One can think of reparation as compensation to the person wronged. Reparation involves achieving the restoration of the status quo (there are certain cases when it is impossible to restore the status quo but an attempt must be made.) Reparation will cost the wrongdoer something, and only the person wronged can decide of the reparation is adequate. Both private repentance and public apology are involved in the act of making atonement. When the wrongdoer does it publicly the wrongdoer makes an apology. When the wrongdoer does this privately, the wrongdoer makes repentance. He or she must acknowledge his own her wrongdoing and acknowledge the fact that his or her actions were wrong, he or she must also must resolve to amend the wrong. Atonement is made when the wrongdoer performs these four components. He begins by saying that guilt is analogous to debt and that it an be removed “either by the action of the wrongdoer (in some way) paying it off or by the action f the victim (in some way) taking compensation.” However, to make perfect removal of guilt, the wrongdoer must make atonement and the victim must forgive the wrongdoer. In chapter five Swinburne offers four components for making atonement: repentance, apology, reparation, penance. Since Swinburne’s theology is based off his moral philosophy it will be helpful to begin by examining his understanding of atonement between humans before we examine his theological position. In this blog series I will articulate Swinburne’s doctrine of atonement, then I will present three shortcomings of his atonement theory.
Although all of these chapters are relevant to Swinburne’s doctrine of atonement the heart of Swinburne’s doctrine is found in chapters five and ten, “Guilty, Atonement, and Forgiveness” and “Redemption” respectively. Here he covers concepts like morality under God, sin, redemption, heaven, and hell. The second part of the book is devoted to the theological consequences of this moral system. In these chapters he covers concepts like moral goodness, free will, merit, rewards, and punishment. The first seven chapters are done without any reference to theology, and mainly focus on the notion of responsibility. Swinburne’s book Responsibility and Atonement is an attempt to articulate a moral philosophy which can be accepted by Christians and non-Christians alike and then articulate the theological consequences of this system.
Today, on Good Friday we start of by looking at his atonement theory. I hope to show that Swinburne’s atonement is full of shortcomings.
In light of the fact that it is easter weekend I will be blogging on Richard Swinburne’s Responsibility and Atonement this easter weekend. It’s Easter Weekend! Its the time of year we Christians celebrate Christ’s atoning work for us on the cross and his ressurection, which we participate in through baptism into Christ.
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