The Amsterdam Philosophy: A Preliminary Critique
Overview
This booklet was published in the midst of theological warfare. Representatives of the Amsterdam philosophy (Herman Dooyeweerd and others) were taking a militant stance against traditional Reformed theology, and the controversy created partisan battles on the campus of Westminster Theological Seminary, where Frame was a young professor. It also threatened to split churches, Christian schools, and other Christian organizations. As a member of a committee of the Ohio Presbytery of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, Frame was asked to write a brief study of the movement. This booklet is the result.
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- Provides an introduction to the ideas behind the Amsterdam Philosophy movement
- Examines the opinions of the movement on assorted topics, academic and theological
- Background
- The Appeal of the Movement
- Summary of Our Critique
- Common Sense and Science
- Science and Time
- The Basic Structure
- Law
- Scripture and the Word of God
- Philosophy and Theology
- Science
- Education
- Church and Society
- Evangelism
- Apologetics
- Conclusions
Top Highlights
“Thus we need Christian philosophers and Christian scientists, if our understanding of God’s world is to be true in the deepest sense.” (Page 7)
“Unbelieving scientists and philosophers strive in vain comprehensively to understand God’s world.” (Page 7)
“attempted to develop a philosophical system on a radically biblical, radically Christian basis” (Page 4)
“All of life, therefore, not just formal worship, is ‘religion’—service to God” (Page 6)
“May a Christian school adopt an ecclesiastical confession as its basis? Is the Bible reliable when it speaks on matters of science? Does evangelism include the restructuring of social institutions?” (Page 6)
John M. Frame (MDiv, Westminster Theological Seminary, MPhil, Yale University, DD, Belhaven College) is professor of systematic theology and philosophy at Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando, Florida. He is an ordained minister of the Presbyterian Church in America. Previously, he taught at Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia (1968–80) and Westminster Theological Seminary in California (1980–2000).