The Drama of Doctrine: A Canonical-Linguistic Approach to Christian Theology

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Westminster John Knox Press, Aug 2, 2005 - Religion - 463 pages

Observing a strange disappearance of doctrine within the church, Kevin Vanhoozer argues that there is no more urgent task for Christians today than to engage in living truthfully with others before God. He details how doctrine serves the church--the theater of the gospel--by directing individuals and congregations to participate in the drama of what God is doing to renew all things in Jesus Christ. Taking his cue from George Lindbeck and others who locate the criteria of Christian identity in Spirit-led church practices, Vanhoozer relocates the norm for Christian doctrine in the canonical practices, which, he argues, both provoke and preserve the integrity of the church's witness as prophetic and apostolic.

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Contents

Theology as Dramaturgy
243
Introducing the Dramaturge
244
The theologian as Dramaturge
246
Faithfulness as Dramatic Fittingness
256
The CanonicalLinguistic Approach Part One Scientia
265
A Postpropositionalist Theology
266
A Postconservative Theology
278
A Postfoundationalist Theory
291

Of Propositions Poems and Practices
83
Doctrine as Theodramatic Direction
100
III
113
Word and Church The Canon as Covenant Document
115
According to the Scriptures
116
Why Turn to Canon? Problems and Possibilities
120
How Scripture Constitutes the Church Canon as Criterion Why Scripture Rules
133
Why Scripture Rules
141
Scripture and Tradition Two or More Kinds of Performance Interpretation
151
Ecclesiology as First Thelogy?
154
The Interpretative Community Authors and Directs
165
Divine Canonical Discourse
176
The Interpretative Community Responds and Enacts
179
Jesus Spirit Church Scripture and Tradition in Theodramatic Perspective
187
The Church as Performance of the Spirit?
189
Canon and the Prophetic Authority of Jesus Christ
193
The Church as History of Canonical Effects
199
The Rule of Faith as Canonical
203
The Work of the Spirit in the Practices of the Canon
211
Genres as Types of Social Action
212
Canonical Practices and Forms of Convenantal Life
216
Figuring and Praying the Scriptures
220
The Canon as Sapiential Criterion
226
IV
231
V
239
The CanonicalLinguistic Approach Part Two Sapientia
307
A Prosaic Theology
309
A Phronetic Theology
324
A Prophetic Thelogy
354
VI
361
Doctrine Role Vocation The Actors Prepare
363
Casting Calls RolePlaying Being Oneself
364
From Character To Spiritual Formation
369
Atonement and Union with Christ
380
Being Real
394
Doctrine and the Church The Company of the Gospel
399
The Empty Space
401
Playing Corpus Christi
407
Interactive Theater as Communio
413
A Theater of Martyrdom
426
Acting in Parables
441
Creeds Confessions and the PastorDirector Doctrine and Theology in the Theater of Congregational Action
445
Pastoral Theology
447
Creedal Theology
449
Confessional Theology
451
Congregational Theology
453
Selected Bibliography
459
Index of Names
471
Index of Subjects
477
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About the author (2005)

Kevin J. Vanhoozer is Research Professor of Biblical and Systematic Theology at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. He has previously taught at Wheaton College and the University of Edinburgh. In addition to The Drama of Doctrine, Vanhoozer is the author or editor of several books.

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