Calvinistic Concept of Culture

"While a number of good books introducing the basics of a Christian worldview have appeared in recent years, none of them provides the kind of systematic theological background that we find in Van Til's book, with its nuanced exploration of the status of cultural activity in creation, the fall, redemption, and the final consummation of all things . . . Henry Van Til's Calvinistic Concept of Culture remains an excellent guide for anyone wanting to learn the ways of cultural obedience to the One who claims every square inch of the creation as his own."
—From the foreword by Richard J. Mouw

How should a Christian live in a secular world? This classic work looks at the issue of the relationship between religion and culture from a Reformed perspective.

Van Til uses the term culture to designate "that activity of man, the image-bearer of God, by which he fulfills the creation mandate to cultivate the earth, to have dominion over it, and to subdue it." Culture, therefore, is removed from a totally secular context, is placed in the arena of Christian activity and influence, and is constructively viewed from a biblical perspective. The text explores both the historic development and the contemporary implications of the Calvinistic framework of culture and theology.

Table of Contents:

Foreword
Preface
Preface to the Second Edition
Part 1: Defining the Issue
1. Introduction: The Problem Stated
2. The Concept of Culture
3. The Relationship of Religion and Culture
4. Calvinism Defined
5. The Calvinistic Conception of Sin and Its Effects
   Part 2: Historical Orientation
6. Augustine, the Philosopher of Spiritual Antithesis and Cultural Transformation
7. John Calvin: Cultural Theologian and Reformer of the Whole of Life
8. Abraham Kuyper: Theologian of Common Grace and the Kingship of Christ
9. Schilder: Christ, the Key to Culture
   Part 3: Basic Considerations Toward a Definition
10. The Authority of Scripture in Calvinistic Culture
11. The Motivation of Faith in Calvinistic Culture
12. Calvinistic Culture and the Antithesis
13. The Calvinist and the World
14. Calvinistic Culture and Christ's Mediatory Kingship
15. Calvinistic Culture and Christian Calling
16. Calvinistic Culture and Common Grace