Hello Howard,
-----Original Message-----
From: Howard J. Van Till [mailto:hvantill@novagate.com]
Sent: Monday, February 25, 2002 4:02 PM
To: Adrian Teo; 'John W Burgeson'
Cc: asa@calvin.edu
Subject: Re: Human origins and doctrine (was Definition of "Species")
>> From: John W Burgeson [mailto:burgytwo@juno.com]
>> Then maybe the "doctrine of original sin" is what needs to be
>> challenged?
>
Adrian replied:
> Perhaps so. However, one may be tempted to take this line of reasoning and
> argue that maybe ANY fundamental doctrines of the faith should also be
> challenged including the Trinity, Christ as man-God, sola Scriptura, etc.
> Where do we draw the line?
Good question, Adrian. Perhaps the line should not be drawn until all
humanly-crafted theological theories (often called "doctrines") have
received the challenging reexamination they deserve.
[AT] Any form of reexamination presupposes some prior "humanly-crafted"
truths. How far back can one go?
Once we recognize these "fundamental doctrines of the faith" as "human best
efforts" offered by historical communities of faith at varying times and in
varying cultural, political and sociological circumstances, they can then be
appreciated, valued, examined, adopted, modified, rejected, or replaced, but
never idolized as the final word or used as a club to beat other good
persons away from the community of those who declare themselves followers of
Christ (Christians).
[AT] I fully agree that one should never apply doctrines in ways that
disrespects the inherent dignity of another person.
Blessings,
Adrian.
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