God and Nature: Retrieving Herman Bavinck's Approach to Natural Theology

Abstract

This dissertation offers a constructive and Christian theological account of the project of natural theology, especially by putting Herman Bavinck in dialogue with contemporary alternatives today. In its methodology, the study aims to further the recent trend in Bavinck studies of moving beyond the “two Bavincks” thesis into an integrated, consistent, and holistic approach to understanding Bavinck’s trajectory, and particularly his mature thought, by taking into account not only the Reformed Dogmatics, but also Christian Science, Christian Worldview, and Philosophy of Revelation, among others. Bavinck’s particular contribution to the doctrine of natural theology is at least threefold. First, Bavinck understands an organic unity between general and special revelation. Second, Bavinck sharply distinguishes general revelation, offering a peculiarly neo-Calvinist account of it, from the “second moment” of natural theology. Third, it will be shown, from the recent and undervalued work of Sudduth, that Bavinck holds to a distinction between the project of natural theology and specific models of natural theology. This work is distinguished especially by its attempt to curate the best of Bavinck studies along with key insights from Herman Bavinck himself all integrated into the ongoing proliferation of natural theologies today. Natural theology functions like a bridge discipline between philosophy and theology. It must be distinguished from metaphysics, since the latter is the study of being as such while the former treats such first principles only as they find their unity in the mind and works of God. Additionally, getting natural theology right remains crucial as it forms at least one substantial part of the theoretical foundation for Christian practice in both the field of apologetics to engage non-Christians in conversation about the faith and political theology, particularly such as in appeals to natural law. In doing natural theology today, older distinctions must be retrieved to maintain biblical fidelity.