Evolutionary Explanations of Pain and Suffering:: A ‘Gift to Theology’ or a Challenge

Evolutionary studies have provided several explanations about how pain and suffering can be fitted into that framework, which tries to make sense of every biological and human feature in terms of evolution, survival, and fitness. These explanations point usually to how such apparently negative aspects become useful and contribute to an evolution that after all has delivered good outcomes. Such an approach might eventually render the theodicy question less sharp and critical for believers who are trying to cope with the scandal of so great suffering in our world and history. Theologically we can welcome such new insights, less noticed in former tradition, but at the same time we need to be cautious before a development which could render less clear the message of Christian salvation. In any case, the new data and knowledge clearly invite to revise and reformulate the Christian salvific message, to better answer before the mystery of evil and suffering

Fundamental Theology at the Crossroads: Challenges and Alternatives After a Long Maturation

Fundamental Theology (FT) has undergone a slow evolution, as many other theological disciplines, since its inception in the aftermath of the Second Vatican Council. The lapsed time invites us to reflect about the current situation in this field and to what extent that theological section is pursuing its main objectives, especially for its teaching at different levels. After examining several issues that could have influenced that development, some suggestions for advancing the field and its teaching will also be given. Indeed, both the internal and external contexts have changed quite a lot in the last 60 years, and this probably will influence a treaty that should be more contextually sensitive and very bound to developments in religious education

CHURCHES CONCERN FOR ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES: MAKING SENSE OF A NEW CHRISTIAN DIAKONIA

Recent years have witnessed an abundance of statements by many Christian Churches aimed at addressing environmental issues, most recently the Catholic Encyclical Laudato si’. These documents invite theological engagement, especially after becoming aware of the criticism that such proposals might raise in different social and intellectual settings. This paper tries to expose such criticism and the reasons that could discourage the Church’s environmental engagement, to stimulate a critical and dialogical stance able to move into the ongoing discussion and to answer the most pressing questions

Fundamental Theology at the Crossroads: Challenges and Alternatives After a Long Maturation

Fundamental Theology (FT) has undergone a slow evolution, as many other theological disciplines, since its inception in the aftermath of the Second Vatican Council. The lapsed time invites us to reflect about the current situation in this field and to what extent that theological section is pursuing its main objectives, especially for its teaching at different levels. After examining several issues that could have influenced that development, some suggestions for advancing the field and its teaching will also be given. Indeed, both the internal and external contexts have changed quite a lot in the last 60 years, and this probably will influence a treaty that should be more contextually sensitive and very bound to developments in religious education

Altruismo y misericordia

«Altruism studies», as a sub-discipline has produced in the last 20 years a considerable amount of research in the attempt to better know that human behavior, often seen as «enigmatic». Theology applied to understand neighbor's love can make good use of such research in order to update its own approach. The present paper tries to offer a systematic review of essays and articles published since 2010 in order to answer central questions still looming in the scientific study of altruism and of great importance for Christian anthropology. Concluding remarks will make the point on the impact that these series of studies has for a theology of love engaged on interdisciplinary dialogue with humanities and sciences

Sustainability and Religion: Mutual Implications

Whether sustainability goals advance depends greatly on the human factor, or the set of beliefs, values, and attitudes held by entire populations, besides governments, authorities or boards. Recognizing the role that the human factor plays might ensure a better consideration of religious bodies or churches when trying to design more sustainable complex systems, a point frequently ignored in secular societies where the weight of religious beliefs seems to be dismissed as insignificant. Post-secular arrangements could open the door to a greater engagement from religious organizations and individuals. At the same time, it is important for churches and theological reflection to assume the sustainability aim at the centre of their interests and development. There are some exceptions, as the case of apocalyptic-driven religious forms, which are little interested in sustainability, and could expect a rather catastrophic end of times. However, most religious expressions should be more concerned about contributing to sustainable programs

Can AI Help Us to Understand Belief? Sources, Advances, Limits, and Future Directions

The study of belief is expanding and involves a growing set of disciplines and research areas. These research programs attempt to shed light on the process of believing, understood as a central human cognitive function. Computational systems and, in particular, what we commonly understand as Artificial Intelligence (AI), can provide some insights on how beliefs work as either a linear process or as a complex system. However, the computational approach has undergone some scrutiny, in particular about the differences between what is distinctively human and what can be inferred from AI systems. The present article investigates to what extent recent developments in AI provide new elements to the debate and clarify the process of belief acquisition, consolidation, and recalibration. The article analyses and debates current issues and topics of investigation such as: different models to understand belief, the exploration of belief in an automated reasoning environment, the case of religious beliefs, and future directions of research

Religious coping in adolescents: new evidence and relevance

AbstractAdolescence is frequently seen as a troubled age. In many Western societies this is also a time of sharp religious decline. The question arises as to what extent religious faith and practice could help teenagers cope with their distress, especially when religion fades away in secularized environments and stops being a common coping resource. A study was conducted in South-East Spain (N = 531) to assess coping styles—religious and secular—and how they are related to other variables. The outcomes suggest that religious coping has become a minor choice. It correlates positively with age and is mixed with secular coping strategies. Secularization implies a confidence lost in religious means and the search for alternative coping strategies. This study reveals that religious coping works best when linked to religious communities and in combination with other non-religious strategies

The Missing Piece in Sustainability Indices: Accounting for the Human Factor

Sustainability is the result of a complex combination of factors. Social, cultural and personal elements are key for the pursuit of a sustainable future. Beyond the existing, very broad program on sustainability studies, additional research should contribute to specify how those social and human factors affect sustainability indices. General beliefs, values, attitudes, habits, assumed lifestyles or even meaning systems projecting purpose on one's own life have an impact on sustainability as well. Our aim in this paper is to describe these factors, which we group under the label of 'sustainability human factors'. This task requires a multidisciplinary effort involving anthropology, psychology and social sciences, covering cognitive, emotional or cultural dimensions. First, we set the stage describing the expected network of features and traits that could describe the human factor. Second, we propose a model which can help to assess it through multiple scales and surveying instruments. These instruments can provide valuable data that could expand the current indices. It is important to connect our program with the ongoing research in this field and to develop a broad model that highlights the human factor and its central role when planning for a sustainable future