The Return of Metaphysics: Is This the Way Forward?

Abstract

The history of the relationship between Christian theology and metaphysics is a complex one. The present contribution argues that Christian theology and metaphysics do not have the same subject matter. Christian theology is concerned with the gospel, with God’s word, and therefore also with certain aspects that pertain to ontology (God’s being or essence, as manifested in God’s act), whereas metaphysics pursues an inquiry into the question of ‘being’ as such, at times independently from a concern for being-in-act. Certainly, theologians can learn much from such inquiry, especially with regard to terminological precision, and therefore a dialogue may be beneficial, but theologians should not let their subject matter be replaced with the theme(s) of metaphysics.