Paths Not Taken: Fates Of Theology From Luther Through Leibniz

Book Summary

Martin Luther was unquestionably a defining theologian for Christianity and the church. But did his legacy unfold in the way he would have hoped or expected? Paul R. Hinlicky here suggests that to the detriment of the church as a whole it did not. He analyzes here the unhappy fate of theology in the tradition of Luther via a pivotal figure of the early modern theological philosopher Gottfried Leibniz. Through this lens, Hinlicky argues, we can see that the twofold intention of reforming the Church according to the gospel and providing a Christian philosophy of culture for a renewed Christendom diverged along the way. This divergence is the real meaning of contemporary postmodernism. / Hinlicky begins with a consideration of Jeffrey Stouts description of the state of theology since Barth, on the horns of the dilemma between the loss of theme and the loss of audience. He follows with an exploration of the theologies and thoughts of several key thinkers, including Kant, Spinoza, Melanchthon, and especially Barth. Throughout, Hinlicky focuses on the pivotal role of Leibniz and how his interpretations have affected not only our view of Luther, but also our understanding of theology and theodicy as a whole. In his conclusion, Hinlicky acknowledges several questions left unanswered and offers possible solutions. Finally, he uses the work of three contemporary representatives of theology in Luthers tradition Pannenberg, Jngel, and Jenson and suggests the path to be taken by Christian theology in order to regain our footing on the path Luther charted after Christendom.

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