Beyond dogmatism: Rationality in theology and science

Beyond dogmatism: Rationality in theology and scienceThe justification of cognitive claims in theology can be dealt with adequately only if the epistemological issues of metaphorical reference, experiential adequacy and explanatory progress are seen as crucial problems for the more encompassing problem of rationality in theology. To claim some form of reality depiction the theologian will have to argue for a plausible theory of reference on the basis of interpreted religious experience. In this discussion important analogies between the rationality of theological theorizing and the rationality of science are revealed. Thusexplanatory progress in theology shows itself to be a form of inference to the best explanation, and the rationahty of both theology and science is therefore determined by certain epistemic values

Evolution, knowledge and Christian faith: Gerd Theissen and the credibility of theology

Evolution, knowledge and Christian faith: Gerd Theissen and the credibility of theologyIn this article the way in which Theissen uses the evolutionary paradigm as a comprehensive framework for interpreting not only central themes in theology but also the credibility of theology as such, is analysed from an epistemological point of view. Theissen's overall choice for critical rationalism is critized as an epistemological blurring of paradigms, and thus of models of rationality, and typified as a quest for realism and explanatory progress in theology instead. In interpreting the evolutionary paradigm for theology, Theissen does, however, open up exciting possibilities for retaining the scientific and cognitive status of theological statements

Narrative theology: An adequate paradigm for theological reflection?

As reflection on the religious claims embedded in stories, narrative theology touches the nerve of theology: what is the epistemological status of theological theories if they are based on discourse which is fundamentally narrative and metaphorical? This paper analyzes this question, along with the important differences between ‘pure’ and ‘impure’ narrative theology. Crucial problems arise from this and are discussed: the epistemological problem of determining criteria for assessing the truth claims of theological statements; and the hermeneutical criteria for distinguishing between good and bad receptions of Christianity’s classic text

Rasionaliteit en kreatiwiteit — ont-werp vir ’n kritiese, konstruktiewe teologie

“ ’n Nuwe tydsgewrig mag nuwe sienings van God, mens en wêreld bring, ’n nuwe tydsgees openbaar en die mens voor nuwe sake stel en gevolglik ’n nuwe wetenskapsidee eis. Verandering van tye impliseer dan ook verandering van wetenskapsidee.

Theology and science: The quest for a new apologetics

This paper claims that the hazy intersection between the diverse fields of theology and the other sciences is not to be clarified in the first place by exploring methodological parallels or degrees of consonance between theology and the sciences. What should be explored first is the epistemological question of the nature and status of explanations and of explanatory claims in theology and science. The similarities, as well as important differences between theology and science, will thus be highlighted when we focus this discussion on the shaping of rationality in theology and science, on the hermeneutical problem of relating context and meaning, and on the fallibilist nature of both theological and scientific truth claims

Rethinking the theory of evolution : new perspectives on human evolution and why it matters for theology

CITATION: Van Huyssteen, J. W. 2016. Rethinking the theory of evolution : new perspectives on human evolution and why it matters for theology. HTS Teologiese Studies / Theological Studies, 72(4):1-5, doi:10.4102/hts.v72i4.3664.The original publication is available at http://www.hts.org.zaThis article addresses the issue of human imagination from the perspective of ‘niche construction’ in the wider discussion about ‘what makes us human’ and what it means to be a ‘self’, specifically for the Christian faith and for theology. In the article, a brief review of human origins and human evolution demonstrates the path and substantive impact of changes in behaviour, life histories and bodies in our human ancestors and us as humans ourselves. In the interactive process of niche construction, potentially changeable natural environments were, and are, acting continuously on variation in the gene pools of populations, and in this way gene pools were modified over generations. It is argued that a distinctively human imagination is part of the explanation for human evolutionary success and can be seen as one of the structurally significant aspects of the transition from earlier members of the genus Homo to ourselves as we are today. There is thus a naturalness to human imagination, even to religious imagination, that facilitates engagement with the world that is truly distinct. This provides fruitful addition to the toolkit of inquiry for both evolutionary scientists and interdisciplinary theologians interested in reconstructing the long, winding historical path to humanity.http://www.hts.org.za/index.php/HTS/article/view/3664Publisher's versio

Rethinking the theory of evolution : new perspectives on human evolution and why it matters for theology

This article addresses the issue of human imagination from the perspective of ‘niche construction’ in the wider discussion about ‘what makes us human’ and what it means to be a ‘self’, specifically for the Christian faith and for theology. In the article, a brief review of human origins and human evolution demonstrates the path and substantive impact of changes in behaviour, life histories and bodies in our human ancestors and us as humans ourselves. In the interactive process of niche construction, potentially changeable natural environments were, and are, acting continuously on variation in the gene pools of populations, and in this way gene pools were modified over generations. It is argued that a distinctively human imagination is part of the explanation for human evolutionary success and can be seen as one of the structurally significant aspects of the transition from earlier members of the genus Homo to ourselves as we are today. There is thus a naturalness to human imagination, even to religious imagination, that facilitates engagement with the world that is truly distinct. This provides fruitful addition to the toolkit of inquiry for both evolutionary scientists and interdisciplinary theologians interested in reconstructing the long, winding historical path to humanity.Original Research: Volume 17 in the South African Science and Religion Forum Series, edited by Prof. Dr Cornel du Toit (UNISA) and Prof. Dr Danie Veldsman, entitled ‘Creation, Consciousness and Christology: Evolutionary Perspectives’, papers presented at the 20th conference of the South African Science and Religion Forum (SASRF) of the Research Institute for Theology and Religion held at the University of South Africa, Pretoria 16–18 September 2015.http://www.hts.org.zaam2017Dogmatics and Christian Ethic

Lecture two : the evolution of morality: the emergence of personhood

CITATION: Van Huyssteen, J. W. 2017. Lecture two : the evolution of morality: the emergence of personhood. HTS Teologiese Studies / Theological Studies, 73(3):1-11, doi:10.4102/hts.v73i3.4487.The original publication is available at http://www.hts.org.zaPublication of this article was funded by the Stellenbosch University Open Access Fund.In a series of three articles, presented at the Goshen Annual Conference on Science and Religion in 2015, with the theme ‘Interdisciplinary Theology and the Archeology of Personhood’, J. Wentzel van Huyssteen considers the problem of human evolution – also referred to as ‘the archaeology of personhood’ – and its broader impact on theological anthropology. This trajectory of lectures tracks a select number of challenging contemporary proposals for the evolution of crucially important aspects of human personhood. Lecture Two argues that, on a postfoundationalist view, some of our religious beliefs are indeed more plausible and credible than others. This also goes for our tendency to moralise and for the strong moral convictions, we often hold. It demonstrates that, in spite of a powerful focus on the evolutionary origins of moral awareness, ethics emerge on a culturally autonomous level, which means that the epistemic standing of the particular moral judgements human beings make is independent of whatever the natural sciences can says about their genesis.https://hts.org.za/index.php/hts/article/view/4487Publishers' versio