Here’s a doctoral dissertation that Liberty University’s Rawlings School of Divinity has made available titled “Carl F. H. Henry’s Presuppositional Theology and its Implications within Educational Settings.” This is a treat for those into apologetics! Carl Henry was the President of Southern Seminary and he was influenced in his apologetics by Cornelius Van Til and Gordon Clark. The dissertation was written by Adam L. Lickey and was completed on April 2019. Its neat to see his dissertation is available online for free.
Here’s an abstract:
In the mid-twentieth century Carl F. H. Henry was committed to articulating a cohesive theological understanding from an evangelical perspective. The primary feature of Henry’s theology was the ultimate authority of God’s Word. This presupposition impacted every area of his thinking and manifest itself in the practical outworking of theology. This dissertation argues that Carl Henry’s theistic presuppositions provide a workable framework for the practice of education. This thesis will be developed in three ways: establishing the consistency of revelational theism, demonstrating the irrationality of naturalism, and analyzing Carl Henry’s published perspective toward the American educational system. This study will be strictly limited to a theological view of presuppositions with application made to educational settings. It is an inquiry into Henry’s commitment to the authority of divine revelation in relation to a specific avenue of evangelical cultural engagement. This author is not attempting a pedagogical framework but a theological framework. No attempt will be made to synthesize a philosophy of education out of Henry’s words concerning education, but rather it will focus specifically on his theological presuppositions. This author is focusing on the qualitative implications of Henry’s theology, not a quantitative research model of educational practice or philosophy. Henry was a trailblazer within the evangelical movement who spoke often and plainly about the necessity of presuppositional foundations essential to evangelicalism. These foundations are the ontological necessity of God and the epistemological necessity of divine revelation. With these axioms as his foundation, Henry launched an offensive campaign against the presuppositions of naturalism. Henry’s passion for education is seen in his publications applying his theological position to educational situations for the sake of cultural engagement.
This is undoubtedly way over my T-101 head! But I appreciate all of the information you present regarding presuppositionalism. I’ve learned a lot. I want to read more biographical info on Henry. I read towards the end of his life he was a bit saddened by the direction of New Evangelicalism that he, Ockenga, and Graham had founded.
I know so little of the starters of New Evangelicalism as most of knowledge comes from books mentioning them In passing and I know they had great mentors but they wanted to do things different. If Henry was sadden towards the end at least it shows he’s aware of what’s at stake in the end. I think Evangelicalism today would be much more horrifying today if they see it both doctrinally and the low bar of leadership qualification. Actually Big Eva elites would look down on Carl Henry. How’s your morning walk this morning weather wise?
Thanks for the comments, brother. I agree Henry was much more orthodox than many of the theologians of today. I certainly don’t blame the current sad state of evangelicalism all on Henry, Ockenga, and Graham, but dialogue with error is a two-way street that inevitably leads to the compromise. I was surprised to learn while recently reading “We Gather Together: The Religious Right and the Problem of Interfaith Politics” by Neil J. Young that Henry was not as enthusiastic about ecumenism with Rome as was Billy Graham.
It’s 43F and gloomy here in ROC right now. I didn’t walk today to save my energy for my last session of leaf work. I removed as many of the leaves from the ivy patch as possible, one big tarpfull, and also blew out the gutters one last time before the snow and rain comes tomorrow. I’m still averaging around 9K steps/day this month.
What’s on the agenda for your Saturday? How’s your steps doing?
Thank you for this free resource, Jim! It might come in handy someday. But for now, I’ll try to download it. Blessings!
You’re welcome! I hope you are doing ok, praying for what we talked about in email. 2020 is a rough year in more ways than one.
What a timely for the glorification subseries in the blog indeed. Thank you.
Thanks for the great resource.
Free.99 that’s my favorite price 😅
That is the best price ever!
A free doctoral dissertation to read, I downloaded it. The last section on refuting naturalism seems relevant for today’s apologetics.
Gotta save this I can’t go to college but this is helpful for me
Never knew Liberty has available for free their dissertation. Glad they did this
Southern Seminary and Reformed Theological Seminary does the same thing
A beautiful post thank you so much
Agreed
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Downloaded
Can’t wait to read my digital copy!
Carl Henry would roll over his grave with the direction Southern is heading towards