

Chapter 3 Luther on Epistemology 49

A Brief Summary of Ockham's Position 52

Luther's Theory of Knowledge 56

Knowledge of God: Faith and Reason 63

Chapter 4 Logic Within Luther's Epistemological Framework 72

The Nature of Logic 73

Logic and Language 77

Summary and Conclusion 82

Part 2 Reason Brought Captive

Chapter 5 Reason and Speculation: Luther's Connection 90

Deus absconditus 92

Chapter 6 Luther's Christology Reexamined 97

The Relevance of Luther's Theology of the Cross 97

Luther's Theological Starting Point 104

The Significance of the Hypostatic Union 107

Three Interrelated Observations 111

Summary 121

Chapter 7 Theoretical Touchstone: Luther on 1 Corinthians 15 124

Chapter 8 Reason Set Within Limits: Luther's Notion of Marks and Signs 133

Impediments to Reason 137

Necessity of Externals 141

Illegitimate Deductions 145

Concluding Remarks 147

Part 3 Faith and Reason

Chapter 9 Luther's Faith/Reason Antithesis: Another Look 150

The Essence of Faith 150

Faith and Reason as Opposites 156

Faith and Reason Engaged in Combat 159

Conclusion 164

Chapter 10 Faith, Logic, and Fideism: Luther's Response 168

Chapter 11 Conclusion 177

Part 4 Secondary Literature: Another Look

Chapter 12 Gerrish's Thesis Revisited 184

Bibliography 191

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

"Luther has long been regarded, both by secular philosophers and by misguided believers, as an irrationalist....A careful reading of Dr. Andersen's book will surely give the lie to all existentialisings of the Reformer. It will also demonstrate that Luther cannot be classified as one who would today replace insistence on clear thinking with post-modern refusals to allow, even in principle, the establishing of objective truth."
—John Warwick Montgomery

"The result of this many-sided approach to the Reformer is a refreshingly positive re-evaluation of Luther's estimate of reason and of the often-reproduced portrait of Luther as fideistic and pessimistic. This new orientation also succeeds in revealing the complexity of Luther's thought, its nuances as well as its tensions, and the fact that he thinks of reason and faith on various levels. Reason is majestic, but it is to be subordinate to the will of God. It is majestic, but it is also fragmented and distorted by the Fall."
—Paul Helm

Editorial Reviews

"Luther has long been regarded, both by secular philosophers and by misguided believers, as an irrationalist....A careful reading of Dr. Andersen's book will surely give the lie to all existentialisings of the Reformer. It will also demonstrate that Luther cannot be classified as one who would today replace insistence on clear thinking with post-modern refusals to allow, even in principle, the establishing of objective truth."
—John Warwick Montgomery

"The result of this many-sided approach to the Reformer is a refreshingly positive re-evaluation of Luther's estimate of reason and of the often-reproduced portrait of Luther as fideistic and pessimistic. This new orientation also succeeds in revealing the complexity of Luther's thought, its nuances as well as its tensions, and the fact that he thinks of reason and faith on various levels. Reason is majestic, but it is to be subordinate to the will of God. It is majestic, but it is also fragmented and distorted by the Fall."
—Paul Helm

From the Publisher