Episode 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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