‘Why Christianity?’: An Analysis of Radical Orthodoxy’s Preference for Christian Theology over Platonism/Neoplatonism

Authors

  • Kornelius Lumbanbatu Sekolah Tinggi Filsafat Theologi Jakarta, Indonesia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.29357/2789-1577.2024.22.1.4

Keywords:

Christian theology, participation, Platonism, Radical Orthodoxy, Ralph Cudworth, secular reason

Abstract

This paper contributes to the scholarly discussion on Radical Orthodoxy by analyzing its retrieval of Christianity. Such analysis will be grounded in two questions, each concerning reasons underlying the Radically Orthodox theologians’ usage of Christian theology despite their dependence on the Platonic notion of participation (μέθεξις) and the validity of the movement’s position if its proponents were to lean instead on Platonism/Neoplatonism. To answer these questions, the author formulates a two-fold explanation constructed through library research. The first part investigates the Radically Orthodox theologians’ argumentation for using Christian theology as shown in the work of John Milbank and Conor Cunningham. The second part evaluates a hypothetical case in which Ralph Cudworth, the Cambridge Platonist with whom the Radically Orthodox theologians claim resonance, were to argue for Radical Orthodoxy’s antisecular agenda.

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Published

2024-08-13

How to Cite

Lumbanbatu, Kornelius. 2024. “‘Why Christianity?’: An Analysis of Radical Orthodoxy’s Preference for Christian Theology over Platonism/Neoplatonism:”. Theological Reflections: Eastern European Journal of Theology 22 (1):65-80. https://doi.org/10.29357/2789-1577.2024.22.1.4.

Issue

Vol. 22 No. 1 (2024): Theological Reflections: Eastern European Journal of Theology

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