A Lutheran Answer to Challenges from Alasdair MacIntyre and Stanley Hauerwas

Abstract

The new traditionalist wave in ecumenical theology (for example Hauerwas, MacIntyre and Milbank) gives little and often even negative attention to Early Reformation thoughts. Lutheran theology is often depicted as a platonic ecclesiology where the ethics and politics of the “secular” society is accepted automatically also with-in the church. The article presents some of the main critical questions to Early Lutheran thinking from con-temporary theology. Then, a short historical investigation follows on some Lutheran concepts, like the “Two kingdoms doctrine” and "The three orders". I use a heavily discussed topics within Lutheran tradition, the "Table of duties” within the Catechism, to show that at least historically, Early Lutheranism can give a com-prehensive response to post-secular critics. The critique against Lutheranism in contemporary theology is not correct if the writings from Early Lutheranism (Martin Luther and the Book of Concord) are studied closely. Then, the hermeneutical question, how to deal with this historical knowledge today, remains. I claim for a middle-way between liberalism and communitarianism, that will make it possible for a wide range of interpre-tations concerning Christianity and culture in our multi-cultural society.