Search Results (94)

This paper interprets Stanisław Lem’s novella Professor A. Dońda as a thought experiment. In the novella, Lem proposes Dońda’s law, a formulation that allows for a sophisticated theory of creation, at once theological and scientific. This is based on the equivalence of mass-energy-information and on the existence of Dońda’s barrier, which limits the accretion of knowledge. The novella is discussed in the context of Lem’s conception of the art of writing as the art of translating—in this case, translating theological issues into the language of physics and computer science. The result of this translation, which is effectively a thought experiment, is that even if man were to discover the real mechanism of the creation of the world, neither the existence of God nor the non-existence of God could be unambiguously deduced from understanding the mechanism. The protagonist of the novella articulates a theory of being whose initial premise and fundamental category is the concept of error. The paper provides a thorough analysis of the issues raised by the novella and a discussion of genre. The discussion broadens to include the context of contemporary theories in physics, mainly the mass-energy-information principle (MEIE) and the information catastrophe. Full article

By exploring how Cone employs and emulates Black literary sources, this article argues that his theological writing can be understood as often translating and thereby making explicit the significance of the inner, emotional lives of Black folks, particularly Black rage, into Black theological thought. The argument, in other words, is that Cone’s writing is an ethical performance of rage and a literary process of reforming his rage. His performance of rage is ethical in that it is morally motivated by injustice and indifference. It is not a performance for its own sake or to simply blow off steam. The performance takes a literary form and becomes the means through which his rage is reformed. The aim of this article demonstrates how his theological writing copes with and transforms rage into ethical discourse. Full article

Studies on the significance of “place” as a theological concept are in the early stages of development in ecotheology. However, the few scholars who have provided key insights into the concept have approached it from a narrow perspective. In contrast, this article approaches the notion of “place” from a broader perspective that engages philosophy, scripture, theology, and contemporary social thought. The aim of the article is to demonstrate the centrality of “place” in relation to environmental care as the necessary enabling condition for human and ecological flourishing amid our global ecological crisis. To advance this argument, the article adopts a textual method of analysis that draws significantly on secondary literature. It begins with a brief description of what integral ecology is about; it then proceeds to provide an overview of the contemporary crisis of “place”. This is followed by an examination of “place” from biblical and theological perspectives. The article concludes by discussing “place” as an ethical praxis at the heart of integral ecology. Central to the discussion is the usefulness of talking about “place” as a site of both action and resistance in the face of our present ecological crisis. Full article

The very latest scholarship on the Swiss Reformation has urged us to resituate the conceptual origins and first articulations of a Reformed Covenant theology in the Zurich of Zwingli, Jud, Pellikan, and Bullinger, rather than in the Geneva of Calvin and Beza. Using insights from the recent literature of early modern memory, book history, and art history, this article provides a critical new reading of the preface, text, and paratext of the 1531 folio edition of the Zurich Bible. In doing so, it elucidates how, working with a humanist conception of historical memory, an early Reformed Covenant theology was articulated through its rhetorical juxtaposition of an imagined Israel and Rabbinic Judaism. In line with recent work on the role of historical models in early Reformed Bible culture, I contend that the language of historical memory holds the key to understanding this Reformed rearticulation of Covenant theology and its intended effect on readers of the Zurich Bible. Insights from this reading shed light on the Zurich origins of Reformed Christianity’s ambivalent history of defining itself vis-a-vis an imagined Israel and Rabbinic Judaism, with implications for understanding Protestant discourses on Israel, Judaism, idolatry, antijudaism, and antisemitism. Full article

This paper analyses the section of Nemesius of Emesa’s treatise On the Nature of Man dedicated to fate. The main objective is to analyse Nemesius’s response to the supporters of a notion of fate within the framework of astral determinism, Stoicism, and Middle Platonism. Following a mainly descriptive method, the paper focuses on Nemesius’s own thought and not just on his treatment of his sources, as much of the existing literature has done until now. Without pretending to give a definitive answer on the originality of his own philosophy, we examine how Nemesius assigns some of the functions of fate in one of his Middle Platonic sources to divine providence. In doing so, he develops a personal theology in which he gives an innovative prominence to divine free will and transcendence in the traditional philosophical problem of providence. Full article

We can understand Platonism as both a storehouse of resources that can be drawn upon and a living philosophy capable of helping us address the present-day environmental crisis, one of humanity’s most important and pressing challenges. Platonism appears in the collected papers here in philosophical, theological, scientific, and literary contexts, demonstrating both its versatility and its capacity. One of the aims of promoting this avenue of research is to both explore and challenge the traditional characterisations and critiques of the Platonic tradition in relation to nature and ecology. This Special Issue demonstrates how Platonism can serve as a resource for addressing the environmental crisis in a present-day context. Collectively, the wide range of contributions allow us to begin to tackle the task of showing how a Platonically orientated metaphysics can provide an integrative and sustainable framework for conceptualising nature and the place of humans within it, particularly by offering an alternative to subject-centred epistemologies. Full article

This study investigates the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Religious Education (RE), a field traditionally rooted in spiritual formation and human interaction. Amid increasing digital transformation in education, theological institutions are exploring AI tools for teaching, assessment, and pastoral engagement. Using a critical literature review and analysis of institutional case studies, the paper examines the historical development of AI in education, current applications in general and theological contexts, and the ethical challenges it introduces, especially regarding decision making, data privacy, and bias as well as didactically grounded opportunities such as AI-mediated dialogic simulations. The study identifies both the pedagogical advantages of AI, such as personalization and administrative efficiency, and the risks of theological distortion, overreliance, and epistemic conformity. It presents a range of real-world implementations from institutions like Harvard Divinity School and the Oxford Centre for Digital Theology, highlighting best practices and cautionary approaches. The findings suggest that AI can enrich RE when deployed thoughtfully and ethically, but it must not replace the relational and formational aspects central to RE. The paper concludes by recommending policy development, ethical oversight, and interdisciplinary collaboration to guide responsible integration. This research contributes to the growing discourse on how AI can be aligned with the spiritual and intellectual goals of RE in a rapidly evolving digital age. Full article

Christian theology is not an isolated system of knowledge. The theological phenomena of revelation and inspiration are related to human knowledge of self, community and the world, yet it would be insufficient to think that their conceptual content comes only from human natural experience. This truth is expressed in the doctrine of “theological places”, which is most often associated with the Spanish Dominican Melchior Cano because of its systematic presentation. In this contribution, I present the hypothesis that science (in the modern sense) can be understood as a “theological place”, not only from the perspective of direct assimilation of concrete and detailed scientific data, but also at the level of imagination. Imagination turns out to be one of the essential components of the scientific method, of course, differently at different stages of the history of science. At the same time, today, theology itself is increasingly appealing to the imagination. In this perspective, one of the main tasks facing theology is the reception of the scientific imagination at both levels of its functioning: as a paradigm of thinking and a specific set of information that makes up the modern scientific picture of the world. Scientific imagination, not only that which comes from art, literature and philosophy, can significantly stimulate the theological imagination. Full article

Studies on youth theology, although a relatively new research field, offer various theoretical frameworks and methodological approaches concerning young people’s theological thought structures. These studies not only illuminate the process of religious identity formation among youth but also provide an opportunity to reassess the pedagogical and practical dimensions of religious education. In particular, analyses of the intersections of youth theology with family, educational, and religious contexts offer practitioners of this field new perspectives and horizons not only at the theoretical but also at the practical level, contributing to a more inclusive and effective structuring of religious education. The main purpose of this study is to present the contributions of youth theology to the theoretical and practical dimensions of religious education in an analytical framework. In this context, the focus of this study is to examine how the perspectives offered by youth theology on the religious identity construction, spiritual development, and social roles of young individuals can shape the content, methods, and practices of religious education. In this regard, examining the relationship between the pedagogical dynamics of youth theology and religious education aims to provide a theoretical enrichment to the literature and innovative approaches to practical applications. This study was designed with the case study method, which is one of the qualitative research designs, and the document analysis technique was used as a data collection tool. The research data were analyzed using the descriptive evaluation method. This approach enabled the research to be handled in an in-depth and systematic manner and to present the relevant data in a meaningful way. This study, which deals with the phenomena of youth and theology in relation to each other, aims to examine the interactions between these phenomena in depth. In the concluding section, various educational models for religious education targeting young individuals are proposed, offering practical recommendations derived from a theoretical framework. These recommendations aim to highlight the potential contributions of youth theology to religious education, serving as a guiding resource for future research and applications. Full article

Early post-Vatican Catholic moral theologians made significant global proposals for renewed theological ethics in their own time and culture. However, after the culmination of the work of these great scholars in the 1980s and 1990s, Catholic moral theology became anchored in contingent polemic and polarized debates. It ceased to offer integral proposals of fundamental Christian ethics for the new challenges in the personal, intersubjective, and social scenarios. Subsequent studies often focused on bioethics, sexuality, family, and social justice but rarely attempted to renew a public fundamental morality for the 21st century. The essential features of this article are the proposal of new categories and debates for fundamental moral theology, grounded on the conviction that promoting this discipline as a humanization proposal builds on the profound potential human beings are called to fulfill. Humanity understood in all its complexity requires a theological ethics capable of incorporating this human condition and its categories, such as vulnerability, corporality, and recognition from a transdisciplinary point of view. These challenges underscore the urgent need for a renewed ethical framework articulated in a significant language for our time. Drawing on extensive literature and analytical research methods, it examines the interplay between these multifaceted issues. Full article

There is a long and complex history of Christian–Muslim engagement, one which is fraught by socio-political tensions and complicated by fear. Theological tensions likewise contribute to the sibling rivalry between these Abrahamic faiths. Accounting for fundamental theological differences between Islam and Christianity, and noting a potential dichotomy between apologetic-style and interfaith engagement, this article contends that effective Christian–Muslim relations must navigate both opposing truth claims and efforts to seek peace. Consequently, comparative theology is critically evaluated, from an evangelical Christian perspective, as a potential mediating approach. In considering the complex relationship between comparative theology and theology of religion, and indeed, between theology and ‘people of faith’, recommendations are formulated with a view to contributing to effective Christian–Muslim relations. The overall aim of this research therefore is to explore approaches to developing more effective Christian–Muslim relations, with a specific focus on comparative theology. While motivated by and accounting for a personal Christian–Muslim sibling relationship, the research method predominantly references academic literature, with sections structured by an amended version of Osmer’s four-task model of practical theology. Findings from this research discern that comparative theology is not quite the mediating approach sought; however, its potential contribution towards a ‘hybrid approach’ is explored. The implications of this article seek to encourage orthodox Muslims and evangelical Christians to engage in comparative exchanges that employ a balanced and in-depth approach to understanding our respective faiths. Finally, this article emerges from within the UK; therefore, discussions presented may be differently received by evangelical Christians operating out of divergent biographical contexts. Full article

“If there is no space in our faith communities where children can participate in theological work, how can children create a theology that will liberate them?” R.L. Stollar asks in his book, The Kingdom of Children: A Liberation Theology (2023). Popular Christian parenting literature since the 1970s has encouraged adults to view children as undisciplined trainees with little of value to offer their families and churches other than their obedience. Exploration of the recent history of Christian parenting literature and its intersections with politics and other Christian media reveals that there is substantial overlap between the communities most impacted by these books and those that utilize contemporary praise and worship music (CPWM). Using a child liberation theology framework, I examine the ways that prevailing ideas in parenting books have enabled a “parent-centered” model of musical worship in many evangelical churches. By observing the ways children are invited into or implicitly discouraged from participation in corporate musical worship, we can better understand the ways that CPWM practice might be reshaped in a more liberatory direction—one that will benefit children and adults, and foster a more radically unified church. Full article

The issue of the theology of memory has been acknowledged in a number of Miroslav Volf’s publications, including “The End of Memory”. In light of Volf’s public theology of memory, this article addressed the issue of what should be done for Zimbabweans who witnessed the public tragedies of Gukurahundi, Fast Tracked Land Reform Programme, Murambatsvina, and election-related conflicts and death. Every one of these people has a slightly unique story to tell. Stories on social injustice in Zimbabwe can be told from different kinds of angles. Aspects of Volf’s theology of memory that encourage the development of both new narratives and memories of social injustice narratives are discussed in the article’s conclusion. This article examines social justice in Zimbabwe through an interpretation of Miroslav Volf’s public theology of memory. Miroslav Volf’s theology will be used as a point of departure and critique in this article, along with a mixed approach to qualitative research and the gathering and analysis of the relevant research literature. Full article

Much of the literature on digital religious authority has focused on spiritual “influencers” and the challenges they pose to traditional religious hierarchies and structures of authority. Less attention has been dedicated to religious websites, social media pages, and digital feeds whose popularity and influence do not hinge on the personalistic qualities of their creators. There is a wide assortment of generic religious reference sites that, although developed and managed by largely anonymous webmasters and administrators, command significant audiences and exert substantial influence on religious interpretations and practices. We argue that anonymity affords certain advantages for bolstering visibility and influence that have hitherto received insufficient attention in the literature on religion, authority, and cyberspace. In contrast to spiritual influencers, who draw attention to their personal biographies, credentials, appearances, and connections to enhance their legitimacy and authority, individuals or groups who administer religious reference sites commonly employ alternative strategies that involve concealing personal identities, experiences, and affiliations. Their aim is to come off as neutral, impartial, and free of ideological baggage that might bias their interpretations. This facilitates their efforts to frame the content they share as a form of universal religious truth that transcends ideological and sectarian differences. Our analysis centers on websites and social media pages that provide guidance to Spanish speakers on Islamic theology, jurisprudence, and piety. Full article

Approximately seven in twenty marriages end in divorce in the UK, causing anxiety, depression, and a lasting impact on children. British evangelicals may fare better than average but are not immune from divorce. Despite a rich body of theological literature offering perspectives on divorce contributed by British evangelical scholars, there have been no related empirical studies to examine the lived experience of divorced evangelicals or the pastoral practitioners who support them. My study captures this missing empirical data, finding that evangelical divorce is a life-changing trauma that church practices sometimes compound. In contrast, those who reported integrated, empathetic, and restorative practices in their church or on the Restored Lives course say they were better able to cope, heal, and find hope. Irrespective of the pastoral environment, God was reported to act with compassion. The study employed mixed qualitative methods to capture the empirical data, which were analyzed and brought into dialog with relevant evangelical academic theology and documented practice. I concluded that in the context of complex connections and disconnections between the evangelical domains of theory and practice, integrated, empathetic, and restorative approaches toward the divorced are possible, effective, and disclose a God of grace. Full article