>I want to come back on the Two Books approach (a responce to Gordie's
>posts will have to wait) - and suggest that the Barthian position is
>one outworking of it. Just as nature is separated from grace in
>"natural philosophy", so grace is separated from nature in "Barthian
>theology". Neither of these approaches do justice to the unity of
>truth, the harmony between God's revelation in nature and God's
>revelation in Christ, nor the scriptural pattern of God's Word coming
>to man in a historical context.
>
Let me suggest that the division between nature and grace is an artifact of
the Fall. In the Garden Adam seems to converse with God naturally --
there's no doubt on his part that God is real and present. After the fall
and banishment, conversation between man and God seems to become the
exception rather than the rule. A few prophets and patriarchs like
Abraham, Moses, etc. converse with God. "Ordinary" men don't -- until New
Testament times. The Fall divided man and God, and perhaps it dividided
the things of God from the things of nature -- in man's perceptions, at
least.
Bill Hamilton | Vehicle Systems Research
GM R&D Center | Warren, MI 48090-9055
810 986 1474 (voice) | 810 986 3003 (FAX)
hamilton@gmr.com (office) | whamilto@mich.com (home)