July 27, 2010

Reformed doctrine of predestination - Boettner - XVI - Chapters 25 & 26

Required reading
Reformed Doctrine of Predestination by Loraine Boettner (Available from Amazon or free on the internet, here for example).  Read Chapter 25 (Predestination in the physical world) and 26 (A comparison with the Mohammedan doctrine of predestination).

My summary
In Chapter 25 we see that the uniformity of the natural law teaches an absolute determinism: 'This has not only been admitted but dogmatically held and asserted by many of the greatest scientists.The atoms follow their exactly prescribed courses.The material objects we handle are governed by fixed laws.If we have accurate knowledge of all the factors involved, we can determine exactly what will be the effect of a falling stone, an explosion, or an earthquake.The telescope reveals to us millions of distant fiery suns, each of which follows an exact, predetermined course, and their positions can be predicted for thousands of years to come.'

Then in Chapter 26 we note the similarities and the differences between Calvinism and Islam.  They agree on a strict predestination, but in Islam there is a tendency toward fatalism as 'the idea that man is in any way the cause of his own acts has nearly ceased to exist.'

What grabbed me
I enjoyed the chapter on predestination in the physical world: 'And what is Mendel's law but Predestination in the realm of Genetics? The tendency is strongly against the free and the contingent. The Universe is conceived of as one systematic whole, interrelated in all of its parts, and following a very definite, prearranged course. With a different nomenclature and a different idea of the supernatural, the foremost modern scientists and philosophers hold the Calvinistic view in regard to the world as a unit.'

If I wasn't a Christian I certainly would have to be a determinist and believe that there is no free-will in man.  The reason we think that we have freedom is because we simply don't know all the variables that are influencing us at any given moment to do what we end up doing.

Therefore predestination is a logical concept revealed in general revelation.  It is the responsibility of man as revealed in special revelation that turns the concept into a paradox.

Next week's reading
Commence Chapter 27 (Practical importance of the doctrine) by reading points 1 to 6.


Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.

2 comments:

CJ said...

It would be interesting to research the effect Calvinism and the Puritan world-view had on the development of modern (to Boettner) science. "The Calvinistic world- and life- view, which so emphasizes the fixity and certainty of the course of events is thus in striking harmony with modern Science and Philosophy"

And in contrast what effect Arminianism has had on modern (to us) science which seem to have drifted away from the certainty of the last century into chaos and randomness.

Joel Radford said...

CJ, I've been trying to think of whether anyone has done that kind of research before and haven't come up with much.

One of the other members of the club (Margo, also known affectionately to me as 'Mum') suggested Chapter 7 'The Rise of Modern Science' in 'How should we then live?' by Francis Schaeffer.

Schaeffer is helpful but speaks of Christianity generally affecting science, but not the distinction between Calvinism and Arminianism which you were considering.

Let us know if you find anything.