Scott Hahn

[DD2008]

As you guys probably know Scott Hahn was a Reformed Theologian and Presbyterian Pastor who converted to Catholicism and is now the Catholic Church's most well known Apologist. He has written many books and given many lectures. Here is his web site:

http://www.scotthahn.com/

I imagine you guys have rejected his positions and reasons for conversion for one reason or another since you are still Reformed. Can you tell me which one of his points you found to be in error and why?

Thanks.

 

[mlqurgw]

As you guys probably know Scott Hahn was a Reformed Theologian and Presbyterian Pastor who converted to Catholicism and is now the Catholic Church's most well known Apologist. He has written many books and given many lectures. Here is his web site:

http://www.scotthahn.com/

I imagine you guys have rejected his positions and reasons for conversion for one reason or another since you are still Reformed. Can you tell me which one of his points you found to be in error and why?

Thanks.

All of them. Actually I couldn't find any specific points he makes and defends other than the usual Roman Catholic apologetics. We differ with the Roman Catholics on almost every area of theology. Or at least I do. If you could post a link to where he specifically enumerates why he left Reformed theology and converted to Catholic it might be helpful.

 

[larryjf]

Yes, please post some of his actual apologetic. It's hard to interact with something that's not available to take a look at.

 

[DD2008]

Scott Hahn: Journey to Catholicism

1. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8RMvmrheE0&feature=PlayList&p=C6D6AAC654DF4E41&playnext=1&index=13

There are six parts of this. This is the first. The others can be found on the right hand side of the you tube screen if you go to this you tube link.

I couldn't find anything else of his on-line. I have read his books. I have many of his books. It looks like his apologetics are all in books and lectures. His story about his journey from Presbyterianism to Catholicism is in a book called Rome Sweet Home that he co-authored with his wife. That is considered a classic by many.

 

[MrPolo]

Scottt Hahn on the Papacy.
An interview with Hahn on his book on Confession.
Scott Hahn on Mary.
Scott Hahn on the Eucharist. (many more topics by Hahn at left on this page.

He is president of the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology. That homepage is here.

 

[DD2008]

Scottt Hahn on the Papacy.
An interview with Hahn on his book on Confession.
Scott Hahn on Mary.
Scott Hahn on the Eucharist. (many more topics by Hahn at left on this page.

He is president of the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology. That homepage is here.

Thanks for the links! I couldn't find any.

 

[heymikey80]

As a "Presbyterian" Scott Hahn was essentially a Reconstructionist, accepting the views of someone known and rejected as a Presbyterian theologian from very early on. The form of Reconstructionism he embraced placed him outside conservative Presbyterianism, according to most major theological seminaries. From what I read even as a nominal Presbyterian he held a view of justification by faith plus works, similar to that stated by Norm Shepherd.

I know a lot of Reconstructionists who shifted around about the turn of the Millenium. I expect his soul-searching led him to yet another format of "in-your-face" ministry, and what I've read tends to demonstrate this. What happens to him in 10 years, dunno.

Reconstructionism is definitely not mainstream nor conservative evangelical Presbyterianism. It's a reactionary branch of conservative Presbyterianism. I'm familiar with it through my membership with the OPC during its own evaluation of Reconstructionism.

I don't know Scott Hahn himself, so I can't evaluate him per se. However, if he didn't hold to Presbyterian justification by faith alone in the first place, then I seriously doubt a whole lot of people would identify him as specifically Reformed Presbyterian.

 

[DD2008]

Note:

This thread was move from the main forum to here. When I started it I was not trying to debate especially given the fact that I have left the RCC and have joined my local Presbyterian Church. So, I'm just interested in this subject because Hahn seems so influential over so many. I imagine most of you have heard of him. If you have I'm sure you've looked into his work and found something to reject in it or you would be Catholic.

So if you have anything, I'm interested.

 

[heymikey80]

Scott Hahn was on the faculty of Dominion Theological Institute, which is "now Chesapeake Theological Seminary":

1982-1983: Assistant Professor, Dominion Theological Institute; McLean, Virginia (now Chesapeake Theological Seminary; Baltimore, Maryland)
​

While I don't have information about the merger of these two groups, Chesapeake only became a seminary of the PCA in 1983. I haven't been able to find anything about Dominion TI, but its name shows its Reconstructionist background. Greg Bahnsen was removed from Reformed TS in 1979 over Reconstructionism. Chesapeake only graduated its first class of just a few seminarians in 1986.

 

[bradfordl]

Anybody know why this thread was moved? Are the papists in such firm control at CF that they can waltz in and deem any discussion they don't like to be debate rather than discussion? This is a reformed sub-forum. There is no debate among reformed christian believers as to whether Hahn falls within the pale of orthodoxy, so how does our discussing his error become categorized as debate?

Would the papists please stay over in your own neck of the woods and leave us alone? If one of you desires debate, start your own thread instead of hijacking one of our own.

 

[DD2008]

Anybody know why this thread was moved? Are the papists in such firm control at CF that they can waltz in and deem any discussion they don't like to be debate rather than discussion? This is a reformed sub-forum. There is no debate among reformed christian believers as to whether Hahn falls within the pale of orthodoxy, so how does our discussing his error become categorized as debate?

Would the papists please stay over in your own neck of the woods and leave us alone? If one of you desires debate, start your own thread instead of hijacking one of our own.

I think it was moved because when I first joined CF a few months ago I was a Roman Catholic. Maybe someone remembered my name and thought I started the thread to debate with the Reformed not knowing that I myself had been persuaded to the Reformed position. Just a guess.

The thread is certaily not a debate thread. I just wanted to know why you guys find hahn's arguments to be unconvincing.

 

[Cajun Huguenot]

I read Scot Hahn's book on his conversion to Roman Catholicism and many hours of his lectures. Dr. Hahn, though a Presbyterian, was never a Calvinists and so from the start he denied a fundamental point of Reformed theology.

I know he was attracted to some points of Reconstructionism, but since all Reconstructionists are Calvinists, even here he falls short. He was an Evangelical Protestant ordained as a Presbyterian minister.

Later,
Kenith

 

[DD2008]

I read Scot Hahn's book on his conversion to Roman Catholicism and many hours of his lectures. Dr. Hahn, though a Presbyterian, was never a Calvinists and so from the start he denied a fundamental point of Reformed theology.

I know he was attracted to some points of Reconstructionism, but since all Reconstructionists are Calvinists, even here he falls short. He was an Evangelical Protestant ordained as a Presbyterian minister.

Later,
Kenith

That is what I have heard as well, that he never actually was a Calvinist and that his Protestant alignment was Presbyterian in name only. I wish I had known that years ago.

 

[heymikey80]

It's even stranger. The church he pastored (without presbyterial ordination) was Presbyterian in name, but was not affiliated with any presbytery. It was essentially a church of elders. So, ah, it was not Presbyterian per se, even if it proposed to be.

Scott Hahn seems to've been appreciative of Norman Shepherd's views, at a time when Norman Shepherd was essentially declared to be outside Presbyterian and Reformed theology.

While based in Reformed theologians, Reconstructionism later moved into evangelical theology with Gary North's work as well as some influences from other more distant thinkers like Doug Wilson.

 

[katholikos]

Scott Hahn is great!
He is my favorite modern theologian.

 

[heymikey80]

Well, he's not been nor will be very convincing to Calvinists who're actually aware of their theology.