Theological Tradition Research Articles

¿Una hipóstasis en tres naturalezas? El lugar del cosmos en la persona de Cristo

The urgency of caring for the planet and scientific visions of the world have highlighted the cosmos as an authentic otherness that cannot be reduced to the mediation of human beings or man as a “microcosm”. From a Christological interpretation based on the definition of Chalcedon, a reading of the link of the cosmos with Christ through human nature, the microcosm, has been popularized. For its part, a theological tradition, in Teilhard de Chardin and Raimon Panikkar, has taken fundamental steps to overcome such an interpretative scheme. It has been recognized that by associating the created cosmos solely with human mediation, there is a risk of turning the cosmos into an instrument of use and domination. It is therefore urgent to recognize the autonomy and otherness of the cosmos and to unite it with the divine and with the human in Christ, proceeding in fidelity to the spirit of Chalcedon.

Blackademics as prophetic witnesses and the continuing struggle for racial justice in higher education

ABSTRACT This multidisciplinary paper illuminates white supremacist ideologies that serve to disenfranchise critical Black scholars in the U.S. academy. We situate the work of what we describe as the ‘Blackademic’ within the theological tradition of the prophetic witness. The conceptualization of critical Black scholars as a prophetic witness illuminates how they traverse the increasingly neo-liberal academy while they also navigate anti-Black white supremacist racism in higher education. This paper seeks to identify practical crossroads between the study of the experiences of Black scholars in academia and Blackademics (e.g. critical Black scholars). This paper also extends our previous emergent theoretical understanding of the actions of Blackademics.

The Virtue of Religion and the Act of Doing Sacred Theology

In the theological tradition of St. Thomas Aquinas, this paper will argue that the practical actions of studying, contemplation, and teaching sacred theology are acts proper to the infused Christian virtue of religion. To understand this, the framework of Thomistic moral theology and anthropology is necessary. After introducing this background, St. Thomas’s understanding of the virtue of justice is explained alongside the virtue of religion, which is a potential part of this cardinal virtue. The second part of the paper moves into a description of the practical actions of theologizing, as distinguished from the essential nature of sacred theology. The way that these actions are variously elicited or commanded by the infused virtue of religion are then shown to be properly due to God as His just right.

The Late Medieval Debate about the Nature of Phenomenal Reality in Franciscan Theology and Islamic Thought and its Greek Sources

The tendency to question the accuracy of sensory perception is found in various medieval theological traditions, including Franciscan and Islamic. In both these traditions, the source of the idea that we cannot trust our sensory perception seems to have been the Greek commentaries on Aristotle. However, both traditions go beyond ideas contained in Greek Aristotelian literature and independently develop similar arguments and come to similar conclusions about the reliability of sensory perception.

Divine ambiguity: A philosophical inquiry into God’s uncertain decisions

The debate surrounding the nature and attributes of God as presented in the Bible has garnered significant attention and critique from various philosophical perspectives like Friedrich Nietzsche, Bertrand Russell and David Hume. This philosophical critique emphasises the inconsistency in the nature of God and challenges traditional theological beliefs. The expression of regret by the God of the Bible in Genesis 6:6 raises philosophical dilemmas regarding divine attributes and the problem of evil. The contradiction between God’s regret and the affirmation of his creation as good underscores fundamental questions about divine omniscience, omnipotence and benevolence. The presence of evil and suffering in the world poses a significant challenge to the notion of a loving and all-powerful God. Examples of human suffering, such as slavery, colonisation, apartheid and natural disasters, further highlight the complexity of reconciling divine attributes with the existence of evil. Philosophically analysing biblical narratives, such as the story of Job, Noah’s flood and the plagues of Egypt, raises ethical concerns regarding divine justice and the moral agency of humanity. Additionally, the indiscriminate punishment of innocent individuals in these narratives challenges the credibility of a benevolent and compassionate God. The philosophical inquiry into the problem of evil and natural disasters underscores the need for a nuanced understanding of divine attributes and their implications for human existence.Contribution: The study encourages reflection on key questions about the nature of divinity, the morality of divine actions, and the compatibility of traditional theology with rational thought. It highlights how inconsistencies in certain biblical accounts challenge those trying to balance faith with reason and scientific understanding. While some may view these narratives as metaphors or allegories, others find it difficult to align them with their intellectual beliefs, resulting in tensions between religious faith and scientific rationality.

Theologizing on Artificial Intelligence in Elderly Care

As the number of elderly persons rises, there is a gradual increase in reliance on artificial intelligence (AI) to augment healthcare systems. How do we interpret AI in elderly care (EC) in light of the Catholic theological tradition? As far as the literature goes to date, there is still much room for discourse. For this reason, this article hopes to contribute in that regard and, more importantly, to encourage others to further the discourse. In the present commentary, I first examine some aging trends in the world population. Afterward, I briefly describe AI use in healthcare, especially for EC. I then explore prominent ethical concerns related to it. Finally, I theologically reflect on using AI for EC vis-à-vis the magisterial teachings on aging and AI.

On the Sages of Königsberg and Down: Rethinking Darwin’s Relationship to Kant

Abstract The aim of this essay is to provide a comprehensive account of the intellectual links between Darwin and Kant, bringing clarity to their relationship on both a historical and philosophical register. Understanding how and what Darwin knew of Kant’s philosophy provides a way to reconceptualize far more than their direct relationship. This case study allows us to rethink Kant’s legacy in British thought, the possible uses of Kant for later German writers, and the important role of the natural theological tradition in British aesthetics. First, I explore the sources through which Darwin encountered Kant during the 1830s and 40s, detailing Darwin’s response to various texts and assessing their impact on the development of his theory during these formative years. Secondly, I explore how British and German contemporaries understood the possible links between Darwin and Kant. I examine Darwin’s strategy in answering their views, and how Kant was thereby incorporated into Darwin’s later work. Finally, I discuss the use of Kantian philosophical resources by present-day historians to understand Darwin’s thought. Via a brief historical exploration of Darwin’s theory of beauty, I argue for a corrective reading, claiming we should reframe the habitual deployment of Kantian philosophemes in recent approaches to Darwin’s thought through the terms of a largely forgotten natural theological tradition to which both Darwin and Kant were, in divergent ways, equivalently disruptive heirs.

Two Testaments in One Bible: How do the Old and New Testaments Interrelate?

The canonization of the Jewish Bible took place gradually in the post-exilic era, first the Law (Torah), second the Prophets (Nebi’im), and, finally, the Writings (Ketubim) in the period between the first and second Jewish revolts. From the third century BC, the biblical books were gradually translated into Greek. Because of the missionary outreach beyond Judea and Galilee, the early Christians used the pre-existing Greek translation of the Bible for preaching and teaching. Both due to its higher number of books and its salvation-historical compositional outline, the Septuagint corresponded well to the early Christians’ understanding of the Christ event as the continuation of revelation history. Gradually, the books that recount the story of Jesus Christ (the Gospels) and the books that communicate faith in Christ and elaborate what it means to live one’s life as a follower of him (the Letters) were collected and given equal authority to as the Holy Scriptures shared with and inherited from the Jews. The Zion tradition is a paradigmatic example of a theological tradition that underwent a long, transformative development from David’s conquest of Jerusalem in the tenth century BC until its reception in Jesus’ ministry and theological expositions in the New Testament. The New Testament shares a common language of faith with the Old Testament, applied to express the shared confession of the one true God, the Father of Jesus Christ. The New Testament understands itself as a continuation of the Old Testament, testifying to the culmination in the Christ event of the history of revelation.

The Artemis Sanctuary of İnarası Cave (Burdur/Bucak)

İnarası is located within the borders of Taşyayla village in Bucak district of Burdur province. This place was discovered in 2008 by F. Gülşen from Burdur Museum, who went with the court committee to investigate the illegal excavation incident in İnarası; the registration efforts were completed in 2009, and the boundaries of the area were determined and added to the cultural inventory in 2014. The data obtained during the rescue excavations carried out in the cave, which was determined to be used as a sacred area and naos in 2016-2017, belong to the Late Neolithic Age and the Ottoman Period. One of the most striking issues in this study is the inscriptions. The first of the inscriptions is the one that documents that the sanctuary was dedicated to the goddess Artemis. The second inscription, it is learned that it is not the name of the person who had votived, but the name of his father. In addition, it is suggested that a fragmentary inscription containing the letters MHTPI˂O may have been associated with Meter Oreia or Demeter. Another important subject of the study is the architectural elements that provide important clues regarding the restitution of the two facade arrangements of the sanctuary. It is known that in the Anatolian theological tradition, the continuity of the cult was ensured by the identification of the Mother Goddess with the belief in Ephesian Artemis. For this reason, the presence of worship areas related to the Mother Goddess on the main rock surrounding the sacred area in İnarası and on the hill to the north, and the construction of the Artemis sacred area in the same region later, are important evidence of the continuity of the cult.

Konsep Pasangan Seiman Menurut 2 Korintus 6:14-15 dan Implikasinya Terhadap Pencegahan Perkawinan Beda Agama

This research aims analyse the chapter 2 Corinthians 6:14-15 in the Christian Scriptures and study itd implications in the context of marriage of interfaith coouples. This research uses the exegesis approach and theological analysis to gain a comprehensive understanding of the original text and historical context of the chapter. The original text of 2 Corinthians 6:14-15 is of Greek origin and emphasises the importance of aquality of beliefs in relationships, especially in the context of marriage. Interpretations of this text can vary depending on the theological tradition and Bible translation used, with some common interpretations including the prohibition against interfaith marriage and the admonition to choose friends, business partners or co-workers of the same faith. In the context of church theology and practice, this text can be used as a guide for individuals and couples in choosing, life partners of the same faith and maintaining equality of beliefs in relationships. This research is expected to provide useful insights for individuals, couples,as well as religious leaders in dealing with the challenges that arise in interfaith marriages.

The Sea of Faith 40 Years On

On the fortieth anniversary of its first broadcast in 1984, this article will consider the main themes of the BBC TV series The Sea of Faith , written and presented by the Cambridge philosopher and theologian Don Cupitt. It will attempt to evaluate its significance, then and now. We argue that Cupitt’s ‘radical’ reputation for his advancement of a broadly ‘non-realist’ understanding of God may have overshadowed other equally significant features, not least his central argument that unless Christianity responded constructively to modern thought it would be doomed to irrelevance. The article will close with some reflections on what Cupitt’s manifesto for religion might mean for those who continue to identify with his critiques of traditional theology today.

The problem of implementing the principle of semantic rationality in theological research

The article attempts to comprehend the possibility and necessity of implementing the “Principle of Semantic Rationality” in the course of conducting theological research. First, the problem of interpretation of religious terms is raised, formulated in the process of centuries-old theological research, transformed over time, sometimes acquiring opposite (contradictory) meanings. Attention is drawn to the specifics of working with terms that have existential meanings, characterized by some blurring of terminological boundaries, differences in their understanding (interpretation) not only in everyday and religious meanings, but also within the same religion, which causes significant disagreements leading to the emergence of different directions and schools As one example of the ambiguity of interpretation, examples of terminological contradictions in the definition of the concepts of soul (nafs) and spirit (ruh) in the Islamic theological tradition are given. The work provides a brief overview of three groups of encyclopedic and explanatory dictionaries recommended to help the theologian. The first group includes publications covering directly Islamic topics, the second group contains information concerning other religions, and the third group includes religious studies publications that are non-confessional in nature. In conclusion, it is noted that despite the presence of a significant number of authoritative encyclopedic publications, questions of multivariate interpretation of religious terms remain, which, on the one hand, complicates the research process, and on the other hand, stimulates reflection on their deep meanings.

Barth’s “Alternative” Follower: Stanley Hauerwas and the Traditions of 20th-Century North American Theology and Ethics

Barth’s “Alternative” Follower: Stanley Hauerwas and the Traditions of 20th-Century North American Theology and Ethics

<i><b>Navigate the Sacred-Secular Divide with Reformed Intellectual Patience In Indonesia</b></i>

The Indonesian Reformed Calvinist theologian must appropriately consider the “sacred-secular divide” (SSD) in order to participate constructively and harmoniously in her context, because despite claims otherwise, practices that separate times and places from divine rule shape her life. She possesses a wealth of resources to enable this from within her theological tradition (Kuyper), from contemporary but non-co-located colleagues (Bailey, Doornbos, McClean, and Webster), and from her immediate social and cultural context (modern pluralistic Indonesia). In light of this, I propose that Christian intellectual patience is a virtue that she can pursue for her to faithfully flourish, because it responds Christianly to both where and when she finds herself. To reach this conclusion we survey the sources and feel the pressure of navigating a night amongst the Indonesian jungle where Wewe Gombel lurks.

Corporate Embodiment as the Pedagogical Foundation of the Pentecostal Tradition

Abstract This article examines the pedagogical foundations of Pentecostal theology that are responsible for shaping and sustaining this theological tradition. The formative mechanisms of the Pentecostal tradition are found in the embodied logic of corporately embedded patterns of spiritual practices formed around the “full gospel” of Jesus Christ. The article traces how the Pentecostal tradition emerges from and yields practices associated with the apostolic experience of Jesus intensified with Pentecost by categorizing the dominant corporate forms of embodying the doctrines of salvation, sanctification, Spirit baptism, divine healing, and the expectation of God’s kingdom. This typology suggests that the corporate embodiment of faith identifies most closely the particular contribution of the Pentecostal movement to the Christian life.

On Beall’s contradictory Christology and beyond

According to Conciliar Christology, Christ has a divine nature and a human nature. This dual nature of Christ leads us to face many apparent inconsistencies: For example, it seems to follow that He is both immutable and mutable (and, therefore, not immutable). This long-standing issue in Christology has been called the fundamental problem of Christology. Recently, Jc Beall has proposed a novel approach to the fundamental problem: contradictory Christology, that is, Christology which takes those apparent inconsistencies as genuinely contradictory. This paper examines Beall’s contradictory Christology by comparing it with James Anderson’s version of consistent Christology. Such a comparison highlights an important assumption of Beall’s contradictory Christology, that is, the language used to state the fundamental problem is univocal. ‘Immutable’ is, thus, used in the same literal sense in both `Christ is immutable’ and `Christ is not immutable’. On the one hand, this assumption has a good reason given the human nature of Christ. On the other hand, we follow Anderson in showing that the view that `immutable’ is equivocal has a good reason too. For there is an established theological tradition according to which, when we speak about the divine, our language is analogical. In light of those considerations, this paper presents a semantic explication of how the predicates used to state the fundamental problem are both literal and analogical. The proposed semantics treats those predicates as cases of multiple denotations and shows that the apparent inconsistencies are genuinely contradictory, but in a different way from Beall’s contradictory Christology.

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.