Michael Horton and his new greatest systematic theology ever

Michael Horton's first chapter of his new systematic theology is epically silly. That's not to say it is wrong for what it is, but for a new systematic theology that is supposed to transplant Berkhof it is just epically silly.

To understand Horton, he grew up in a fundamentalist environment and his main mode is: "Look at me, all my former fundamentalist people, I am what's called a scholar. And look what I'm doing! I've written books and stuff. I went to Oxford. That's in England. I'm no longer a part of you, but don't feel bad because everything I write now I am really writing to you. You can tell because I write in that annoying Kindergarten teacher tone as I'm talking down to you! But I'm noticing you! Hello there! Do you see how I'm making my points very deliberately and slow for you? That's for you! And you're having fun! While at the same time I have put a lot of scholarly stuff in it. You won't understand all that, but don't worry! You have your nap rugs!"

Yeah, on one page you see references to 12 philosophers, 6 rather weak, surfacy concepts meant to control the 'whole', run-throughs of common knowledge spoken as if it's just the most exotic stuff for you to be hearing for the first time...and, er, stuff. All of it shallow, surfacy, scattered knowledge, mostly empty (vain) for an opening chapter of a Reformed systematic theology.