Richard Rollefson

This dissertation examines the writings of Paul L. Holmer and his contribution to both philosophy and theology. Holmer's work brings together two fundamental concerns: the logical and the "ethico-religious." The thesis of the essay is that by uniting the insights of Soren Kierkegaard and Ludwig Wittgenstein on these concerns, Holmer's work offers a unique approach to the fundamental orientation of theological and ethical reflection. Holmer's explication of theology as "the grammar of faith" proposes a significant alternative to predominant contemporary perspectives on the nature and purpose of Christian theology, and his charting of a "morphology of the life of Christian belief" has important implications for theological education, the practice of ministry and the life of faith itself. ;The discussion begins with a sketch of some of the main themes of Holmer's writings and then moves on to an extended examination of his interpretation of Kierkegaard's authorship. The central concerns here are Kierkegaard's understanding of the "logic" of the Christian faith and his view of the self and its possibilities as represented by his concept of "spheres of existence." ;Chapter two discusses Holmer's interpretation and use of the later philosophy of Ludwig Wittgenstein. Wittgenstein's notion of "theology as grammar" and its implications for understanding the character of religious language and belief are of primary concern. ;The third chapter examines Holmer's main work,The Grammar of Faith. Holmer's use of Kierkegaard's writings and Wittgenstein's later philosophy is oriented toward the lived experience of the Christian faith and its "first-order" discourse of prayer, confession and worship. He challenges his readers to rigorous reflection on the "logic" of ethical and Christian concepts and the "grammar" which governs the ordinary uses of these concepts. ;The concluding chapter examines Holmer' s understanding of Christian praxis and his reassessment of traditional concepts of the vices and virtues as presented in his Making Christian Sense and C. S. Lewis: The Shape of His Faith and Thought. Discussion of critical responses to Holmer's writings provides a basis for evaluating Holmer's lasting contribution to philosophical and moral theology