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Essays on Religion, Science, and Society
Herman Bavinck, the premier theologian of the Kuyper-inspired, neo-Calvinistic revival in the late-nineteenth-century Netherlands, is an important voice in the development of Protestant theology. Essays on Religion, Science, and Society is the capstone of his distinguished career. These seminal essays offer an outworking of Bavinck's systematic theology as presented in his Reformed Dogmatics and engage enduring issues from a biblical and theological perspective. The work presents his mature reflections on issues relating to ethics, education, politics, psychology, natural science and evolution, aesthetics, and philosophy of religion.
This collection--Bavinck's most significant remaining untranslated work--is now available in English for the first time. Pastors, students, and scholars of Reformed theology will value this work.
This collection--Bavinck's most significant remaining untranslated work--is now available in English for the first time. Pastors, students, and scholars of Reformed theology will value this work.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published June 1, 2008
26 people are currently reading
240 people want to read
About the author
Herman Bavinck
110 books190 followersHerman Bavinck (1854-1921) succeeded Abraham Kuyper as professor of systematic theology at the Free University of Amsterdam in 1902.
His nephew was Johan Herman Bavinck.
His nephew was Johan Herman Bavinck.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
October 22, 2017
It pains me to rate this only three stars, given Bavinck's towering reputation. But alas, it must be so. Remember the parts of Bavinck's Reformed Dogmatics where he did historical surveys on dead 19th century Germans? Those were also the only parts of RD that you didn't enjoy. This book is those parts, or like unto it.
The essays at the end of the book were pretty good, as he dealt with faculty psychology and classical education. The sections at the front on philosophy of religion are weak, but that is the nature of the case. In reading this one also gets a feel for world culture at the time, especially as Europe was hurtling towards the inferno of World War I and the Russian Revolution, when Satan would be unleashed upon the world. Bavinck is seen fighting a heroic rear-guard action. But in reading these essays one gets the impression that Bavinck is often outgunned and out manned.
Further, with a few exceptions, if you were an unbeliever in 19th century Europe, your work is outdated garbage, even by today's unbelieving standards. I'm not sure exactly what Bavinck's critiques add to this body of knowledge. Skip this and read his Philosophy of Revelation instead.
The essays at the end of the book were pretty good, as he dealt with faculty psychology and classical education. The sections at the front on philosophy of religion are weak, but that is the nature of the case. In reading this one also gets a feel for world culture at the time, especially as Europe was hurtling towards the inferno of World War I and the Russian Revolution, when Satan would be unleashed upon the world. Bavinck is seen fighting a heroic rear-guard action. But in reading these essays one gets the impression that Bavinck is often outgunned and out manned.
Further, with a few exceptions, if you were an unbeliever in 19th century Europe, your work is outdated garbage, even by today's unbelieving standards. I'm not sure exactly what Bavinck's critiques add to this body of knowledge. Skip this and read his Philosophy of Revelation instead.
April 6, 2021
Some of the articles in here are life-changing. It would benefit many modern evangelicals who are struggling to appropriately deal with the ‘culture crisis’. The essays, “On Christian Principles and Social Relationships”, “On Inequality”, and “On Beauty and Aesthetics” is where you want to start.
June 26, 2021
Je dois l'avouer, ce livre n'est pas tout à fait ce à quoi je m'attendais.
Cependant, il couvre toutes les attentes qu'on pourrait avoir en lien avec son titre.
Dans la même précision chirurgicale dont fait preuve Herman Bavinck dans sa série "Reformed Dogmatics", l'auteur étudie les différents liens existants entre la société, la religion et la science à travers différentes époques.
De la Perse antique à sa propre génération, Bavinck démontre les défis dont les diverses philosophies ont faites face et en quoi elles sont dans l'impossibilité de prétendre à des réponses valides aux grandes questions.
Psychologie, esthétique, éthique, etc.
Tous sont des sujets abordés dans ce livre, et tous passent sous la loupe méticuleuse de l'auteur.
Dans une analyse complète mais accessible, en interaction avec divers penseurs anciens et contemporains, ses écrits se placent parmi les plus intéressantes selon moi.
Je conseil.
Cependant, il couvre toutes les attentes qu'on pourrait avoir en lien avec son titre.
Dans la même précision chirurgicale dont fait preuve Herman Bavinck dans sa série "Reformed Dogmatics", l'auteur étudie les différents liens existants entre la société, la religion et la science à travers différentes époques.
De la Perse antique à sa propre génération, Bavinck démontre les défis dont les diverses philosophies ont faites face et en quoi elles sont dans l'impossibilité de prétendre à des réponses valides aux grandes questions.
Psychologie, esthétique, éthique, etc.
Tous sont des sujets abordés dans ce livre, et tous passent sous la loupe méticuleuse de l'auteur.
Dans une analyse complète mais accessible, en interaction avec divers penseurs anciens et contemporains, ses écrits se placent parmi les plus intéressantes selon moi.
Je conseil.
February 23, 2020
If you are interested in religion and the philosophy of science, this is a terrific book covering 15 essays by Herman Bavinck. I would also recommend reading "The Magician's Twin" published by the Discovery Institute, which is another collection of essays in the same vein. And just for kicks, I always recommend reading some Soren Kirkegaard if you really love 18th century Christian philosphy!
August 24, 2024
One of my favorite sections, from Christian Principles and Social Relationships, pg 142&3
“Because the gospel is exclusively directed to the redemption from sin, it leaves all natural relationships alone. It is in principle opposed to all socialism, communism, anarchism, which after all never only oppose sin, but by their denial of the fall identify sin with nature, unrighteousness with the very institution of the family and the state, and therefore creation with the fall.
For the same reason the gospel shuns every revolution that arises from the principle of unbelief, since by its overthrow of everything a revolution makes no distinction between nature and sin and eradicates the good with the bad.
The gospel, on the other hand, always works reformationally. It creates the greatest reformation by setting people free from guilt, renewing the heart, and thus in principle restoring the right relationship of man to God.
….
But by liberating all social circumstances and relationships from sin, the gospel tries to restore them all according to the will of God and make them fulfill their own nature.
While conservatism closes its eyes to changes in society, and radicalism fails to have a solid standpoint in the stream of events, a reformation that proceeds from a Christian principle combines both: being and becoming, the absolute and the relative, the unity of the divine will and the wonderful leading of his providence. The name "Christian-Historical" combines both elements, and the term "Anti-Revolutionary" adds to it that historic Christian principles are to be applied in the practice of everyday life, not by way of a radical revolution, but in that of a reformation that retains all that is good.”
“Because the gospel is exclusively directed to the redemption from sin, it leaves all natural relationships alone. It is in principle opposed to all socialism, communism, anarchism, which after all never only oppose sin, but by their denial of the fall identify sin with nature, unrighteousness with the very institution of the family and the state, and therefore creation with the fall.
For the same reason the gospel shuns every revolution that arises from the principle of unbelief, since by its overthrow of everything a revolution makes no distinction between nature and sin and eradicates the good with the bad.
The gospel, on the other hand, always works reformationally. It creates the greatest reformation by setting people free from guilt, renewing the heart, and thus in principle restoring the right relationship of man to God.
….
But by liberating all social circumstances and relationships from sin, the gospel tries to restore them all according to the will of God and make them fulfill their own nature.
While conservatism closes its eyes to changes in society, and radicalism fails to have a solid standpoint in the stream of events, a reformation that proceeds from a Christian principle combines both: being and becoming, the absolute and the relative, the unity of the divine will and the wonderful leading of his providence. The name "Christian-Historical" combines both elements, and the term "Anti-Revolutionary" adds to it that historic Christian principles are to be applied in the practice of everyday life, not by way of a radical revolution, but in that of a reformation that retains all that is good.”
January 16, 2020
Bavinck was a wide-ranging thinker but remarkably consistent in his Christian worldview and thorough in his scholarship. If you'll pardon the cliche, they're as relevant today as they were over one hundred years ago.
Unlike most essay collections, this one is well-curated and reads like a cohesive book more than a heap random writings. The topics of religious teaching, evolution, psychology, aesthetics, education, politics, and so forth blend together seamlessly.
His compare/contrast of Calvin and Rousseau is worth the price of the entire book.
Unlike most essay collections, this one is well-curated and reads like a cohesive book more than a heap random writings. The topics of religious teaching, evolution, psychology, aesthetics, education, politics, and so forth blend together seamlessly.
His compare/contrast of Calvin and Rousseau is worth the price of the entire book.
March 22, 2022
Bavinck always has wonderful insights, but the writing is meaty/dense and takes some time to contemplate. You need to be fluent in 17th-19th century philosophers, social scientists, pseudo-theologians, and other white tower thinkers, which moves it out of the realm of a digestible read for most. That being said…the connections he draws are noteworthy.
October 23, 2024
Bavinck has tons of thought-provoking and even genius content here, but as is to be expected from an anthology of essays they are uneven in quality. Also not the most accessible work, sometimes this was from his own scholarship, other times from dated or unfamiliar cultural references, or possibly just from translation from Dutch to English
October 7, 2021
It pains me to not give a Bavinck volume a 5-star rating, but I found that this work to be a bit hit-and-miss. Some essays were brilliant, relevant and well delivered, some were dry, obsolete in content and uninspiring. 3 stars seems fair as it captures the polarity of brilliance and boredom this book inspires.
Still a Bavinck fanboy though.
Still a Bavinck fanboy though.
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July 18, 2023🅱️avinck
February 21, 2025
Compelling.
November 22, 2016
This was Bavinck's final project before his death in 1921. It covers a vast array of interesting and pertinent topics. From social inequality to Evolution to beauty-the aged and wise Bavinck gives his thoughts. I highly recommend this to anyone who has read his Dogmatics and is now looking for more.
September 30, 2013
Bavinck is brilliant, as usual. I gave it four stars because the subject matter wasn't as interesting to me as Reformed Dogmatics - however, HB's ability to write essays like this points to the breadth of his learning.
July 19, 2008
I am writing a review so you will have to read it when it is finished! The chapter on Beauty and Aesthetics is very interesting.
January 22, 2010
only read the essays on education. Good, solid, thorough.. always takes us back to the centrality of God and Christ.
June 17, 2012
A smattering of essays, short and long, on a wide variety of topics. The best by far was the second to last chapter “Of Beauty and Aesthetics."
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews