Remythologizing Theology

Kevin Vanhoozer's "Remythologizing Theology" emerges from the contemporary theological crisis surrounding divine action in a world increasingly explained by natural sciences and skeptical of metaphysical claims. Writing as a Reformed systematic theologian concerned with both biblical authority and intellectual credibility, Vanhoozer addresses the challenge of speaking meaningfully about God's activity without retreating into either fundamentalist literalism or liberal demythologization. The work responds specifically to the legacy of Rudolf Bultmann's demythologizing program, which sought to strip away mythological elements from Scripture to reach a more palatable existential core.

Vanhoozer argues that rather than demythologizing Scripture, theology needs a "remythologizing" that recovers the legitimacy of biblical narrative as a truthful account of divine action. He develops what he calls a "theodramatic" approach, understanding Scripture as the script of God's ongoing drama with creation, where divine action is best understood through the lens of authorship rather than mechanical causation. God acts as the ultimate author-director of cosmic history, working through secondary causes and human agents to accomplish redemptive purposes. This framework allows Vanhoozer to defend both divine sovereignty and genuine human agency while maintaining that biblical narratives describe real divine interventions in history, not merely symbolic representations of religious experience.

The book has proven influential in evangelical and Reformed circles struggling to articulate a robust doctrine of providence that engages seriously with contemporary philosophical challenges. Vanhoozer's theodramatic hermeneutic has spawned considerable discussion about the relationship between divine authorship and human freedom, offering a sophisticated alternative to both open theism and hard determinism.

This work is essential reading for systematic theologians, biblical scholars, and pastors seeking to defend divine action against reductionist challenges while avoiding naive supernaturalism. It will particularly benefit those wrestling with questions of providence, biblical authority, and the relationship between faith and reason, though readers unfamiliar with contemporary theological debates may find its technical discussions demanding.