Reading the Social Sciences Theologically (Part 1): Approaching and Qualifying Models of Human Development

Abstract

Part 1 of 2. This series of articles seeks to present a viable hermeneutical framework according to which Christian scholars and educators may read social scientific literature with theological clarity. Part 1 establishes the manner in which Christians may profitably approach and qualify social science models of human development. The “principle of inverse consistency,” introduced at the conclusion of this article, is put forth as a conceptual tool for interpreting developmental models with confessional and intellectual virtue.

Keywords

Christian education theology hermeneutics social science human development integration appropriation inverse consistency

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Allison

(2016). The Baker compact dictionary of theological terms. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker.

Augustine of Hippo. (1999). On Christian teaching. Translated by Green

R. P. H.

New York, NY: Oxford University Press.

Augustine of Hippo. (2003). City of God. Translated by Bettenson

Henry

. New York, NY: Penguin.

Bennet

(2011). Modernity and its critics. In Goodwin

R. E.

(Ed.), The Oxford handbook of political science. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Retrieved from https://www.oxfordhandbooks.com/view/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199604456.001.0001/oxfordhb-9780199604456-e-006.

Blamires

(1978). The Christian mind: How should a Christian think? Ann Arbor, MI: Servant Publications.

Calvin

(1977). Institutes of the Christian Religion. Translated by Battles

F. L.

In Library of Christian Classics (vol. 20). Philadelphia, PA: Westminster.

Dumbrell

W. J.

(1984). Covenant and creation: A theology of Old Testament covenants. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson.

Estep

J. R.

(2010). Developmental theories: Foe, friend, or folly? In Estep

J. R.

Kim

J. H.

(Eds.), Christian formation: Integrating theology and human development (pp. 37–62). Nashville, TN: B&H Academic.

Frame

J. M.

(2013). Systematic theology: An introduction to Christian belief. Phillipsburg, PA: P&R.

10.

Gentry

P. J.

Wellum

S. J.

(2012). Kingdom through covenant: A biblical-theological understanding of the covenants. Wheaton, IL: Crossway.

11.

Jennings

W. J.

(2010). The Christian imagination: Theology and the origins of race. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press.

12.

Kronman

A. T.

(2007). Education’s end: Why our colleges and universities have given up on the meaning of life. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press.

13.

Kuyper

(2008). Lectures on Calvinism. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson.

14.

Manicas

P. T.

(1988). A history and philosophy of the social sciences. New York, NY: Basil Blackwell.

15.

Mouw

R. J.

(2001). He shines in all that’s fair: Culture and common grace. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans.

16.

Murray

(1977). Common grace. In The collected writings of John Murray: Systematic theology (vol. 2). Edinburgh: Banner of Truth. Cited in Frame (2013).

17.

Nisbet

R. A.

(2018). Social science. In Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved from https://www.britannica.com/topic/social-science.

18.

Noll

M. A.

(2006). The Christian colleges and American intellectual traditions. In Ringenberg

W. C.

(Ed.), A history of Protestant higher education in America (2nd ed., pp. 17–36). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic.

19.

Noll

M. A.

(2011). Jesus Christ and the life of the mind. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans.

20.

Peterson

(2000). A long obedience in the same direction: Discipleship in an instant society. Downers Grove, IL: IVP.

21.

Piaget

(1970). Genetic epistemology. New York, NY: Columbia University Press.

22.

Plantinga

(1983). Reason and belief in God. In Plantinga

Wolterstorff

(Eds.), Faith and rationality: Reason and belief in God (pp. 16–93). Notre Dame, IN: University of Notre Dame Press.

23.

Poe

H. L.

(2012). The gospel, worldview, and Christian higher education. In Dockery

D. S.

(Ed.), Faith and learning: A handbook for Christian higher education (pp. 73–96). Nashville, TN: B&H Academic.

24.

Polanyi

(1964). Science, faith, and society. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press.

25.

Polanyi

(1974). Personal knowledge: Towards a post-critical philosophy. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press.

26.

Schreiner

T. R.

(2018). The Baker exegetical commentary on the New Testament: Romans (2nd ed.). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker.

27.

Smith

D. I.

Felch

S. M.

(2016). Teaching and Christian imagination. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans.

28.

Smith

J. K. A.

(2013). Imagining the kingdom: How worship works. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker.

29.

Smith

J. K. A.

(2016). You are what you love: The spiritual power of habit. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker.

30.

Vanhoozer

K. J.

(2005). The drama of doctrine. Louisville, KY: WJK Press.