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This book explores the intriguing relationship between theology, science, and the ideal of progress from a variety of perspectives. While seriously discussing the obstacles and pitfalls related to the notion of progress in theology, it argues that there are in fact many different kinds of progress in theology. It considers how this sheds positive light on what theologians do and suggests that other disciplines in the humanities can equally profit from these ideas. The chapters provide tools for making further progress in theology, featuring detailed case studies to show how progress in theology works in practice and connecting with the role and place of theology in the University. The book rearticulates in multiple ways theology's distinctive voice at the interface of science and religion.
List of contents
PART I Situating the Debate
1 Progress in Theology: An Introduction
Gijsbert van den Brink, Rik Peels, Bethany Sollereder
2 The Metaphysics of Progress
René van Woudenberg
3 Brother Juniper's Experiment: And Five Better Ways of Seeing Progress in Theology
Gijsbert van den Brink
PART II Dimensions of Progress
4 Epistemic, Moral, and Religious Progress in Theology
Rik Peels
5 Synchronic Progress in the Understanding of Doctrine: A Marian Perspective
Michaël Bauwens
6 Fine-Tuning the Sources of Theology
Hans van Eyghen
7 Theology and the Hermeneutics of Testimony: Progress in Theological Interpretation?
Adriani Milli Rodrigues
8 Christian Theology as Comparative Theology: Going Comparative as Highway towards Progress
Veli-Matti Kärkkäinen
9 The Paradox of Progress: Theology and the Divided Brain
Oskari Juurikkala
PART III Case Studies
10 Freedom and Foreknowledge: A Case Study in Progress in Theology
Katherin A. Rogers
11 Epistemic Progress in the Divine Action Debate
Ignacio Silva
12 Theological Anthropology Progressing through Artificial Intelligence
Marius Dorobantu
13 Progress as Overcoming Theological Dissensus: Two Strategies in Ecumenical Dialogue
Cody Warta
14 Progress, Theology, and Climate Change: Creating Pandaemonium when Working for Paradise
Bethany Sollereder
PART IV Progress and Theology's Place in the University
15 Epistemic Norms in Theology and Science
Johan De Smedt and Helen De Cruz
16 The Future of Protestant Theology: An Epistemological Vacuum
Katrin Gülden Le Maire
17 The Place of Theology in the Secular University
Paul A. Macdonald, Jr.
Index
About the author
Gijsbert van den Brink is Professor of Theology and Science at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Rik Peels is Professor at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, holding a University Research Chair in Analytic and Interdisciplinary Philosophy of Religion.
Bethany Sollereder is a Lecturer in Science and Religion at the University of Edinburgh, UK.
Summary
This volume explores the intriguing relationship between theology, science and the ideal of progress from a variety of perspectives.
