Theological Arguments Research Articles

Priests and their Bodies after Trent: (Dis)abilities, Masculinities, Sexualities

This article discusses the impact of a “corporeal turn” in early modern religious history on recent publications in Counter‐Reformation Catholic History. Scholars increasingly look towards the Church's legal archives in Rome as a source of information about ecclesiastical and theological attitudes to the body and sexuality. The figure of the priest has emerged as one of the most interesting subjects in that inquiry because of the richness of material about clerics which those archives hold. Scholars are now engaged in study of how past generations of theologians, ecclesiastical magistrates, and medics assessed priestly abilities and disabilities, priests' engagement in sexual acts, and their wider performances of masculine identities. Rome's role as a major centre in shaping Catholic masculinities is reinforced in this scholarship but a new study underscores the blurred boundaries between the lay and ecclesiastical in masculinities there. Overall, this research provides much new material both for rethinking historical questions about Trent's impact on reform discourses and also for commenting on contemporary debates in theology and Church politics about the nature of Christian priesthood.

Dante’s Political Eschatology: Resurrecting the Social Body in Paradiso 14

This article investigates Dante’s engagement with one of the key and most controversial academic questions of the late Middle Ages: the beatific vision after the general resurrection. This essay focuses on Paradiso 14, where the character of King Solomon explains that the souls’ vision of God will increase after reuniting with their resurrected bodies. After briefly reconstructing the theological debate engaged by Dante’s treatment of the general resurrection, and discussing the prevailing tendencies in the scholarship on Paradiso 14 and the body–soul relationship in the Commedia, this essay provides a new interpretation of this canto from a social and political perspective. It argues that in Dante’s eschatological vision, the resurrected body appears to be essential for the ultimate fulfillment of humanity’s social nature.

„… sie seÿ nicht from.“ – Das Böse in den Hexenprozessen des Schäßburger Stuhls im 17. und 18. Jahrhundert

Abstract There has been no in-depth research into witches and witchcraft trials on Transylvanian Fundus regius for over 50 years. The most recent contributions on the subject either examined the language of the relatively abundant surviving witness testimonies or were content with putting the Transylvanian witchcraft trials in the European mainstream context of the modern era. This paper analyses the published documents of the witchcraft trials of the Sighișoara Seat from the point of view of “dealing” with evil. Starting from the mentality and the state of the theological debate of the time, it focuses on the historical context and the social environment in order to recognize attitudes and strategies of the actors in the process of dealing with evil within the local community.

Sacrifice in Judaism and its Challenges to Christian Religious Worship in Nigeria: A Comparative Analysis

This comparative analysis explores the concept of sacrifice in Judaism and its challenges to Christian religious worship in Nigeria. Sacrifice holds significance in both faith traditions, influencing worship practices in diverse ways. The study focuses on theological implications, historical contexts, and contemporary relevance of sacrificial practices in Judaism and Christianity. In Judaism, sacrifice historically played a central role in religious worship, with rituals of animal offerings serving as means of atonement, thanksgiving, and communion with God. The Hebrew Bible outlines detailed instructions for sacrificial practices, emphasizing purity, obedience, and spiritual intent. However, with the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 CE, the practice of animal sacrifice ceased, leading to new interpretations of sacrifice within Jewish theology. In Nigeria, Christianity has become dominant, coexisting with traditional religious practices involving sacrificial offerings to deities and spirits. The introduction of Christianity in Nigeria has presented challenges to traditional sacrificial practices, resulting in theological debates, cultural conflicts, and shifts in religious identity among Nigerian Christians. The tension between traditional sacrificial rituals and Christian teachings on sacrifice has influenced religious worship practices in Nigeria, showcasing the complexities of religious syncretism and cultural adaptation. This analysis examines the challenges that the concept of sacrifice poses to Christian religious worship in Nigeria, exploring how the legacy of sacrificial practices in Judaism influences Christian perspectives on sacrifice, redemption, and divine worship. By comparing sacrificial traditions in Judaism and Christianity, this study aims to deepen understanding of how religious beliefs, cultural traditions, and theological perspectives interact and evolve in diverse religious contexts. Keywords: Sacrifice, Judaism, Christianity, Religious Worship, Nigeria, Comparative Analysis, Theology, Rituals, Syncretism, Cultural Adaptation

Den teologiske andre

Religious Studies has a history of distancing itself from theology with the claim of being descriptive and theologically neutral. University theology, with reference here to Mårten Björk's recent article, on its part dis­tances itself against confessional theology. A norm-critical reading of these two claims makes clear that they are not substantiated. With Ingemar Hedenius as a starting point, it becomes clear that he assumes a particular view of "faith" as not entailing any extra type of knowledge, while this would be contested by theologians such as Augustine and Duns Scotus. What an awareness of the theological debates about faith and reason shows is that theological claims of the relationship between nature and supernature precedes the choice of method in Religious Studies and confessionally informed theology of ministry is used to defend a "two-room" solution between confessional and university theology.

Religion and Ecology: Perspectives on Environment and Sustainability across Religious Traditions

Abstract This editorial introduces Religion & Development Vol. 2, Issue 3 – Special Issue on “Religion and Ecology: Perspectives on Environment and Sustainability across Religious Traditions.” The articles delve into the intricate relationship between religion and ecology from diverse perspectives. The prevailing academic discourse on religion and ecology is centered on three fundamental aspects. Firstly, it underscores the potential of religious communities to actively combat climate change by shaping worldviews and guiding community and personal activities. Secondly, it scrutinizes the practical implementation of these contributions by religious communities, exploring both obstacles and facilitators for their environmental engagement. Lastly, it emphasizes how religious communities furnish theological and spiritual arguments in support of environmental protection, thereby motivating believers to take proactive measures. This special issue contributes to these ongoing discussions by presenting insights from all three perspectives, enhancing the discourse with distinctive viewpoints from Buddhism, Hinduism, Judaism, African Traditional Religions, Indigenous Religious Traditions, and interfaith perspectives. The incorporation of diverse religious traditions complements recent dialogues on development and sustainability, thereby providing a more comprehensive understanding of the intersection between religion and ecology.

Political theology, discovery and the roots of the ‘great replacement’

In recent years, fears of the ‘great replacement’, popularised by Renaud Camus, warning against a supposed Islamist take-over of France, have motivated White supremacist violence and resulted in mass shootings in Europe, New Zealand and the US. The author shows how this conspiracy theory can be traced back to medieval theological doctrines used to justify the conquest of Muslim lands in Al-Andalus and later refined to warrant the European subjugation of the Indigenous nations of the Americas, Australia and New Zealand. Through papal authority, the ‘Doctrine of Discovery’ bestowed a God-given right on Christian nations to take and control lands, wiping out or confining Indigenous people, to then repopulate countries at will − itself the real racial reversal of settler colonialism. The theological argument is now thoroughly secularised in law in the US. ‘A great replacement’, incorporating the Doctrine of Discovery coupled with eugenicist ideas, can be found in the works of Lothrop Stoddard, and echoes are found even today in utterances from US politicians and on Fox News.

Vulnerability, Recognition, and the Ethics of Pregnancy: A Theological Response

Abstract Vulnerability is a notion discussed in feminist philosophy as a basis for a morality that widens our sense of those whose deaths are grievable. Vulnerability and grievability also factor in reproductive ethics. This essay employs recognition theory to analyze critically how these notions are mobilized in conservative Christian anti-abortion writings and in feminist philosophy. This analysis exposes weaknesses and misrecognition in both sets of discourses. In response, I offer theological arguments for recognizing fetal value without implying a right to life and for acknowledging how human finitude and the precarity of pregnancy render gestational hospitality a discretionary, not obligatory, moral act.

The Fundamental Underpinning of Biological Theory of Spontaneous Generation in Biology

The concept of spontaneous generation, originating from ancient philosophical and theological debates, has persisted through scientific inquiry and paradigm shifts. This article explores the historical trajectory of spontaneous generation theory from its roots in Aristotelian philosophy to its refutation by pivotal experiments in the seventeenth and nineteenth centuries. Through an examination of key figures such as Louis Pasteur and Francesco Redi, the evolution of scientific understanding regarding the origin of life is elucidated. Pasteur's contributions to germ theory and experimental microbiology, including his famous swan-neck flask experiment, played a decisive role in discrediting the notion of spontaneous generation. Moreover, Redi's controlled experiments with meat and flies provided empirical evidence against the spontaneous generation of maggots. The article also delves into the broader socio-political context surrounding these scientific debates, highlighting the influence of societal authorities and shifting scientific paradigms on the acceptance of new ideas. Additionally, it discusses the role of advancements in microbiology and biochemistry in shaping contemporary perspectives on the origin of life, emphasizing the interdisciplinary nature of scientific inquiry in this field. Ultimately, the narrative underscores the pivotal role of empirical evidence and scientific rigor in overturning long-standing beliefs, illuminating the complex interplay between social context, scientific progress, and the quest for understanding life's fundamental processes. Investigations into the spontaneous production of hydrogen peroxide from pure water micro droplets highlight the complexity of spontaneous chemical reactions. Historical perspectives on spontaneous generation, offer valuable insights into the evolution of scientific thought. Synthesizing recent findings with historical context provides a comprehensive understanding of spontaneous generation's implications across diverse research fields.

Beauty, Ugliness, and Black Theology

In this paper, I argue that theological aesthetics speaks powerfully to black experience in light of this very situation. It does so, I find, through the Beauty of the Cross. While the Beauty of the Cross constitutes its own tradition developed through art, architecture, liturgics, and devotion, I use it to gesture broadly to the cruciform character of beauty in theology. The Beauty of the Cross shows how a theological account of beauty necessarily encompasses ugliness. I draw out the implications of this dynamic with regard to three doctrinal areas and related debates in black theology: theological anthropology, soteriology, and eschatology. I aim to show the utility of theological aesthetics for black experience, and center it as a vital resource for black theology.

Beauty, Ugliness, and Black Theology

In this paper, I argue that theological aesthetics speaks powerfully to black experience in light of this very situation. It does so, I find, through the Beauty of the Cross. While the Beauty of the Cross constitutes its own tradition developed through art, architecture, liturgics, and devotion, I use it to gesture broadly to the cruciform character of beauty in theology. The Beauty of the Cross shows how a theological account of beauty necessarily encompasses ugliness. I draw out the implications of this dynamic with regard to three doctrinal areas and related debates in black theology: theological anthropology, soteriology, and eschatology. I aim to show the utility of theological aesthetics for black experience, and center it as a vital resource for black theology.

Moderation in the Scottish Enlightenment: the case of Robert Wallace

ABSTRACT Robert Wallace (1697–1771) was a leading minister of the Church of Scotland, but he remains a largely overlooked figure in the literature. Nevertheless, his participation in philosophical and theological debates offers a glimpse of the complex positions of the Scottish clergy – and of Scottish moderation on its own terms. Wallace’s moderation was evident, for example, in his opposition both to radical deism and orthodox dogmatism. Yet what makes Wallace’s case particularly interesting is that he described himself as a ‘moderate freethinker’ in a letter to David Hume, while distinguishing elsewhere the ‘moderate’ and ‘sober’ freethinkers from the dangerously sceptical ones. Exploring his consistent statements on this issue in various writings throughout his career, this article investigates the self-identified moderation of Wallace – in opposition, for example, to his rival freethinker William Dudgeon – and thus the clergy’s attempt to use this category in the shaping of their vision of the Scottish Enlightenment.

Présence réelle, sacramentalité et Chemin synodal en Allemagne

The Bishop of Passau gives an account of his experience of the German Synodical Way, whose method he evaluates in the light of the norms of theological debate. Calls for reform cannot be evaluated without a renewed experience of God’s real presence.

“In the Name of the God of All Names: Yahweh, Obatalá, Olorum”: The 1981 Quilombos Mass as an Ecumenical Pilgrimage in Brazil

AbstractOn November 22, 1981, thousands of laypeople, along with bishops, priests, and theologians, gathered in Recife to celebrate the Eucharist. Offered during a military dictatorship in a period of popular insurgency, the Quilombos Mass mourned the death of millions in the African slave trade, sought pardon for the Church's past sins, and celebrated the resistance of Blacks in Brazil and beyond its borders. The acclaimed Black Brazilian pop star and activist Milton de Nascimento collaborated with an activist poet and three bishops to produce a multimedia performance; in the spirit of liberation theology, it was marked by striking visuals, dance, music, and the invocation of the sacred. This article draws on reportage, speeches and correspondence, military court and intelligence records, published interviews, and the author's interview with one of its composers. It offers a close textual analysis, with attention to Catholic theological debates, as well as an analysis of the performance itself, drawn from video recordings and bringing attention to aspects neglected by most commentators, who refer only to the album, as it was finally produced. Initially stifled by the Vatican, Milton's masterpiece, issued as an album on vinyl and performed in paid concerts, became a powerful cultural reference for activists, serving as a touchstone for a strategic alliance between Black activists and the liberationist Church.

Chrześcijański argument „z sensu życia i świata” wobec buddyjskiego poglądu na rzeczywistość

The starting point of the article is the „argument from meaning” used in fundamental theology. The authors referring to it argue that only religion can give meaning to human life and the world. A man who does not want to run away from ultimate questions is faced with an alternative: faith in God or nihilism. Among religions, however, there is one that rejects belief in God and in any transcendence, and yet claims to be a source of meaning in life for its adepts. This religion is Buddhism. In this study, an attempt was made to confront the theological argumentation "from the meaning of life and the world" with the Buddhist worldview. The aim of such a confrontation is to locate potential weak points of this type of argumentation, which can help refine it so that it is also convincing for people outside Western culture.

Synodality and Decision-Making Processes: Towards New Bodies of Participation in the Church

The church’s synodal conversion requires a reform of its decision-making processes. Facing the challenge of keeping in balance the common dignity of all the baptized and the value of the hierarchical structure of the church, the participation of all the faithful in decision-making processes is grounded in biblical and theological arguments and defined as a co-responsibility in taking joint decisions. The analysis of two synodal bodies recently established within the Catholic Church in the Amazon and Germany delineates new directions for the renewal of decision-making structures in the church. These directions entail reforming the existing participatory structures and creating new deliberative bodies in the church. Looking at church reality and the practice of consultation and decision-making, synodal conversion ultimately requires the reform of training for church leaders with a view to changing church mindsets and culture.

SHEMBE PHILOSOPHY: THE DECOLONISATION OF RELIGION AND SPIRITUALITY

This piece of scholarly work in the sight of the public is crafted to drive or to win any theological debate or argument but I simple seek to advance the understanding of Shembe in the specific area of His philosophy not the holistic Shembe. This I say because no one on earth can claim in totality that he or she has a better understanding of Shembe, hence choosing the concept of philosophy which is the critical examination of ground fundamental beliefs and analysis of concept, doctrines, and practices was relevant. The process of decolonization has been a significant area of scholarly inquiry in various fields, including religion and spirituality. Shembe philosophy placed a strong emphasis on cultural revival and the restoration of African spiritual practices. The movement sought to reclaim African spirituality while accommodating certain aspects of organic Christianity. Central to Shembe philosophy was to reconnect the so-called lost generation of Abantu in the ancestral connection, the veneration of ancestors, and the preservation of African traditions (Wababa, 2018). The complexity of such role from Jehovah was delicate and crucial. Isaiah Shembe known as Umqaliwendlela would hear a voice singing new unexpected words. A qualitative study method was employed in this study to enable a comprehensive exploration of the experiences, perspectives, and practices within Shembe communities. The study findings revealed that the key principles and teachings of Shembe philosophy have now a massive influence and understanding of decolonization in guiding the community’s beliefs and practices. The community have incorporation of Shembe philosophy into their daily lives for decolonial transformation. The findings further revealed although numerous challenges faced by the Shembe community in their pursuit of decolonization and cultural heritage preservation, but the post-colonial era in South Africa has made much better to defend His philosophy using the current constitution chapter 2 which clearly stipulates in the Bill of Rights, which states that everyone has right to freedom of religion, belief, and opinion. Section 9, the equality clause, prohibits unfair discrimination on various grounds including religion. Shembe fought spiritual the above religious right from as early as 1900 until the formation of the South African Native National Congress (SANNC), later known as the African National Congress (ANC) on the 08 January 1912. In conclusion, the Shembe philosophy has lightning influence in guiding the community’s beliefs and practices. The post-colonial role of Shembe philosophy in the decolonization of religion and spirituality requires further exploration and development.

Towards an “Ecumenical” Council Inside of Orthodoxy!

Ecumenism is a recurrent theme in Orthodox theological debates, but the syntagma “Orthodox ecumenism” is rarely used because it seems to be very restrictive and inappropriate. However, in exceptional situations, such as a war between two Orthodox peoples, I think it might be more than necessary. In the first part of this essay, I will discuss how the mirage of a “third” Rome and the partnership with the Kremlin makes the Russian Church an adversary of ecumenism inside of Orthodoxy. Any Church that blesses a war, aggression, and confrontation and shows imperial tendencies is excluded de facto from the communion with other Churches. In the second part of my work, I will analyze the consequences of the “schism” created by Patriarch Kirill in the bosom of Orthodoxy. What were (or what were not!) the positions of other Orthodox Churches when Patriarch Kirill blessed the war and betrayed the principles of the Gospel of Christ? Why is there a need for a so-called “Ecumenical Orthodox Council” and what are the chances of this happening?

Hope for Faithful Endurance: Divine Simplicity in Hebrews 6:13–20

Abstract The theological argumentation and exhortation for endurance in Heb 6:13–20 involves a notion of divine simplicity in which God’s being is God’s own perfections. In Heb 6:13–20 the Lord’s self-oath from Gen 22:16 means that God is God’s own faithfulness, swearing an oath “by himself,” having “none greater by whom to swear” in order to guarantee an “unchangeable” promise to Abraham that has been eschatologically realized in the heavenly priesthood of the risen Messiah. The first part of this article sketches conversations past and present on the doctrine of divine simplicity, from historically influential traditions to recent proposals to retrieve, revise, or abandon simplicity. The second part develops a theological interpretation of Heb 6:13–20, comparing its reading of the Akedah with Philo of Alexandria’s On Allegorical Interpretation of Genesis 3.203–208. The third part indicates how a doctrine of simplicity informed by theological interpretation of Heb 6:13–20 contributes constructive resources for Christian hope.

The Decolonisation of Religion and Spirituality: A Case of Shembe Philosophy

Purpose: The purpose of this scholarly work or study in the sight of the public is not crafted to drive or to win any theological debate or argument but I simple seek to advance the understanding of Shembe in the specific area of His philosophy not the holistic Shembe. This I say because no one on earth can claim in totality that he or she has a better understanding of Shembe, hence choosing the concept of philosophy which is the critical examination of ground fundamental beliefs and analysis of concept, doctrines, and practices was relevant for this academic paper.
 The process of decolonization has been a significant area of scholarly inquiry in various fields, including religion and spirituality. Shembe philosophy placed a strong emphasis on cultural revival and the restoration of African spiritual practices. The movement sought to reclaim African spirituality while accommodating certain aspects of organic Christianity. Central to Shembe philosophy was to reconnect the so-called lost generation of Abantu in the ancestral connection, the veneration of ancestors, and the preservation of African traditions (Wababa, 2018). The complexity of such role from Jehovah was delicate and crucial. Isaiah Shembe known as Umqaliwendlela would hear a voice singing new unexpected words.
 Methodology: A qualitative study method, interprevist paradigm and phenomenological design was employed in this study to enable a comprehensive exploration of the experiences, perspectives, and practices within Shembe communities.
 Findings: The study findings revealed that the key principles and teachings of Shembe philosophy have a massive influence and understanding of decolonization in guiding the community’s beliefs and practices. The community have incorporation of Shembe philosophy into their daily lives for decolonial transformation. The findings further revealed although numerous challenges faced by the Shembe community in their pursuit of decolonization and cultural heritage preservation, but the post-colonial era in South Africa has made much better to defend His philosophy using the current constitution chapter 2 which clearly stipulated in the Bill of Rights, which states that everyone has right to freedom of religion, belief, and opinion. Section 9, the equality clause, prohibits unfair discrimination on various grounds including religion. Shembe fought spiritual the above religious right from as early as 1900 until the formation of the South African Native National Congress (SANNC), later known as the African National Congress (ANC) on the 08 January 1912.
 Unique Contributor to Theory, Policy and Practice: In conclusion, the Shembe philosophy has a lightning influence in guiding the community’s beliefs and practices. The post-colonial role of Shembe philosophy in the decolonization of religion and spirituality requires further exploration and development.