The sacred and the secular with special reference to Francis Schaeffer's thinking

Abstract

Francis Schaeffer presented a Christian world and life-view encompassing the totality of reality as an alternative to a fragmented view of reality. Refinements of dualism are examined from within a theological context giving substance to his understanding of modern world and life-view trends. Dualisms may be traced from the dawn of history of religion. It was Thomas Aquinas who profoundly influenced Western thought into a secular compartment through a synthesis of Christian dogma with Aristotelian presuppositions. The reign of the sacred diminished and a predominantly secular pathway may be traced through disciplines such as philosophy, arts, science and theology. This dissertation suggests that a dualistic analysis of reality is limited in its application. A model is suggested which traces all of reality to its ultimate source, God. The Fall brought about a dialectic which is found within the totality of a Christian world and life-view.