Tomorrow, I'll be presenting a paper titled "Engaging the World: The Intersection of Neocalvinism and Walter Wink" at Goshen College's undergraduate research symposium. The presentation is based on a comparative book review I wrote last semester comparing and contrasting Walter Wink's Engaging the Powers: Discernment and Resistance in a World of Domination with the the Neocalvinist theology of creation, fall and redemption.
Wink uses a creation, fall, redemption model in his analysis of the Powers, which he identifies as "the spirituality of institutions" and "their outer manifestations." Having so defined principlaties and powers--instead of as merely disembodied spirits, ala Frank Peretti--Wink holds that structures and systems rebelling against their divine vocations is evidence of the demonic. He uses the term "Domination System" to describe what happens "when an entire network of Powers becomes integrated around idolatrous values." He goes on to argue:
Any attempt to transform a social system without addressing both its spirituality and its outer forms is doomed to failure. Only by confronting the spirituality of an institution and its concretions can the total entity be transformed, and that requires a kind of spiritual discernment and praxis that the materialistic ethos in which we live knows nothing about.
His primary thesis, then, is that the Powers are good, the Powers are fallen and the Powers must be redeemed.
In their different approaches to creation, fall, redemption, Walter Wink and Neocalvinists bring different theological strengths to the table. I'll be exploring these in my paper (which I still need to finish!) and posting them here when available.
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