Theological Tradition Research Articles

Life Philosophy: A Study on Western Ontology and Taoism of Form and Spirit Dualism

The paper, starting from the perspective of philosophical exploration of life, combines historical literature with ontology and dualism as the focal points, integrating features from various fields such as psychology, traditional Chinese medicine, and phenomenology. It conducts a comparative study on the similarities and differences between Western ontology and Taoist dualism of form and spirit. The article elucidates how the 'outward-extending material world and inward-purifying spiritual world' are unified in the principle of the amalgamation of 'human body.' It also provides specific methods and theoretical explanations for the discovery of the spiritual world in the East and West. The external world is defined as the material realm discovered by science, while the internal world is the spiritual realm revealed after the purification of the mind. Both idealism and materialism have tended toward extremes in two directions. Both Western ontology and Eastern Taoist dualism of form and spirit have discovered the phenomenon that 'the spirit can exist independently in this time and space through specific exercises such as meditation.' Taoism, with its unique medical foundation in the study of 'form,' recognizes the interaction of form and spirit, leading to the development of their respective religious, philosophical, and theological traditions. Interdisciplinary and cross-regional studies in religion, particularly in the field of mental and physical health, are expected to become significant trends in the future."

By another's death?

In South Africa, the rhetoric of reconciliation is complex and contested. Indeed, reconciliation itself is viewed as “a controversial symbol”. In part, this may have to do with the different ways in which theological and social, political understandings drive the conceptualisation of reconciliation in South Africa. Within the theological tradition, salvation has long been portrayed by way of the metaphor of reconciliation, and many theologians have engaged the fruitful but potentially confusing difference in assumptions regarding what reconciliation is and requires of us. For a thicker, more robust theological concept of reconciliation, it may be important to consider what the intended use is of this complex notion when employed as a soteriological concept. This article explores David Kelsey’s portrayal of reconciliation by another’s death with some suggestions for contours of a soteriological grammar of reconciliation that could shape more lifegiving ways of speaking about reconciliation in South Africa today.

In the Vanguard of the 1930s Reformed Resurgence

Abstract The first two decades of the twenty-first century have manifested a large-scale revival of interest in John Calvin, Reformed Theology and popular forms of Calvinism. Journalists have scrambled to grasp the parentage of a movement which had so long been out of the public view. Sympathetic Christian writers have developed a range of hypotheses about the roots of this resurgence, with most concentrating on developments unfolding since the mid-twentieth century. This essay maintains that the actual roots of the contemporary Calvinist resurgence lie in the period following the Great War (1914–1918), when three distinguishable streams of Protestant thought found common ground and for a period of at least a quarter-century collaborated to draw attention to the resources offered in the broadly Reformed theological tradition.

The Filioque Controversy: Analysing Theological Differences between the Western and Eastern Churches

The Filioque is a theological issue that has caused a divide in the Christian Churches, with the Western Churches (Latin Church) and Eastern Churches having different understandings of the procession of the Holy Spirit. The Western Churches believe that the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son, while the Eastern Churches believe that the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father alone. The Western Churches have a strong emphasis on the one divine nature, while the Eastern Churches have a strong focus on the monarchy of the Father. This difference in theological perspective has created complications in the theological dialogue between the two regions. Despite these differences, the two theological traditions share the same faith perspective and can bear valuable fruit in theological thinking. The Filioque debate has been a longstanding issue in the Christian Churches, and despite efforts to regain unity, the problem remains unresolved.

Trinity, simplicity, and contradictory theology: a theologian's reflections

Abstract I explore the promise of Beall's proposal for a long-standing challenge for traditional theology. I first offer a sketch of the problem and a brief overview of some of the more common responses to it. I then show how Beall's proposal holds initial promise; following this I highlight some concerns and raise some questions.

McCabe on Marx

ABSTRACT Herbert McCabe was unique amongst the grammatical thomists in making significant use of the thought of Karl Marx. He engaged, moreover, with two topics in Marx which have generally been avoided by Christian theologians: class struggle and atheism. This paper examines McCabe’s treatment of both themes, and concludes that he effected a compelling incorporation of them into Christian thought. With respect to class struggle, McCabe understands there to be an intrinsic antagonism in capitalist society. He holds that an antagonistic society is antithetical to Christian norms, and concludes (with Marx) that this kind of society ought to be done away with by engaging in the side in the class-struggle – namely the working class – which has the capacity to do away with class society. He situates this view ironically, however, relativising the claims made about socialist society in the light of God’s Kingdom. With respect to atheism, McCabe brings his thomistic doctrine of God into conversation with Marx’s atheism, arguing that what Marx rejects when he rejects ‘God’ is a thing in the world, whereas God is – by thomistic hypothesis – not one more thing in the world. A radical view, therefore, is sustained by a traditional theology.

The mission and people of God: Rethinking theology and theological methodology in Asia

The 20th century brought unprecedented growth to the global church. With this growth came new and contextual forms of theology, as well as recognition of the limits of the Western theological tradition. However, compared with Africa and Latin America, Asian theology has been slow to develop in response to this shift, especially among conservatives and evangelicals. While several prominent names are often cited as representatives of Asian theology, their work has little impact on much of the Asian church, which is characteristically grassroots and conservative. Scholars continue to debate what Asian theology is and how to do it. This article explores some of the methodological implications of the global shift in theology, specifically for Asian contexts. It also identifies some of the hindrances to better and more relevant Asian theology: (1) a universal top–down approach to theology in Asia and (2) overly Western ways of thinking that have shaped the discipline. Finally, this article offers two possibilities for Asian theology going forward: (1) mission and the reality of God’s work in Asia and (2) the people themselves and the stories of God’s work among them.

Sharing of Liturgical, Theological, and Ecumenical Gifts: A Quest for a Method

The article explores relations between the gift and the given. It combines Jean-Luc Marion's and Louis-Marie Chauvet's critique of the instrumentalization of the gift and of an exaggerated visibility of what comes from God, with Mother Maria Skobtsova's notion of non-possession applied also to spiritual wealth. With the assistance of these authors, the article interprets the ecumenicity of liturgical and theological tradition as a common heritage. Thus, it moves beyond assumptions that specific ecclesial groups could “own,” for example, the Easter Triduum, icons, biblical consciousness, or the right and proper manners of conversion, and as their “property” share it with others. It argues that if an ecumenical method is to remain dialogical at all levels, it needs to work both with the positive and the negative aspects of the common heritage, engage in the common process of discernment, and with regard to the multi-layered specificities of each legitimate position move beyond a search for synthesis.

Numbers 5:11–31 as the Old Testament Background for Revelation 8:11

The article examines possible links between the ritual of bitter water, described in Numbers 5:11–31, and one of the aspects of the plague, described as the event following the third trumpet in the Book of Revelation (Rev 8:11). Such a connection has not been analysed by scholars so far. The ritual described in Numbers 5 not only has a legal meaning but it is also the starting point for a theological tradition of understanding adultery as a metaphor for Israel’s unfaithfulness to YHWH. The prophetic texts of the OT use motifs taken from Num 5 to depict the lawsuit that YHWH brings against the unfaithful people. According to the author of this article, the use of the motif of drinking bitter water in Rev 8:11 falls into a similar pattern. This is a ritual performed to reveal the guilt of the sinners described in Rev as hoi anthrōpoi.

Tradition as ‘Formative Environment’: Congar and Christian Formation

AbstractAlthough the theology of Tradition of the Dominican Yves Congar was highly influential in drafting the Dogmatic Constitution Dei Verbum at the Second Vatican Council, postconciliar debates neglected some of the most original aspects of this theology. This article proposes a retrieval of the notion of Tradition as ‘milieu éducatif’, advanced by the theologian in Tradition and Traditions, as a valuable resource for contemporary discussions on Christian formation. It intends to highlight how Congar connected the theological realities of revelation and its transmission by the Church with the concrete practice of Christian life. This notion is, then, put in conversation with contemporary Christian thinkers who have reflected on the practical aspects of Christian formation, chiefly James K.A. Smith. This dialogue aims to show the relevance of Congar’s notion to current discussions. While the theology of Tradition exposed by the French Dominican can be completed and specified by current proposals, it can also offer a new theological depth to those proposals.

Telaah Pemikiran Al Kindi: Konsep Ketuhanan dalam Prespektif Islam

Al-Kindi lived at a time when philosophy was not yet well known in the tradition of Islamic thought, precisely during the transition from traditional theology to philosophy. Al-Kindi was the first Arab to introduce philosophy into Arab thought and was given the title "Philosopher of the Arab Nation". Al-Kindi brought together religion and philosophy on the basis of the consideration that both are sciences of truth, so that there is no difference between the two. The influence of the Mu'tazilah group was clearly visible in his way of thinking when he determined the ability of the human mind to know the secrets brought by the Prophet Muhammad saw. The first philosophical science which includes divinity, oneness, primacy, and other sciences which teach how to obtain useful things and get rid of harmful things was also brought by God's apostles.

Traditionens gränser

This article explores the themes of tradition and renewal in Islamic theology through a reading of Abū Ḥāmid al-Ghazālī's Fayṣal al-tafriqa bayna l-islām wa-l-zandaqa ("The Decisive Criterion for Distinguishing Islam from Heresy"), a classic work about the boundaries of theological tolerance in Islam. The article begins by discussing descriptive and normative usages of the term "Islamic" and then moves on to reflect on al-Ghazālī's distinction between revelation and interpretation, his "rule of interpretation" (qānūn al-taʾwīl) and his emphasis on the importance of ethical and spiritual virtues for all intellectual activity, including theology, in relation to questions concerning tradition and renewal. It draws on Alasdair MacIntyre's notion of tradition as "an historically extended, socially embodied argument" and argues that attempts at theological renewal must, of course, be rooted in the foundational texts of the overarching Islamic tradition, mainly the Qur'an and the hadith corpus, but also in the historically extended and socially embodied arguments of its subtraditions, such as the Ashʿarī and Māturīdī schools of theology. The purpose of the article is to contribute to the ongoing discussion about theological renewal in the Islamic tradition and to the ongoing discussion about normative studies of Islamic theology at European universities by putting al-Ghazālī in dialogue with MacIntyre.

Development of the theological traditions of Muslims in the Volga region and the Urals in the 18th – early 20th centuries

Тhe relevance of the study is connected with the study of the development of the theological traditions of Muslims in the Volga and Urals regions in the 18th – early 20th centuries, which was characterized by softening of religious and national policies. This made it possible to shift the focus of theological research on solving intra-community issues, overcoming the backwardness of the Muslim population from the heterodox environment and reviving national and cultural traditions. The main tools were ijtihad (the right to independently turn to the primary sources of Islam) and its dichotomy known as taqlid as well as the fight against a condemned religious innovation known as heresy (bid‘a). Ijtihad and taqlid must be considered as two fairly flexible tools for solving modern issues, since each of them appeals to Islamic primary sources (to the Quran and Sunnah), while taqlid supposes the understanding of religious authority.

The Brethren of Purity on Justice for Animals and the Moral Demands of Rational Hierarchy

abstract: This paper intervenes in a contemporary debate on the animal ethics of the Brethren of Purity's (Iḫwān al-Ṣafāʾ) epistle on animals. I argue that they present a case for justice for animals by rejecting the fallacious link between ontological superiority and moral superiority. Since human beings are vice-regents of God and since the rational soul is the vice-regent, the Brethren's account of human beings as superior in virtue of their rationality establishes a moral obligation toward animals. The Brethren develop this account partially under the influence of the Muʿtazilī theological tradition, and as a result, their position falls in line with other positions on justice for animals found during their time. Even on the issue of animal use, the Brethren maintain that the human need for animal labor emphasizes the obligation to treat animals justly. In the end, the greater rational capacity of human beings entails greater moral responsibility toward animals, not moral impunity.

Features of the social beliefs of the Orthodox Church and Christians of the Evangelical Faith

The article examines the peculiarities of social beliefs of the Orthodox Church and Christians of the Evangelical Faith and their reflection in educational practices. It is shown that the formation of social doctrines is one of the basic tasks of modern Christianity. Social doctrine systematizes and actualizes the role and significance of social beliefs of Christianity, in their essence multi-vector, multi-dimensionality, inte-gration as the main characteristics of the spiritual sphere of the church. Social doc-trines are based on various aspects of theological and ecclesiological beliefs. They can be expressions of the theological tradition’s response to historical problems, social transformations of the digital age, in the confessional discourse, and can also reflect the modern view of a certain church on the issue of the relationship between faith and reason, science and religion, and humanitarian security. Approaches to social beliefs may differ depending on the "confessional color" of a certain religious organization and the information support of this process. According to this study, the implementation of the social doctrines of Christianity is impossible without an analysis of their beliefs aimed at solving both social issues in general and educa-tional ones. The need to develop basic strategies of spiritual education is empha-sized, outline the priorities facing education in a secularized world, but also suggest the development of sustainable concepts in the direction of highlighting the confes-sional worldview regarding the challenges of modern humanitarianism. It is proposed to consider the peculiarities of social beliefs in the system of educational processes of the Orthodox Church and the Christian Church of the Evangelical Faith. The con-clusions emphasize that the social doctrine of the Ecumenical Patriarchate presup-poses a progressive attitude to science and technological progress, encourages the church to use the resources of technological progress and informational resources for preaching. The need for the introduction of an integrated approach in spiritual education, constant informational innovations in the field of training of qualified min-isters who are able to conduct missionary preaching activities taking into account the conditions of the time for an efficient educational process and humanitarian security in the context of transformations of the digital age is being updated.

Babeling Nationalism

This article engages critically with Stephen Wolfe’s The Case for Christian Nationalism (Canon Press, 2022) and the Christian nationalist movement more broadly. It specifically examines Wolfe’s dual assertions that rightly ordered church communities (such as nations) cannot be composed of “two or more ethnicities” and that furthermore this tenet is rooted in “the Reformed theological tradition.” This article argues, to the contrary, that an ethnocentric ecclesiology runs directly counter to the best insights of the Protestant Reformers. In particular, Luther and Calvin offer rich interpretations of the Tower of Babel story in Genesis 11, which narrate a rather different account of humanity’s present divisions than that of Wolfe. This conclusion is intended to serve as a launching point for a more far-ranging discussion of Christian nationalism’s present challenge to Christian institutions—including many classical schools.

Contemporary Perspectives on Salvation

The hypothesis of this paper is based on an examination of the relationship between Christology and eschatology with soteriology, and through the analysis of their selected core concepts, it seeks to contextualize the discourse on salvation within a contemporary framework. Specifically, the study explores the terms of hope, faith, freedom, and bodily resurrection, which provide a framework for a modern approach to soteriological reality. The selected terms, when considered together, demonstrate their suitability in connecting the experiences of the contemporary individual, their existential position, and perspectives on salvation, while also drawing on rich theological traditions and Catholic doctrine. The initial research question that stemmed from the interconnection of the two treatises (Christology and eschatology) with soteriology has provided us with significant insights into various possibilities for the contemporary understanding of salvation.

The Theological Significance of the History of Science: John Templeton and the Promotion of Science and Religion

Abstract This article examines the rationale behind philanthropist John Templeton’s investment in the field of science and religion. His support stems in part from the conviction that historical developments in science are finally leading us to the right understanding of God’s relationship to the created order. The older, mechanical picture of nature that science purportedly gave us implies that God is distant from nature, whereas more recent discoveries are revealing nature’s complexity, elusiveness, intangibility, unpredictability, and creativity and imply God’s intimate presence to, and involvement in, nature. This newer theological picture is consistent with a theological tradition to which Templeton had been exposed since childhood. Believing that science is finally uncovering theological truths about God and God’s relationship to the world, Templeton sought to shape science and (especially) religion so that comparable breakthroughs might continue to flow in the future.

Journeys to and among the Margins: Transnational Religio-Racial Identity on American Christian Palestinian Solidarity Tours

Abstract This article examines the intersection of racial and religious identity among progressive US Christians in the context of transnational travel. We approach our analysis through a comparative ethnographic study of two majority-Black and two majority-white Christian Palestinian solidarity tours, representing mainline, evangelical, and historically Black Protestant progressive theological traditions. We conceptualize majority-white tours as “journeys to the margins” and majority-Black tours as “journeys among the margins,” considering how the racial makeup and theological orientation of trips offer a range of affordances for meaning-making, identity construction, and solidarity-building. Using Judith Weisenfeld’s religio-racial framework, we focus on how participants’ progressive Christian values are embedded in divergent racial schemas. Attending to how the logics of these schemas are reinforced or interrogated in transnational encounters, we extend Weisenfeld’s concept from the nation-state to the transnational as we examine how participants reproduce, revise, and re-envision religio-racial frameworks.

The Commentary in the Melkite Lectionary

Abstract This article investigates a little-known yet highly significant facet of the Arabic liturgical Gospel books – the commentary that was introduced into the Gospel readings from at least the 11th century to the 19th century, notably during the time of Patriarch Athanasios III Dabbās, the last publisher to include this commentary. This study aims to shed light on the origin and evolution of this commentary, categorize its contents, and evaluate its theological importance in the context of the Arab Christian tradition. By offering fresh perspectives on the composition of Lectionary commentaries, this research enriches our comprehension of the history and theology of the Arab Christian tradition.