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

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What is The Reformed Libertarians Podcast?

The Reformed Libertarians Podcast aims to educate and inspire listeners to intelligently embrace and passionately promote a view of libertarianism as grounded in the Reformed Faith, and informed by a Reformed worldview.

Exploring free society from a Reformed perspective, hosts Kerry Baldwin and Gregory Baus discuss culture, society, politics, economics, theology, philosophy, worldview, and more. Follow the show at reformedlibertarians.com and discover how to think about liberty and human flourishing based in the Reformed Faith.