Theological Concepts Research Articles

The many faces of natural theology: Diverse projects, distinct roles, and the pursuit of clarity

Abstract The term ‘natural theology’ provokes a variety of reactions, spanning from whole-hearted endorsement to passionate rejection. Charged as it is with polemical and pejorative undertones, this debate begs for an intervention. If the scholarly community is to engage constructively with the concept and practice of natural theology – either by way of acceptance, rejection, or something in between – clarity in its definition and identification is imperative. The aim of this paper is to try to shed some light on three of the most common definitions of ‘natural theology’ in contemporary scholarship, to provide clarity about the ways in which they differ, and to propose some conceptual refinements in the hope that, if adopted, more fruitful discourse may take place in relation to this much-debated and interdisciplinary phrase.

Հայոց եկեղեցու փոխհարաբերությունները Բյուզանդիայի և Մերձավոր Արեւելքի եկեղեցական կենտրոնների հետ

In his time John (Hovhannes) of Odzun (d. 728) proclaimmed that the hierarchical structure, theological conceptions and the rite of the Armenian Church were inherited from the time of the apostles. Along with the restoration of the public institutions in the Bagratid period (880s-1045), the Armenian authorities granted vast privileges to the Church, which turned into the most influential leverage for maintaining the inner and foreign policy of the state. In order to shatter the Bagratid Kingdom, the Byzantine Empire resorted to inciting conflicts between the Chalcedonian and anti-Chalcedonian Churches. Trying to subjugate Armenians and their territories at any cost, the Byzantine emperors weakened the religious structure of the Armenian Church. With the Seljuq raids of the 11th century we see that policy of Byzantium led to the Byzantine secession of the Minor Asian provinces where the Iconian Sultanate (or Sultanate of Rum, 1077-1308) and the Danishmandid State (1104-1178) were created by the Seljuq Turks. This continued with the gradual loss of the entire Minor Asian holdings of the Byzantine Empire and the emergence of the Ottoman Empire over the Byzantine territory. Finally the capital Constantinople was taken in 1453. The history of Armenian-Byzantine church relations shows that the mentioned churches had multifaceted religious and cultural relations. Over the centuries, they have made attempts to settle religious differences. In the process, each of them created a unique culture and civil system, the study of which allows us to understand their role in the modern world. To understand the characteristics of these cultures, detailed studies of ecclesiastical and literary monuments are assumed.

Theology of Development: Addressing Poverty and Inequality in Nigeria and Kenya

To combat poverty and injustice in Nigeria and Kenya, this article examines how religion and development connect. Notwithstanding their abundance of natural resources, both countries struggle with serious socioeconomic issues that compromise human dignity and impede long-term development. The research claims that frameworks for addressing these problems may be effectively provided by theological concepts like social justice, stewardship, and the preferred choice for the poor. The study emphasizes the critical role that Christian organizations play in advancing social justice and sustainable development by looking at the historical backgrounds, faith-based activities, and theological underpinnings in both nations. The results indicate that incorporating religious perspectives into development approaches not only offers workable answers but also improves the moral and ethical aspects of development initiatives in Kenya and Nigeria.

Christian perspectives on music education: A framework for teaching to reach heads, hearts, and hands

The purpose of this article is to present a Christian perspective on teaching music. Throughout history, Christianity has pervaded the field of music education, impacting the way and the reasons music is taught. This article presents a brief review of historical and theological concepts relating to the philosophy of music education, with specific attention given to orthodoxy, orthopathos, and orthopraxis (or in simpler terms, head, heart, and hands). A preliminary philosophical framework is presented for incorporating the concept of teaching music to educate heads, hearts, and hands.

Meningkatkan Daya Nalar Kritis melalui Metode PBL dalam Pembelajaran Pendidikan Agama Katolik Siswa Kelas VIII A SMP Negeri 2 Playen

This study aims to improve students' critical thinking skills in Catholic Religious Education through the implementation of Problem-Based Learning (PBL). The subjects of this study were students of class VIIIA at SMP Negeri 2 Playen during the first semester of the 2024/2025 academic year. The research was conducted in two cycles, which included the stages of planning, implementation, observation, and reflection. Data were collected through pre-tests and post-tests, observations, and interviews, and analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively. The results showed that the implementation of PBL significantly improved students' critical thinking skills. In the first cycle, the average pre-test score was 5.3, which increased to 7.2 in the post-test (a 36% increase). However, most students still struggled to relate theological concepts to real-life situations. In the second cycle, the average pre-test score increased to 6.5, while the post-test average reached 8.4 (a 29% increase). Student engagement in group discussions and problem-solving activities also improved, with participation levels increasing from 65% in the first cycle to 85% in the second cycle. The implementation of PBL proved effective not only in developing critical thinking skills but also in helping students deeply understand the material on The Mission and Calling of Jesus’ Disciples and apply religious values in daily life. Therefore, PBL is recommended as a relevant learning method to support the development of critical thinking skills and student engagement in religious education.

Analisis Teologi Sosial Dalam Pemertahanan Identitas Kultural Kesamen Masyarakat Hindu Di Desa Sembiran Buleleng

Kesamen, as a local wisdom passed down through generations, is preserved and maintained by the Sembiran community as a core part of their identity. From a social theology perspective, Kesamen represents efforts to uphold ancestral values that emphasize equality and unite the community in a socio-religious framework, while also preventing conflicts of interest. This study aims to examine the Kesamen system in the Sembiran community through the lens of social theology, particularly as a form of cultural identity preservation. The research uses a qualitative approach with data collection methods including observation, interviews, literature studies, and documentation. The findings show that Kesamen values align with the concept of social theology, reflected in daily practices such as Tri Hita Karana, Karma Phala, Tat Twam Asi, and Menyama Braya. Sembiran village is known for its rich traditions and culture, with moral values integrated into various aspects of social life, from individual relationships to community interactions. The preservation of Kesamen holds significant meaning, especially in maintaining religious values, fostering togetherness, ensuring social and cultural sustainability, and stabilizing society. In conclusion, Kesamen plays an essential role in strengthening social cohesion, preserving the cultural identity of the Sembiran community, and resisting external cultural domination. These values also boost the community's confidence in safeguarding their identity and solidarity.

A Theological and Scriptural Basis for Laylayan Theology

This paper aims to deepen the understanding of laylayan theology by examining its foundations in sacred scriptures and teachings of the Catholic Church. Among the myriad approaches in Asian theologizing, laylayan theology appropriates a Filipino cultural concept to articulate the lived religion of those on the peripheries. Through reflection on the scriptures, church teachings, and theological concepts concerning the marginalized, laylayan theology seeks to foster a dialogical imagination among the community of missionary disciples. It emphasizes the importance of attentively listening to and amplifying marginalized voices. In the spirit of synodality, all Christians, by their vocation, competence, and experiences, are on “mission on this earth” and called to bear witness to the Kingdom of God.

Understanding God’s (im)mutability and (im)passibility: A Greek patristic point of view

The purpose of this article is to demonstrate that patristic theology has resolved the problem of God’s immutability, which is affirmed paradoxically Holy Scripture. This resolution has been achieved through clarifying of the distinction between God’s essence and his uncreated energies. The Eastern Fathers successfully synthesized key theological concepts: the changelessness of God and his dynamic activity in relation to creation. This synthesis is most profoundly articulated in the Palamite doctrine of the uncreated energies. These energies, while emanating from the changeless essence of God, are nevertheless subject to change. According to this teaching, God is a Trinity of Persons who exists on two primary planes: within himself and in his self-revelation, both in the realms of Theologia and Economia. He is unchangeable in essence, yet changeable, alive, active, and ever-new in his providential action of saving the world through his energies. Because he is transcendent, he can be immanent, instilling in the souls who love him a deeper thirst to know and experience him more profoundly.Contribution: The dogmatic formulas in Eastern Christianity are apophatic, antinomic and paradoxical because they encompass essentially contradictory aspects of a living and inexhaustibly rich reality. Thus, by their very nature, dogmas express everything: the infinite and the finite united – without losing their own being in all their dimensions.

Envisioning the Beloved Community: Racial Justice, Property Law, and the Social Mortgage

Abstract The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was concerned about both poverty and race, inextricably linked because of the long and brutal history of racial injustice in housing, employment, and education. What Dr. King called the beloved community reflected a vision of a world built on peace, human dignity, and shared material abundance for all people. To explore this linkage of poverty and race, I employ two related Christian theological concepts: the universal destiny of the goods of the earth and the social mortgage that encumbers all private property to ensure the equitable provision of those goods to all and for all generations. I analyze the ways in which the universal destiny of goods can be mediated through U.S. property law by structuring the ownership and use of land and buildings within the context of social obligation. But while the law has the capacity to ensure ownership, security, and infrastructure for all, U.S. society has failed to make the necessary payments on the social mortgage that would create this reality—a failure due primarily to severe racial and economic injustices, both historical and contemporary. Yet there is hope: I present examples that offer glimpses of the beloved community.

Симптомы теологии в письме Луи Альтюссера

The aim of the study is to examine Louis Althusser’s writing for traces, theological concepts and theological rhetorical figures. While several of Althusser’s texts discuss the Church as an ideological apparatus – a social organism that reproduces specific ideologies – his work largely sidesteps direct engagement with theol-ogy. The article pays special attention to the interpellation theory of the subject and the concept of “overdeter-mination”. The key thesis of the article is that L. Althussers’ writing can reveal symptoms and traces of theologi-cal thought, in particular with regard to one of the most significant motives of L. Althusser’s theory – the general structure of Ideology. As a result, the presence of traces of theological thought is shown in those fragments of L. Althusser’s writing that relate to the interpellation theory of the subject, the material practice of ideology and the determination of the processes of reproduction of the total structure.

Is God evolving? Totems in contemporary art

This article explores the evolution of totemic symbolism in contemporary visual art and its profound link with religious concepts, particularly the image of God. It examines how artists reinterpret sacred themes through totems, reflecting both historical religious traditions and modern societal transformations. Through a review of totemic representations from ancient to contemporary artworks, this study illuminates the evolving portrayal of divine figures – from traditional religious icons to more personalised spiritual symbols. This evolution not only signifies changes in artistic expression but also suggests a deepening societal understanding of divinity. The analysis highlights the totem’s role as a mediator between the human and the divine, offering insights into the spiritual connections that transcend conventional religious frameworks. This research not only enriches the discourse on the relationship between art and religion but also underscores the dynamic interaction between cultural heritage and contemporary artistic exploration.Contribution: This study enriches the field of art history and religious studies by tracing the transformative representation of totems in art from ancient symbolism to modern reinterpretations. It underscores the totem’s role as a dynamic symbol in contemporary visual culture, facilitating deeper spiritual connections and dialogues across various cultural and religious landscapes. The findings of this study provide a nuanced understanding of how contemporary art mediates complex theological concepts, thus offering new perspectives on the intersection of art, religion and spirituality.

Tolerance before Secularism: Models of Tolerance in Nineteenth-Century Arabic

By analyzing temporal language, this study investigates the intellectual origins and the conceptual history of three concepts of tolerance that emerged in the Arabic context towards the end of the 19th century. The first is a philosophical concept that has evolved within the philosophical-rational tradition and has connections to the Enlightenment and liberalism. The second is a theological concept that advocates for a harmonious interpretation of all monotheistic religions based on the assumption that all monotheistic scriptures are true. The third is a legal Islamic concept that aims to preserve the traditional imperial and hierarchical Islamic system while addressing contemporary concerns related to citizenship and political affiliation. Tolerance is frequently examined within the research framework on secularity and secularism. Before secularism emerged as a holistic doctrine in Arabic (ʿalmāniyya), discussions surrounding tolerance were closely linked to societal and political principles, including civil equality, freedom of conscience, and the neutrality of religion in the public domain.

Basic Framework of Apophatic Metaphysics (Negative Theology) Toward Islamic Higher Education System: Analytical Study at Perguruan Tinggi Keagamaan Islam Negeri (Ptkin) In Indonesia

The construction of the metaphysics of divinity that exists in the Islamic higher education system, especially in Perguruan Tinggi Keagamaan Islam Negeri (PTKIN) - in the form of universities) in Indonesia has been finalized and established. It turns out that there was a logic of metaphysics of divinity that was different from the mainstreaming of the established metaphysics, namely metaphysics (apophatic theology). Based on this reality, this study focused on the construction on the concept of apophatic theology that grew and developed in the Islamic higher education system in PTKIN (namely UIN Sumatera Utara, UIN Malang, and UIN Jember). The research problem in this study was how does the construction of apophatic theology in the Islamic higher education system develop at UIN Sumatera utara, UIN Malang, and UIN Jember? In order to analytically answer this question, this study used a qualitative approach with data collection techniques; such as in-depth interviews, participatory observation, and documentation. The data analysis used interactive data analysis from Miles, Hubermann, and Saldana. This study found that apophatic theology was positioned as a discourse of profetization of divine values expressed through a negative style. The theological construction basically "rejects" divine knowledge with the logic of negation and paradox. This apophatic theology in the Islamic higher education system builds an axiological framework that more oriented towards the dimensions of humanity and divinity; or the profane dimension and transcendental.

Building and Applying Al-Insyirah Theology: Muhammadiyah's Philanthropic Response to the COVID-19 Crisis

This article explores the theological concept of al-Insyirah within Muhammadiyah, a concept introduced by Haedar Nashir. Al-Insyirah theology is relatively new compared to the more established theologies of al-Ma'un and al-'Ashr, making it a rare subject of study. This gap in research motivated the study of al-Insyirah theology. The research employs a descriptive-analytical method, presenting and then analyzing collected data. The article covers three main areas: the background of al-Insyirah theology, its theological construction, and its manifestation within the Muhammadiyah community. The study concludes that al-Insyirah theology emerged as a response to the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. It aims to inspire optimism and resilience in the face of difficulties. Manifestations of this theology include the growth of Muhammadiyah's charitable ventures (Amal Usaha Muhammadiyah) and social movements, which contribute to shaping a progressive future for Islam, particularly among Indonesian Muslims.

The “Theology” of Richard Rohr

Based on R. Rohr’s book The Universal Christ, this arti-cle presents a very critical review of Rohr’s „theology“. It focuses on Rohr’s crucial theological decisions, on his hermeneutics, his biblical interpretations and some important theological concepts as sin, evil, or christology. It sets Rohr’s view into a critical contrast to the tradition and current literature to particular topics. As concluded in the end, based on the reasons provided, the article doubts that Rohr’s propsal can stand to academic scrutiny.

“But who do you say that I am?” Affectus Fidei and Bonds of Trust in Psychoanalytic Practice

Affective bonds that span our lives rest on a foundation of credibility and truth. This study proposes an introductory description of theological and psychoanalytic elements that build a conceptual model resting on the fundamental truths of Christian faith. Theological elements are used to form a floor whereon psychotherapeutic work can rest and build the path that runs from the awareness of symptoms and asking for help to the attainment of enduring and authentic happiness. Affectus fidei (the affection of faith) emerges as the central theological concept that ties together the existential-relational elements of human life as observed in the here-and-now of therapeutic work, toward the development of confidence and self-understanding that leads toward growth and health. The here-and-now of therapeutic attainments depends on the symbolic space that opens between past and future, the real and the imaginary, the desired and the unhoped for. Without a foundation of credibility and truth, the symbolic activity of therapy that aims at a more mature look at one's life cannot emerge. When the affective space of therapy is recognized as credible, the symbolic dimension emerges and the work of therapy flourishes. Only then do the members of the therapeutic couple surrender confidently to the persuasive affective bond that rests on the credibility of the good.

Have You Eaten?

Abstract Throughout history, empires have promised perpetual peace and justice for all; however, they have constantly bathed in blood while expanding their colonies and control. This paper intends to explore the theological concept of peacemaking from the experiences of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (uccp) and the Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea (prok), both of which suffered from U.S. (neo)colonialism. It also aims to study how we can live faithfully amidst the empire by decolonizing theology and the church. To achieve this, I will begin by reviewing the concept of peace as proclaimed by empires, from the Roman to the American, and contrast it with the biblical concept of peace. This will be followed by analyzing and evaluating the impact of the received colonial American Protestant cultures and the churches’ responses to the colonial gospel. The final part will propose peace as a way of peacemaking amid the empire. This paper suggests that the concept of peacemaking is essential to decolonizing theology, particularly the theology of sallim (life-giving).

Theology and Modernity: Exploring Faith, Morality, and Human Condition Through Dostoevsky and De Lubac

In a world increasingly characterized by secularism and philosophical questioning, traditional theological beliefs face ongoing challenges. This article explores the convergence of religious thought and critical theory in the field of critical theology and demonstrates how theological concepts can critique and reshape social structures and the human existence. It synthesizes insights from the literary works of Fyodor Dostoevsky and the scholarly perspectives of Henri de Lubac, Joseph Frank, David Foster Wallace, and Frederick Copleston. The discussion emphasizes Dostoevsky’s relevance in examining faith, morality, and existential angst while exploring the fusion of theological and secular ideas to promote social justice and human well-being. This article accentuates the essential role of theology in contemporary society and argues for a balanced approach that considers both religious traditions and secular viewpoints. This interdisciplinary perspective provides a solid framework for understanding and improving the human condition.

Misunderstanding Equality, Power, and Vulnerability: Elevating the Individual over Cohesion in Hierarchy as a Value

Abstract This article explores dominant ideas of value at play in a critical incident experienced by international mission candidates on a team placement, in an Anglican community of the United Kingdom. The ethnographic analysis will compare different perspectives on how misunderstanding cultural values and social relations as theological obligations can lead to suffering. Thus, the study shows how qualitative differences in cultural values and social relations determine contrary ways of understanding theological conceptualizations of equality as a Christian idea in contact zones of international mission communities. The analysis challenges two Christian assumptions: firstly, that extending equal value to people before God is universally understood in the same way, and secondly, that individual well-being is inherently superior to ensuring social cohesion, exemplified by Korean hierarchy. Although people realize hierarchy and individualism the world over, the nuances of meaning dominating their relations to other values determine why and how people experience suffering.

Distributed Normativity in Theology: On the Relevance of Empirical Research Approaches to Systematic Theology

Abstract Empirical research methods have traditionally been absent from and are still foreigners to systematic theology. However, the turn toward practices in academic studies of religion and theology implies that empirical research methodologies cannot be deemed irrelevant to systematic theology. This article explores Hanna Reichel’s theory of theology as design, focusing on the understanding of theology as practice and the potential implications regarding the relevance of empirical methods to systematic theology. Bringing Reichel’s concept of theology as design into dialogue with Geir Afdal’s concept of distributed normativity, this article makes the case that the question of the affordances of a theological interpretation is not only an imperative theological one but also an empirical one, calling for empirical research methods.