What Is Critical Theory?

What Is Critical Theory?

October 23, 2026 · 59 min

Bradley G. Green joins Camden Bucey to discuss What Is Critical Theory?: A Concise Christian Analysis. They trace the Frankfurt School’s Marxist roots and explain why thinkers such as Theodor Adorno, Max Horkheimer, Walter Benjamin, and Herbert Marcuse turned from a narrowly economic account of oppression toward culture, institutions, authority, family, and religion.The conversation evaluates critical theory as a counterfeit religious vision with its own accounts of creation, sin, redemption, and eschatology. Drawing on Cornelius Van Til, Green shows how unbelieving thought oscillates between rationalism and irrationalism; drawing on Henry Van Til, he explains why culture is “religion externalized.”ResourcesWhat Is Critical Theory?: A Concise Christian AnalysisBradley G. Green at Southern SeminaryChrist OverallChapters00:00 Introduction04:30 Introducing What Is Critical Theory?08:14 Marxism after the failed German revolution10:43 The major Frankfurt School thinkers12:35 Culture, oppression, and the long march through the institutions15:54 Critical theory as a counterfeit religion19:06 What the critical theorists see—and miss21:56 Creation, givenness, and the autonomous individual24:05 Sin relocated from the heart to the system25:18 Marcuse’s vision of sexual liberation29:42 Utopian hope and Adorno’s “Grand Hotel Abyss”33:11 Walter Benjamin and a “messianic rupture”36:45 Repressive tolerance and the authoritarian personality42:35 Van Til on rationalism and irrationalism46:31 Culture as religion externalized49:22 Pastoral and educational applications53:55 Using the book for personal and group study56:20 ConclusionMentioned in this episode:Christ the Center 1000Christ the Center 1000 SummitChrist the Center 1000 Live in Austin, TXChrist the Center 1000 Summit

Reformed Forum

Follow

Reformed Forum supports the church in presenting every person mature in Christ (Colossians 1:28) by providing Reformed theological resources.