Stanley Hauerwas' critique of system in theology in the interests of the church's narrative and practice
Abstract
This study is intended to demonstrate that Stanley Hauerwas' critique of system, as a response to the influence of liberalism in theology, rightly elevates the narrative of the church over theory in epistemology. However, as will be seen, Hauerwas' approach to narrative maintains certain elements of system (e.g., an understanding of the Eucharist as the human connection to the divine) and avoids or assumes others (e.g., a development of Trinitarian theology that would account for human participation), leaving his narrative of the church unsupported by certain doctrines sufficient to avoid the accusation of being a mere human community. The study finally moves to establish for Hauerwas, from Scriptural sources, a thoroughgoing doctrine of the Holy Spirit to provide him with sufficient connection between the human and the divine for his ecclesiology. This allows his narrative to avoid the criticism of remaining at the level of anthropology.
This paper has been withdrawn.