The Importance of the Penultimate: Reformed Social Thought and the Contemporary Critiques of the Liberal Society

Journal of Markets and Morality, Vol. 9, No. 2, pp. 219-249, Fall 2006

Posted: 15 Oct 2007

See all articles by David VanDrunen

David VanDrunen

affiliation not provided to SSRN

Abstract

I argue that the predominant approach to social thought among Reformed thinkers of the past century - what might be termed generally Kuyperian or neo-Calvinist - anticipated the contemporary critiques of the liberal society in many respects and offers considerable intellectual support for this critique, though equivocally. I also argue, however, and here is the twist that may be unexpected, that an older Reformation and post-Reformation era Reformed approach to social issues, from which twentieth-century Reformed social thought has in significant ways turned aside, may offer a rather distinct theological response to the critique of liberalism. This older approach, which appealed to categories such as natural law and the two-kingdoms doctrine, was not itself utilized at the time to defend a liberal society - such a claim would be anachronistic. What it does do is offer an intriguing and largely forgotten alternative to the current terms of debate over liberalism and its trappings; it provides a tempered and indirect theological defense of the liberal society. It does not dictate liberalism as the Christian social theory but gives many reasons to appreciate it.

Keywords: neo-Calvinism, Reformation, liberalism

JEL Classification: Y800

Suggested Citation

VanDrunen, David, The Importance of the Penultimate: Reformed Social Thought and the Contemporary Critiques of the Liberal Society. Journal of Markets and Morality, Vol. 9, No. 2, pp. 219-249, Fall 2006, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1021254

David VanDrunen (Contact Author)

affiliation not provided to SSRN

No Address Available

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