Orders of creation
Encyclopedia
Orders of creation refer to a doctrine of theology asserting God's hand in establishing social domains such as the family, the church, the state, and the economy. Although it is commonly traced back to early Lutheranism
, the doctrine is also discussed within Reformed Christianity as well as modern Judaism
. During the 1930s–1940s rise of European neo-orthodoxy
, the meaning of this doctrine in regards to the foundations of church and state (e.g., how its interpretation by 19th century German theologians may have aided in legitimizing the then-contemporary Nazi party or how it would support the reality or non-reality of natural law
) came into dispute amongst such famed theologians as Karl Barth
, Emil Brunner
, and Dietrich Bonhoffer. Though a specific 1934 controversy between Brunner and Barth over the interpretations of the doctrines of natural law and the orders of creation was not inherently political, Barth alleged that Brunner's position gave credibility to pro-Nazi "German Christians
."
Lutheranism
Lutheranism is a major branch of Western Christianity that identifies with the theology of Martin Luther, a German reformer. Luther's efforts to reform the theology and practice of the church launched the Protestant Reformation...
, the doctrine is also discussed within Reformed Christianity as well as modern Judaism
Judaism
Judaism ) is the "religion, philosophy, and way of life" of the Jewish people...
. During the 1930s–1940s rise of European neo-orthodoxy
Neo-orthodoxy
Neo-orthodoxy, in Europe also known as theology of crisis and dialectical theology,is an approach to theology in Protestantism that was developed in the aftermath of the First World War...
, the meaning of this doctrine in regards to the foundations of church and state (e.g., how its interpretation by 19th century German theologians may have aided in legitimizing the then-contemporary Nazi party or how it would support the reality or non-reality of natural law
Natural law
Natural law, or the law of nature , is any system of law which is purportedly determined by nature, and thus universal. Classically, natural law refers to the use of reason to analyze human nature and deduce binding rules of moral behavior. Natural law is contrasted with the positive law Natural...
) came into dispute amongst such famed theologians as Karl Barth
Karl Barth
Karl Barth was a Swiss Reformed theologian whom critics hold to be among the most important Christian thinkers of the 20th century; Pope Pius XII described him as the most important theologian since Thomas Aquinas...
, Emil Brunner
Emil Brunner
Heinrich Emil Brunner was a Swiss Protestant theologian. Along with Karl Barth , he is commonly associated with neo-orthodoxy or the dialectical theology movement....
, and Dietrich Bonhoffer. Though a specific 1934 controversy between Brunner and Barth over the interpretations of the doctrines of natural law and the orders of creation was not inherently political, Barth alleged that Brunner's position gave credibility to pro-Nazi "German Christians
German Christians
The Deutsche Christen were a pressure group and movement within German Protestantism aligned towards the antisemitic and Führerprinzip ideological principles of Nazism with the goal to align German Protestantism as a whole towards those principles...
."