Ep. 21: Two Kingdoms and Christian Cultural Activity

A discussion of a Reformed Two Kingdoms view, and the possibility of a distinctively Christian view of the believer’s cultural activity according to an orthodox Neo-Calvinism, in contrast with a Scholastic view. Key points from episodes 4 and 19 are summarized, and the Two Kingdoms view being addressed is described. The use of the term Scholasticism is explained against an objection. And a key difference between Neo-Calvinism and a Scholasticized view is variously illustrated.

https://reformedlibertarians.com/021

Main Points of Discussion

00:00 Introduction

00:32 Episode description

02:08 Key points from episode 4 on Christian cultural activity

07:09 Key points from episode 19 on religious non-neutrality

09:23 Reformed Two Kingdoms distinctions

13:41 The views of David VanDrunen

18:43 The term Scholasticism as modified Aristotelianism

24:04 Reiteration of key difference between Neo-Calvinist and Scholastic views

25:58 More about VanDrunen’s views

27:52 Religious views of a saltshaker

32:43 The question of logical norms

34:54 Similar to interpreting Scripture

36:20 Religious views of limited civil governance

40:35 Conclusion

  *Usually we catch these things, but Gregory didn't catch his mispronunciation of philological til later.

Additional Resources

• Episode 4: How Should Christians View Culture and What Are Some Mistaken Views?
  https://reformedlibertarians.com/004 

• Episode 19: The Myth Of Religious Neutrality
  https://reformedlibertarians.com/019 

• See David VanDrunen’s more scholarly book Natural Law and the Two Kingdoms (2009)
  https://www.amazon.com/dp/0802864430/
  and his more popular-level book Living in God’s Two Kingdoms (2010)
  https://www.amazon.com/dp/1433514044/ 

• “Five Versions Of Two Kingdoms and Foundations For Christian Cultural Activity” by Gregory Baus
  https://reformedlibertarians.com/five-versions-of-two-kingdoms-and-foundations-for-christian-cultural-activity/ 

• Info on Meredith G. Kline
  https://meredithkline.com/
  Especially see Kline's book Kingdom Prologue (1993)
  https://www.amazon.com/dp/1597525642/ 

• Michael Beck’s book Covenant Lord and Cultic Boundary (2023)
  https://www.amazon.com/dp/1666737577/ 

• The Catholic Encyclopedia (1912) entry on “Scholasticism”
  https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/13548a.htm 

• See the first two chapters (93 pages) of Herman Dooyeweerd’s Reformation And Scholasticism In Philosophy, Volume 2 (1950) for historical background on the development of Neo-Calvinism and its criticism of Scholastic views.
  https://vcho.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Reformation-and-Scholasticism-in-Philosophy-A-Vol-5-2.pdf#page=25 

• For example of a non-Christian’s view of limited civil governance from creational revelation, see Murray Rothbard’s For A New Liberty (1973)
  https://mises.org/library/book/new-liberty-libertarian-manifesto
  and Ethics Of Liberty (1982) audio: https://mises.org/library/book/ethics-liberty
  text: https://cdn.mises.org/The%20Ethics%20of%20Liberty%2020191108.pdf 

 The Reformed Libertarians Podcast is a project of the Libertarian Christian Institute: https://libertarianchristians.com and a member of the Christians for Liberty Network: https://christiansforliberty.net

Audio Production by Podsworth Media - https://podsworth.com