Redeeming Sociology

by Vern Sheridan Poythress

In their pursuit of social welfare, sociologists and everyday citizens alike have adopted a worldview that fails to account for both the nature of God and the depravity of humankind. Ignoring God and sin has resulted in misguided analyses and ineffective solutions to societal issues. The time has come to rethink the study of sociology as those faulty assumptions have clearly affected the discipline as a whole.

Recognizing that human relationships are derived from the triune relationships within the Godhead, Poythress argues that social interactions must be assessed through a biblical framework that takes seriously the problem of sin. He has thus written this compelling volume to stimulate the reconfiguration and transformation of a worldview gone awry, helping us to think rightly about fallen human relationships and our models for understanding and improving them.

Redeeming Sociology advocates a biblically informed approach based on the Trinitarian nature of God, his governance of the world, and his redemption accomplished in Christ--a model that will help to reform the field of sociology as well as the beliefs and behaviors in our own relationships.

Genres: Sociology, Theology, Philosophy, Christian Non Fiction, Nonfiction, Cultural

352 pages, Paperback

First published May 5, 2011

About the author

Vern Sheridan Poythress was born in 1946 in Madera, California, where he lived with his parents Ransom H. Poythress and Carola N. Poythress and his older brother Kenneth R. Poythress. After teaching mathematics for a year at Fresno State College (now California State University at Fresno), he became a student at Westminster Theological Seminary, where he earned an M.Div. (1974) and a Th.M. in apologetics (1974). He received an M.Litt. in New Testament from University of Cambridge (1977) and a Th.D. in New Testament from the University of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch, South Africa (1981).

He has been teaching in New Testament at Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia since 1976. In 1981 he was ordained as a teaching elder in the Reformed Presbyterian Church Evangelical Synod, which has now merged with the Presbyterian Church in America.

More information about his teaching at Westminster can be found at the Westminster Seminary website.

Dr. Poythress studied linguistics and Bible translation at the Summer Institute of Linguistics in Norman Oklahoma in 1971 and 1972, and taught linguistics at the Summer Institute of Linguistics in the summers of 1974, 1975, and 1977. He has published books on Christian philosophy of science, theological method, dispensationalism, biblical law, hermeneutics, Bible translation, and Revelation. A list of publications is found on this website.

Dr. Poythress married his wife Diane in 1983, and they have two children, Ransom and Justin. He has side interests in science fiction, string figures, volleyball, and computers.

The family lived on a farm until he was five years old. When he was nine years old he made a public commitment to Christ and was baptized in Chowchilla First Baptist Church, Chowchilla, California. The family later moved to Fresno, California, and he graduated from Bullard High School in Fresno.

He earned a B.S. in mathematics from California Institute of Technology (1966) and a Ph.D. in mathematics from Harvard University (1970).

Reviews

[Lu Tsun]

Dr. Vern Poythress continues his program to recapture the borrowed capital of common grace in human scientific disciplines. Very curious about the apologetic effect of this book.

[Kevin Fulton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poythress starts with what he believes the foundations of sociology should be. For him, the foundations for sociology are found where the foundations of morality are, in God. "If sociology evades the issue of absolute morality, no basis is left for evaluating a society from outside as good or evil at a particular point, except by using the standards of some other society." Then, through this foundation, he engages with the strengths and weaknesses of popular approaches to sociology.

[Sean Murphy · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you are really into sociology, and a believer, this is the book for you. Well thought out, but very detailed. Some will love it, some will not.

[Philip Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating take on sociology drawing from Van Tillian thought and Frame's perspectivalism.

[Andrew Mcneill · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good book that is solidly grounded in Scripture. While I have no criticisms of the content, I felt at times that it could have been condensed. Some of the points had previously been made in Poythress' book on language - which is excellent book. I also felt that the appendices could have been incorporated and integrated into the main content of the book. So it's worth a read and will stimulate thought but I would skim some sections.

[Joshua · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is good, but it was very, very similar to his "redeeming science." Also, Verne could stand to cite someone other than himself and Dr Frame.

[Tim Sheppard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Intense... I will have to read through again after digesting a little longer. Poythress has a great mind.