Reformed Forum
This week on Theology Simply Profound, Rob and Bob discuss Louis Berkhof’s little book, Summary of Christian Doctrine. We begin a discussion of chapter XXIII, "The Doctrine of the Church and the Means of Grace." We'll spend a few episodes discussing this chapter to dig a little deeper into the nature of the church.
info_outline Tim Scheuers | Consciences and the ReformationReformed Forum
In this enlightening episode, we discuss the nuances of conscience and confessional identity during the Reformation. Joined by Dr. Timothy Scheuers, we turn our attention to the transformative period of the 16th century, exploring how conscience acted not only as a catalyst for reform but also as a complex element influencing church unity, confessional standards, and the intricate relationship between church and state. The core of our discussion centers around Dr. Scheuer’s book, (Oxford University Press), providing a fresh perspective on the role of conscience in driving forward the...
info_outline Summary of Christian Doctrine: Sanctification and PerseveranceReformed Forum
This week on Theology Simply Profound, Rob and Bob discuss Louis Berkhof’s little book, Summary of Christian Doctrine. We turn to chapter XXII, "Sanctification and Perseverance." After too long of a break from recording, Rob and Bob were able to sit down together to discuss God's work of sanctifying his people, the nature of good works, and how God's people persevere to the end.
info_outline A Devotional Guide to the Westminster Shorter CatechismReformed Forum
In this episode, we speak with William Boekestein, Jonathan Landry Cruse, and Andrew J. Miller, the authors behind a new book, . These three pastors and theologians share their insights and experiences from their journey through the Westminster Shorter Catechism, offering listeners a unique opportunity to understand the profound theological truths encapsulated in this historic summary of faith. William Boekestein, serving the Immanuel Fellowship Church in Kalamazoo, Michigan, alongside his wife Amy and their four children, brings a pastoral heart to our discussion. Jonathan Landry Cruse,...
info_outline Missions and the Gospel of God: Romans 1:8–15 and the Power of PreachingReformed Forum
Dr. James Cassidy speaks at the Reformed Forum pre-conference in advance of the Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary 2024 Spring Theology Conference.
info_outline To the Ends of the Earth: The Great Commission and God's Plan for the NationsReformed Forum
Camden Bucey presents a biblical theology of the nations during the Reformed Forum pre-conference in advance of the Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary 2024 Spring Theology Conference.
info_outline Life in the Negative WorldReformed Forum
In this episode, we welcome Aaron Renn, author of , to explore the profound shifts in cultural attitudes towards Christianity and the broader implications for faith in the modern era. Renn, with a diverse background ranging from management and technology consulting as a Partner at Accenture, to urban policy as a Senior Fellow at the Manhattan Institute for Policy Research, and now a Senior Fellow at American Reformer, brings a unique perspective to the discussion. His extensive work has been featured in globally recognized publications such as The Guardian, The Wall Street Journal, and The...
info_outline Strange, Willborn, Hart, and Cline — Panel Discussion on Empowered WitnessReformed Forum
Reformed Forum hosted an online symposium on February 29, 2024, featuring a series of thought-provoking sessions designed to explore the intersections of theology, history, and the contemporary challenges facing the church. This panel discussion featured Alan Strange’s insightful book, Empowered Witness (Crossway). The session examined Strange's exploration of the spirituality of the church doctrine, a pivotal biblical concept developed in the nineteenth century, and its relevance in today's politically charged environment. Emphasizing the necessity for the church to prioritize its...
info_outline Owen Anderson — Old Princeton and SecularismReformed Forum
Reformed Forum hosted an online symposium on February 29, 2024, featuring a series of thought-provoking sessions designed to explore the intersections of theology, history, and the contemporary challenges facing the church. In this session Owen Anderson explored the phenomenon of secularization, particularly focusing on the transformative changes that took place at Princeton Seminary and within Presbyterian education. Following Dr. Anderson's presentation, we entertained questions from viewers who submitted questions in our online chat. This discussion was especially timely in light of a...
info_outline Joseph Minich — Bulwarks of UnbeliefReformed Forum
Reformed Forum hosted an online symposium on February 29, 2024, featuring a series of thought-provoking sessions designed to explore the intersections of theology, history, and the contemporary challenges facing the church. In this session, Joseph Minich presented the primary thesis of his book, Bulwarks of Unbelief (Lexham Press), in which he argues that a felt absence of God, as experienced by the modern individual, offers a better explanation for the rise in atheism. Recent technological and cultural shifts in the modern West have produced a perceived challenge to God's existence. As modern...
info_outline
Jeff Waddington, Glen Clary, and Lane Tipton speak with Camden Bucey about his book, Karl Rahner, and contemporary issues regarding Rahner, modern Roman Catholicism, and contemporary theology.
Arguably the most influential Catholic theologian of the twentieth century, Karl Rahner (1904–1984) developed a theology that has influenced much of post-Vatican II Catholicism and its modern inclusivist approach to missions.
Despite his impact, little has been written on Rahner from a Reformed perspective. In this introduction and critique, Camden Bucey guides readers to an understanding of Rahner’s theology as a whole. Beginning with Rahner’s trinitarian theology, he moves through each of the traditional departments of theology to show how Rahner developed one basic idea from beginning to end.
Rahner set out to explain how God communicates himself to humanity, whom he created specifically for the purpose of fellowship with him. Once we trace this thread, we gain a deeper understanding of his thought and its reach today.
Buy the Book
Endorsements for the Book
“If you want to understand present-day Roman Catholicism, you must come to terms with Vatican II (1962–65). Everything that Rome now teaches and does is filtered through it. But if you want to understand Vatican II itself, you need to know about Karl Rahner. . . . Part of the confused and naive attitude of contemporary evangelicals toward Rome depends on the lack of awareness of both Vatican II and Karl Rahner. This lucid book is a helpful introduction to this seminal Roman Catholic theologian whose language contains all the key Christian words (e.g., Trinity, Christ, humanity), but whose meaning is significantly different from that of straightforward biblical teaching. It is time that Reformed theologians do their homework in grasping what is at stake with contemporary Roman Catholicism.”
—Leonardo De Chirico, Pastor, Breccia di Roma; Lecturer, Historical Theology, IFED, Padova, Italy; Director, Reformanda Initiative
“Roman Catholic apologists often boast about their church’s antiquity but seldom mention modern Roman Catholic theology, which often sounds as modern as liberal Protestantism. Karl Rahner, one of the most influential Roman Catholic theologians of the twentieth century, whose prominence was evident at the Second Vatican Council, is one of the best examples of Roman Catholicism’s modernity. Camden Bucey’s fair-minded and careful assessment of Rahner’s theology is valuable in itself, but doubly so for anyone wanting an introduction to modern Roman Catholicism’s own contribution to liberal Christian theology.”
—D. G. Hart, Distinguished Associate Professor of History, Hillsdale College
“Though Karl Rahner is among the most significant Roman Catholic theologians of the twentieth century, he is little known (and seldom read) by evangelical and Reformed theologians. Camden Bucey’s fine study offers an excellent summary of Rahner’s Trinitarian theology that promises to redress this problem. He not only provides a helpful explanation of Rahner’s well-known Trinitarian axiom (‘the “economic” Trinity is the “immanent” Trinity’), but also locates it within the broader context of Rahner’s anthropocentric theology. While Bucey critically engages Rahner’s theology from a Reformed perspective, he does so throughout in a careful, irenic, and constructive fashion.”
—Cornelis P. Venema, President and Professor of Doctrinal Studies, Mid-America Reformed Seminary