The Aristotelian paradigm shift with the neo-generation SDA's
by koot van wyk (DLitt et Phil; ThD) Kyungpook National University Department of Liberal Education Sangju Campus South Korea conjoint lecturer of Avondale College Australia
By the time of
Phillip Melanchton, humanism had developed to the point of being an idealist
model and its function was seen as the studia humanitis. For him humanism remained vibrant and autonomous (see the article
by Riemer Faber "The Humanism of Melanchton and of Calvin" in Melanchton-Schriften
der Stadt Bretten eds. Gunter Frank and Johanna Loehr 9 [Cannstatt:
Stuttgart-Bad, 2005]: 25, available online). Calvin consciously
subordinated humanism to revelation. For Melanchton the
interaction between faith and culture did not presuppose a subordination but
for Calvin the interaction between faith and culture makes subordination a
prerequisite. For Melanchton
independent critical analysis was fine but for Calvin the process was
subordinate to the norm of scripture. Calvin consciously
absorbed humanism into his theological system. Melanchton wanted
to restore humanism or the study of it by developing a universal system of
which disciplines can be juxtaposed or placed next to each other. What we have here between
these two scholars is the revival of Aristotelian methods by Melanchton and the
more Platonic concepts of the protestant theology of Calvin. Aristoteles points
with his finger down indicating that reality is on earth and now and Plato
points with his finger up indicating that reality is outside our domain above. For Plato reality
will lie in the idealism but for Aristotle reality will lie in existence. For Melanchton
culture will have something to offer and should always be respected for that
contribution and for Calvin culture can only be tolerated as long as revelation
has given the "green light" for it. The new generation
of Seventh Day Adventists are Aristotelian Humanists who considers culture as
an excellent message carrier that can push the Bible aside to a secondary or
zero position and make experience of popular culture a way-station for a
message about God. The message or content about God comes out very thin and in
a minimalist way. It is sometimes overshadowed by the drums, the hand-waving,
the amens, the hallelujas, the rhythm, the electrical guitars or organs, the
amplifiers, the movie clips and video clips and drama appeals. All these aspects
are considered by these young Aristotelian SDA's as kosher without any
consultation as to whether the Bible or Spirit of Prophecy approves of it or
not. All previous
generations so far has, like Calvin and unlike Melanchton, subordinated the
culture to faith. Ellen White did, the pioneers did, all members of the Seventh
Day Adventist church did, but lately, a laxity to study the Bible and Spirit of
Prophecy has created a willingness to experiment with this paradigm shift from
platonic Calvinism, subordinating pop-culture to the Word of God for an aristotelian
Melanchtonism, juxtaposing popculture and theology as on the same and equal
level. Juxtaposing other
sciences, arts (music, drama, dancing, films, video, CD, fashion, lights,
decor, audio) with theology, and placing a higher premium on these other
sciences than on theology, it is almost a natural development for the whole
world. Regular TV
watching, movie watching, video watching, CD listening, Tape listening, drama
watching, fashion interests) will create "idols" that will be seen as
models to emulate. Emulation of
famous, beauty, smart, wealthy, physically sports-like, becomes a subconscious
desire in the Seventh Day Adventist member's mind that calls for allowing
similar surprises and "theology by glands" to work also in the
church. Since the singer
reminds them of someone they saw on TV or in a historical drama, the "gate
keepers" in the local churches are swept away with permissiveness. By the time they
wake up, the paradigm shift is a reality that cannot be stopped. The problem in the
time of Elijah the prophet was that Israel did exactly the same. They
intermarried with Phoenicians and thus could not see any longer a problem
between faith and Phoenician culture. Eventually they
even allowed a few hundred Baal priests to operate in the country since
"all cultures are equal" and with a romantic view of culture,
"all are useful and beneficial". On mount Carmel the opposite was
illustrated for us. Canaanitism was the
same process of inculturation. What is happening with some of the youth in the
Adventist church is that popular inculturation is taking place. That is why we
have places like Weimar College and similar 'wilderness schools of the
prophets'. They try to escape the inculturation process of popular culture and
maintain the supremacy of the Word of God for all decisions regarding
lifestyle. It is not only
Seventh Day Adventism that is suffering from this paradigm shift, also Judaism
is suffering from it. In a very
insightful interview with Felix Rosen in the Jerusalem Post of 13th of
August 2009 " One on One with Felix Posen: Secular scholarship" by
Ruthie Blum Leibowitz, we learn that this soul emigrated to the USA and
literally "lost" his Judaism in the process. "I no longer celebrate Yom Kippur or attend Kol Nidre. However,
I have extracted from the prayers some things that are completely secular - for
instance, the part about the sins we've committed. Nearly all - except five -
are secular sins. If one feels like it, one can take those prayers and think
about what one has or has not done over the course of the year, to be an
ethically correct or incorrect person. But if you don't know the prayers, you
don't do that. You go bike riding. In the Diaspora, those who don't know
anything don't even go bike riding. They basically do nothing. And people who
know little mix things up, like those who eat ham on matza during Pessah. So, I ask myself: If you do not practice religion, what is left in
Judaism? Why bother to call yourself a Jew? And that's how the whole concept of
teaching Judaism as a culture got started." Rosen is not shy to
call himself a secular Jew and that practices secular Judaism. What are we going
to call or do with our pro-Aristotelian humanists who are eager to so-called
"revive" or "reform" the Seventh Day Adventist church,
separate from the Word of God?
End item.