11
himself.
16
A third point in response to the criticism of the Reformation as the fulcrum upon
which modernism pivoted is that Renaissance humanism and late medieval scholasticism
contributed much, if not more to the rise of modernity as did the Reformation, and it did
so largely under the auspices of Romes blessing and supervision. History is not so easily
compartmentalized. The results of the collective efforts of humanism, the Reformation,
and the Counter-Reformation helped to give rise to modern science as we know it today.
The change was inevitable. Fourteenth and fifteenth century intellects realized
increasingly that certain crucial elements of Aristotelianism could not be rehabilitated.
Craig Gay of Regent College, at least a partial supporter of "the Reformation opened up a
modernistic Pandoras box" theory, nonetheless qualifies his discussion of the matter
with the following candid observation:
It is important to stress . . . that, quite apart from the actual impossibility
of turning the clock back, the attempt to repristinate the medieval social order
would not be a very good idea . . . In the first place Aristotelian science is simply
not believable any more. Even more significantly, attempting to revitalize
Aristotelian teleology by way of Aquinas would not really solve the problem of
human individuality and creativity. Whatever the Aristotelian "god" is, it is not
personal, and the Aristotelian system does not permit any real space for human
freedom and creativity. Indeed, even modern scientific nominalism allows more
latitude for personal agency than medieval (Aristotelian) science did.
17
16
J. I. Packer, "Historical and Theological Introduction," in Martin Luther, The Bondage
of the Will, trans. J. I. Packer and O. R. Johnston (Grand Rapids: Fleming H. Revell,
1957), 45-6.
.
17
Gay, The Way of the Modern World, 278-9. The context for Gays comments here
relate to a theology of personhood. His consideration of the imago dei includes definition
an ontological definition of person which this author found compelling.