Christological Anthropology in TF Torrance, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and Willie J

448 Pages·2016·5.18 MB·English

Christ the Mediator and the Idol of Whiteness:
Christological Anthropology in T. F. Torrance, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and Willie Jennings
by
Jacquelynn Price-Linnartz

Date:_______________________

Approved:

___________________________
Jeremy Begbie, Supervisor

___________________________
Willie Jennings

___________________________
Edgardo Colón-Emeric

___________________________
Douglas Campbell

Dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of
the requirements for the degree of Doctor
Theology in the Divinity School of Duke University

2016
ABSTRACT
Christ the Mediator and the Idol of Whiteness:
Christological Anthropology in T. F. Torrance, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and Willie Jennings
by
Jacquelynn Price-Linnartz

Date:_______________________

Approved:

___________________________
Jeremy Begbie, Supervisor

___________________________
Willie Jennings

___________________________
Edgardo Colón-Emeric

___________________________
Douglas Campbell

Dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of
the requirements for the degree of Doctor
Theology in the Divinity School of Duke University

2016
Copyright by
Jacquelynn Price-Linnartz
2016
Abstract
This dissertation asks how the theological anthropologies of T. F. Torrance, Dietrich
Bonhoeffer, and Willie Jennings help Christians diagnose and subvert the idolatry of our
current racial imagination. It concludes that an idol we can call “whiteness” competes
with Christ to function as the mediator of social identity, our goal and ideal human, and
the icon held between us. This idolatry interferes with our ability to become the people
we are meant to be together in Christ by the power of the Spirit. This theological
anthropology enables us to identify the idol of whiteness at work in popular media like
blockbuster movies, and it equips us to undermine this idol through our engagement of
the arts, popular or otherwise, so that we might together develop a new, healthier, and
holier imagination.

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Contents
Abstract ...................................................................................................................... iv
Contents ...................................................................................................................... v
List of Figures ............................................................................................................. xiii
Abbreviations .............................................................................................................. xv
Acknowledgements .................................................................................................... xvi
Introduction ................................................................................................................. 1
0.1 Nasty Flesh .......................................................................................................... 1
0.2 Thesis .................................................................................................................. 3
0.3 Key Terms ............................................................................................................ 4
0.3.1 Self and Social Identity ....................................................................................... 5
0.3.2 Social Imagination ............................................................................................ 12
0.3.3 Race and Race-as-we-know-it .......................................................................... 13
0.3.4 Mediation ......................................................................................................... 17
0.3.5 Idolatry ............................................................................................................. 19
0.4 Outline .............................................................................................................. 21
0.4.1 Part 1: Theological Anthropology .................................................................... 22
0.4.1.1 Chapter 1: T.F. Torrance.......................................................................... 22
0.4.1.2 Chapter 2: Dietrich Bonhoeffer ............................................................... 23
0.4.1.3 Chapter 3: Willie Jennings ....................................................................... 24

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0.4.1.4 Chapter 4: Conclusions about Christological Anthropology ................... 25
0.4.2 Part 2: Exposing and Subverting the Idol of Whiteness in Art ......................... 25
0.4.2.1 Chapter 5: Exposing the Idol in Popular Art ............................................ 25
0.4.2.2 Chapter 6: Subverting the Idol through the Arts .................................... 26
0.4.3 Conclusion ........................................................................................................ 26
PART 1: THEOLOGICAL ANTHROPOLOGY ............................................................................... 27
Chapter 1: T. F. Torrance ............................................................................................ 27
1.1 Broad Framework: Mediation between God and Humanity ................................ 29
1.1.1 Hypostatic Union .............................................................................................. 30
1.1.2 Covenant with Israel ........................................................................................ 35
1.1.3 The Trinity ........................................................................................................ 41
1.1.4 Summary of Broad Framework ........................................................................ 44
1.2 Theological Anthropology and Social Identity ...................................................... 45
1.2.1 Vicarious Humanity .......................................................................................... 46
1.2.1.1 Unity with all humans ............................................................................... 46
1.2.1.2 Fulfillment of humanity ............................................................................ 47
1.2.1.3 Unity with Christians ................................................................................. 52
1.2.2 Eschatological Participation ............................................................................. 54
1.2.3 Vertical and Horizontal Mediation ................................................................... 61
1.2.4 Radical Re-centering ........................................................................................ 64
1.2.5 The Church ....................................................................................................... 67
1.2.5.1 Substantive sidebar: The church and Israel .............................................. 74

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1.2.5.2 Torrance on Race ...................................................................................... 82
1.2.6 Summary of Theological Anthropology ........................................................... 84
1.3 Summary and Evaluation ...................................................................................... 86
1.4 Conclusion ............................................................................................................. 96
Chapter 2: Dietrich Bonhoeffer ................................................................................ 103
2.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................ 103
2.1.1 Why Bonhoeffer? ........................................................................................... 103
2.1.2 Which Bonhoeffer? ........................................................................................ 106
2.2 Part 1: Christ’s Mediation of Social Identity ....................................................... 113
2.2.1 Creation and Fall: Limits, Centers, and Sin .................................................... 115
2.2.1.1 The center as limit .................................................................................. 116
2.2.1.2 Freedom-for sociality .............................................................................. 118
2.2.1.3 The false, limitless center: sicut deus, the isolated Self ......................... 120
2.2.1.4 Jesus Christ .............................................................................................. 121
2.2.2 Christ the Center ............................................................................................ 124
2.2.2.1 Christ mediates particular selves: revisiting “center” and “limit” .......... 125
2.2.2.2 Christological anthropology .................................................................... 127
2.2.3 Life Together: Mediation and Community ..................................................... 128
2.2.3.1 Mediation of reconciliation, particularity, and unity .............................. 129
2.2.3.2 Whose limit, which center? .................................................................... 132
2.2.4 The Spatial Metaphor Recap .......................................................................... 135
2.2.5 Anticipating the Spatial Model’s Significance for Racial Identity .................. 137

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2.3 Part 2. Church and Race ...................................................................................... 137
2.3.1 Community, Church, and Jesus Christ ........................................................... 138
2.3.1.1 Christian community and church community? ...................................... 139
2.3.1.2 A real ideal? ............................................................................................ 140
2.3.1.3 “Church” as institution? .......................................................................... 141
2.3.1.4 Eschatological reality (or bifocal vision) ................................................. 143
2.3.1.5 Non-Christians ........................................................................................ 148
2.3.2 Bonhoeffer on Israel and Race ....................................................................... 154
2.3.2.1 Israel ........................................................................................................ 155
2.3.2.2 Race ......................................................................................................... 160
2.4 Summary and Evaluation .................................................................................... 166
2.4.1 Summary ........................................................................................................ 166
2.4.2 Evaluation....................................................................................................... 169
2.4.2.1 Theory and practice ................................................................................ 175
2.5 Conclusion ........................................................................................................... 188
Chapter 3: Willie Jennings ........................................................................................ 191
3.1 Part 1: Social(-theological) Analysis .................................................................... 192
3.1.1 Component 1: Gentile Forgetfulness ............................................................. 193
3.1.2 Component 2: Colonialism and Land ............................................................. 196
3.1.3 Component 3: Rise of Whiteness ................................................................... 197
3.1.4 Component 4: Pedagogical Imperialism ........................................................ 200
3.2 Part 2: Theological(-social) Analysis .................................................................... 202

viii
3.2.1 Our Problem ................................................................................................... 204
3.2.1.1 Sin and idolatry ....................................................................................... 205
3.2.1.2 Supersessionism ...................................................................................... 207
3.2.1.3 The idol of whiteness .............................................................................. 211
3.2.2 Our Hope ........................................................................................................ 214
3.2.2.1 Land and space in Jesus .......................................................................... 214
3.2.2.2 Pneumatological family with cultural enfolding ..................................... 218
3.2.2.3 Practices .................................................................................................. 227
3.2.3 Christ the Holy Icon ........................................................................................ 232
3.2.3.1 Idols and disordered desire .................................................................... 233
3.2.3.2 The Holy Icon and redeemed desire ....................................................... 234
3.2.3.3 Producing idols and icons (a preview of Chapter 5) ............................... 235
3.3 Summary and Evaluation .................................................................................... 238
3.3.1 Whiteness ...................................................................................................... 241
3.3.2 The Created World ......................................................................................... 243
3.3.3 The Place of Israel .......................................................................................... 244
3.3.4 Eschatological Siblinghood ............................................................................. 247
3.3.5 Particularity, Diversity, and Unity .................................................................. 248
3.4 Conclusion ........................................................................................................... 253
Chapter 4. Conclusions about Christological Anthropology ...................................... 255
4.1 Overview ............................................................................................................. 255
4.1.1 Torrance ......................................................................................................... 255

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4.1.2 Bonhoeffer ..................................................................................................... 257
4.1.3 Jennings .......................................................................................................... 259
4.2 Questions ............................................................................................................ 260
4.2.1 Spatial Metaphor(s) Redux ............................................................................ 260
4.2.2 Distinction and Intimacy ................................................................................ 264
4.2.2.1 Intimacy without immediacy .................................................................. 264
4.2.2.2 Community with particularity ................................................................. 266
4.2.2.3 Practical concerns ................................................................................... 267
4.2.3 The Holy Spirit ................................................................................................ 271
4.3 Conclusion ........................................................................................................... 275
PART 2: EXPOSING AND SUBVERTING THE IDOL OF WHITENESS IN ART ....................................... 277
Chapter 5: Seeing the Idol in Popular Art.................................................................. 279
5.1 Method ............................................................................................................... 281
5.2 The Movies and their Posters ............................................................................. 285
5.2.1 Avatar (2009) ................................................................................................. 287
5.2.2 Titanic (1997, 2012) ....................................................................................... 296
5.2.3 Jurassic World (2015) ..................................................................................... 300
5.2.4 Typical Franchises with the Typical Pattern: Harry Potter and The Dark Knight
Movies ..................................................................................................................... 307
5.2.5 Marvel Movies: The Avengers (2012) & Co. .................................................. 314
5.2.5.1 Iron Man 3 (2013) ................................................................................... 315
5.2.5.2 The Avengers (2012) and The Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015) .............. 318

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