A Methodological Investigation on Christian Natural Theology

Abstract

Summary The purpose of this article is to present a desirable understanding of Christian natural theology in terms of methodology. In the Enlightenment era, natural theology was understood as that which provides support for religious beliefs by starting from a premise that does not include any religious beliefs. The natural theology of this age was performed under the premise that humanity could prove God’s existence by universal reason without the revelation of God, and that everyone could reasonably agree with the proof. Today, however, the concept of universal reason, which all humans have in common, is being questioned. Today it has become clear that the human reason is conditioned by some sort of perspective formed within a particular culture, tradition, and community and therefore operates in a very diverse way. This article aims at proposing a natural theology which is required today methodologically in terms of postfoundational Christian natural theology. This investigation proceeds in the following order: the creation theology of the Old Testament (II; the natural theology in Christian history (III); the definition of Christian natural theology (IV); today’s Christian natural theology as a creation theology (theology of nature) and as a scientific theology (V); Jürgen Moltmann’s Christian natural theology in terms of methodology (VI); the postfoundational Christian natural theology as a model of postmodern Christian natural theology (VII); conclusion (VIII).