The paper presents some knowledge of history of medicine – especially those from the embryological field – correlated with theological marks in order to motivate the rightfulness of the method of „bringing the mind down into the heart”, a procedure during the Jesus Prayer. The ascetic Fathers mentioned that the mind is an energy which starts from the heart and reaches the brain – which offers the possibility to express itself. It is possible to consider that this transfer begins since (...) the primitive heart is in the same plane and before the cerebral area. Then, after the folding of the embryo, the heart will be placed under the brain. So “bringing the mind down into the heart” is also biologically feasible. Although the primitive heart is structured after the neural tube, it starts beating at 21 to 22 days, unlike the brain which began its function on the 40th day. This explains the theological meaning of the heart, wider than the signification of the mind (attribute of the brain). (shrink)

“Sacra à Deo in corde discenda, natura ex natura.” Johann Christian Senckenberg's Observationes as a Medico-Theological Writing Method. In his early diaries, the pietist physician Johann Christian Senckenberg has taken down large amounts of observation data which mostly concentrated on his own body and soul. Earlier research has mistaken his diligent self-observation for hypochondria and unworldliness, especially since the author had never endeavoured to analyze and publish his work. The article shows that both his writing practice and his reluctance (...) to process and share its results are due to his deeply religious and firmly anti-rationalist conviction. The main purpose of his journal keeping was the attainment of religious self-knowledge and professional self-perfection. Scientific publications he considered to be hypothetical and dogmatic, be it in theology or medicine; moreover, their authors were often enough driven by their self-love and desire for fame. In his eyes, the only godly way of knowledge acquisition was the humble, diligent and minute study of divine creation according to the Hippocratic method. The most immediate and reliable way of achieving true wisdom, however, was the observation of God's work within one's own body and mind, which were subject to the effects of God's grace and punishment as well as to atmospheric, environmental and dietetic circumstances. (shrink)

Albert the Great’s Aristotelian paraphrases (De animalibus, Parva Naturalia) are famous for their extensive use of medical doctrines. Their use is not unprecedented in other Albertinian works, though. This article tries to show how Albert’s early theological works (De homine, Commentarium super libros Sententiarum) provide crucial evidence to understand the rationale behind Albert’s integration of medico-philosophical doctrines into his mature works of natural philosophy. In the first place, the early works assert that medicine – at least, its theoretical part (...) – treats a natural body subject to a natural process (healing), a view that leads Albert in his mature works to consider (this part of) medicine as a part of natural philosophy. Secondarily, the article moves on to show how Albert’s selective attitude towards medical doctrines and his position on the Galenic-Aristotelian quarrels about generation and origin of veins date back to his De homine and are strongly – although not entirely – dependent on Avicennian zoology and medicine. Unlike Avicenna, Albert would reshape in his mature works notions of Galenic and Avicennian medicine (spirit, radical, moisture) and zoology (formative power) into an original paradigm of ‘universal physiology’, meant to investigate the world of plants and minerals not only according to their parts and functions but also according to their species. (shrink)

This book offers a unique and comprehensive outline of the ethos, the bioethics and the sexual ethics of the renowned anatomist and founder of modern geology, Niels Stensen. It tells the story of a student who is forced to defend himself against his professor who tries to plagiarize his first discovery, the “Ductus Stenonis”: the first performance test for the young researcher. The focal points are questions of bioethics, especially with regard to human reproduction, sexual ethics, the beginning of life (...) and the ensoulment of the embryo, together with frontiers of pastoral care. The book delineates Stensen’s ethos as well as its medico-ethical and theological implications and reception by researchers and physicians from the 17th century until today, and asks about his lasting significance. Despite dating back more than 300 years, Stensen’s character and his work offer up surprisingly topical answers to current questions on the nature of professional ethics in medical science and practice. Furthermore, “Ethos, Bioethics, and Sexual Ethics in Work and Reception of the Anatomist Niels Stensen : Circulation of Love” is the first academic book on bioethics and sexual ethics with a foreword by the Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. A fascinating book for bioethicists, physicians, members of health professions, scientists, and theologians. (shrink)

Une éthique de la bio-médecine s'élabore depuis plus de vingt ans dans des institutions hospitalières, professionnelles ou politiques. Elle vise à protéger les droits de la personne face aux progrès de la techno-science. Elle est pluridisciplinaire et mêle aux chercheurs des penseurs de diverses familles d'esprit. Une aide à la décision est proposée aux praticiens par plusieurs méthodes : les « conférences de consensus » entre experts, les « protocoles » de soins, les « arbres décisionnels » qui connectent toutes (...) les hypothèses possibles et leurs issues prévisibles, l'évaluation médico-économique des coûts et de l'utilité des soins. L'éthique clinique qui commence à être intégrée aux études médicales s'intéresse aux décisions prises, ou à prendre, au chevet du malade. Des méthodes d'analyse de ces cas ont été mises au point, pour tenir compte, notamment, de la situation singulière, physique, mentale, sociale du patient et des modalités de l'expression de sa volonté. Ces analyses et prospectives font appel, entre autres spécialistes, au concours d’«- éthiciens », représentants des diverses « valeurs » spirituelles reconnues dans la société, qui sont souvent interrogés sur le fondement des décisions éthiques, et c'est alors que la théologie a son mot à dire.A biomedical ethics bas been developing for over twenty years in hospitals, professional groups and political committies. It’s goal is to protect an individual’s rights in face of techno-scientific progress. It is pluri-disciplinary and mixes groups of different intellectual tendencies with those wbo do research. Help in making decisions is given to practitioners by many metbods : “consensus conferences”between experts, treatment “protoco1s”, “decision trees” that connect all possible hypotheses and their foreseeable results, medico economical evaluation of the costs and utility of the treatments. Clinical ethics, which is beginning to be integrated into medical studies, concerns decisions already made or to be made by the bedside of the patient. Analytical methods of these cases bave been perfected to take into account the patient's special physical, mental, and social conditions, as well as his metbods of expressing his will. These analyses and their trends call upon representatives of diverse spiritual “values” recognized in society, among other specialists, at the gatherings of “ethicians“ wbo are often questioned about the basis of ethical decisions. This is wben theology has something to say. (shrink)

Suárez y la Filosofía Moderna Resumen: Los intérpretes de hoy debaten sobre el estatuto y la asociación de Francisco Suárez con la Filosofía Moderna. Este estudio enfoca los principales aspectos de la filosofía especulativa y práctica del pensador jesuita, con el propósito de mostrar que, en las diversas disciplinas abordadas, Suárez ha tomado en cuenta genealógicamente, la formalización de las teorías precedentes: las ha re-formulado en términos metodológicos para progresar. A su preferencia parcial por pruebas a priori, agrega datos de (...) experiencia con respecto a los postulados de la metafísica. Por otra parte, innova en la adopción del lenguaje médico imperante en materias de psicología moral y en la intrincación de las disciplinas teológicas y jurídica, en materias políticas. Con este proceder, que se distingue del estrictamente propedéutico para la investigación científica, alcanza una comprensión adecuada de los fenómenos y, a partir de sus replanteamientos establece el curso de figuras representativas del pensamiento moderno. Palabras clave: Suárez; ontologia; epistemologia; psicología moral; filosofía política; filosofía moderna. Suárez and Modern Philosophy Abstract: Today's interpreters debate the status and association of Francisco Suárez with Modern Philosophy. This paper focuses on the main aspects of the speculative and practical philosophy of the Jesuit thinker, with the purpose of showing that, in the various disciplines approached, Suárez has taken into account genealogically the formalization of the preceding theories: he has reformulated them in methodological terms to progress. To his partial preference for a priori proofs, he adds data of experience regarding the postulates of metaphysics. On the other hand, he innovates in the adoption of the prevailing medical language in matters of moral psychology and in the intricacy of theological and legal disciplines, in political matters. With this procedure, which differs from the strictly propaedeutic for scientific research, he reaches an adequate understanding of the phenomena and, from the rethinking of it, establishes the course of representative figures of modern thought. Key-words: Suárez; ontology; epistemology; moral psicology; political philosophy; Modern philosophy. Suárez e a Filosofia Moderna Resumo: Os intérpretes de hoje debatem o estatuto e a associação de Francisco Suárez com a Filosofia Moderna. Este estudo enfoca os principais aspectos da filosofia especulativa e prática do pensador jesuíta, com o propósito de mostrar que, nas várias disciplinas abordadas, Suárez teve em conta genealogicamente a formalização das teorias precedentes: ele reformulou em termos metodológicos para o progresso. À sua preferência parcial por provas a priori, ele adiciona dados da experiência sobre os postulados da metafísica. Por outro lado, inova na adoção da linguagem médica predominante em questões de psicologia moral e na complexidade das disciplinas teológicas e jurídicas, em questões políticas. Com esse procedimento, que difere do estritamente propedêutico para a pesquisa científica, ele chega a uma compreensão adequada dos fenômenos e, a partir de seu repensar, estabelece o curso de figuras representativas do pensamento moderno. Palavras-chave: Suárez; ontologia; epistemologia; psicologia moral; filosofia política; filosofia moderna. Data de registro: 16/09/2021 Data de aceite: 01/12/2021. (shrink)

Jung trata do problema do mal enquanto médico-analista que utilize métodos empíricos. O seu ponto de partida consiste básicamente na tomada de consciência da sombra, ou seja, dessa parte essencialmente inconsciente da psique e recalcada pelo eu consciente. Ampliando o conceito de sombra até ao arquetípico e transpessoal, Jung propõe conceitos de índole transcendental. Ele atreve-se igualmente a criticar a imagem de Deus na tradição judaico-cristá. A sua linguagem metafísica reduz-se por vezes a certas formas de explicar o conceito do (...) arquétipo do Si-mesmo, o que por vezes não sepode distinguirde uma tomada de posição filosófico-teológica. O exemplo do seu diólogo com o dominicano Victor White mostra a importância de distinguir categorias ejogos de linguagem na reconstrução filosófica do pensamento junguiano. /// Jung deals with the problem of evil as an analyst-physician who makes use of empirical methods. His starting point is basically the awareness of the shadow, that is, from the essentially unconscious part of the psyche and rejected by the conscious I. Extending the concept of shadow to the archetype, transpersonal, Jung proposes concepts of transcendental nature. He also dares to criticize the image of God in the Judaic-Christian tradition. His metaphysical language sometimes comes to some ways ofexplainig the concept of the Oneself archetype, and sometimes cannot be distinguished from the taking of a philosophical-theological position. The example of his dialogue with the Dominican Victor White points out the importance of distinguishing categories and language games in the philosophical reconstruction of the Jungian thought. (shrink)

This volume collects for the first time in a single volume all of Kant's writings on religion and rational theology. These works were written during a period of conflict between Kant and the Prussian authorities over his religious teachings. His final statement of religion was made after the death of King Frederick William II in 1797. The historical context and progression of this conflict are charted in the general introduction to the volume and in the translators' introductions to particular (...) texts. All the translations are new with the exception of The Conflict of the Faculties, where the translation has been revised and re-edited to conform to the guidelines of the Cambridge Edition. As is standard with all the volumes in this edition, there are copious linguistic and explanatory notes, and a glossary of key terms. (shrink)

The encounter of the medieval Muslims with Greek philosophy undeniably shaped the course of their philosophical and theological thought. This encounter led to the complex and contentious issue of ‘philosophy versus theology’. Medieval Muslim thinkers needed to develop a response to the issue of philosophy versus theology. The present article will first highlight the response of the Islamic theologians to their encounter with Greek philosophy in the form of three major trends in medieval Islamic theology: (1) strong (...) opposition to the application of reason and rationalist approach to Islamic doctrines, and strict adherence to the actual text of the Qur’an and the Hadith, (2) the adoption of Greek philosophy, and the application of reason and rationalist approach to explain and defend Islamic religion and (3) acknowledging the significance of reason in exploring the matters related to the natural world but, at the same time, stressing the subordination of reason to revelation. This article will discuss Atharism, Muʿtazilism and Ashʿarism as the representatives of the first, second and third trends, respectively. The response of the medieval Islamic theologians to the issue of philosophy versus theology serves as a context in which medieval Muslim philosophers carried out their philosophy–theology debate. The article will proceed to show that some medieval Muslim philosophers, such as Abu Bakr Al-Razi, subordinated religion or revelation to philosophy or reason. Other medieval Muslim philosophers, such as Al-Ghazali, subordinated philosophy to theology. The third group of medieval Islamic philosophers represented by Alfarabi argued for the reconciliation and harmonious co-existence of philosophy and religion. Contribution: This article highlights the response of medieval Islamic theologians and philosophers to the issue of philosophy versus theology that was caused by their encounter with Greek philosophy. (shrink)

In this timely and provocative book, Nancey Murphy sets out to dispel skepticism regarding Christian belief. She argues for the rationality of Christian belief by showing that theological reasoning is similar to scientific reasoning as described by contemporary philosophy of science. Murphy draws on new historicist accounts of science, particularly that of lmre Lakatos. According to Lakatos, scientists work within a "research program" consisting of a fixed core theory and a series of changing auxiliary hypotheses that allow for prediction and (...) explanation of novel facts: Murphy argues that strikingly similar patterns of reasoning can be used to justify theological assertions. She provides an original characterization of theological data and explores the consequences for theology and philosophy of religion of adopting such an approach. (shrink)

At the University of Pretoria the author, a practical theologian, experiences a fruitful soil for the development of an interdisciplinary process. He referred to concrete examples of cooperation, but used the article to reflect on best practices for the interdisciplinary dialogue. He came to the conclusion that it probably made more sense to talk of Practical-theological alternatives rather than to describe the subject in a single fixed manner of understanding and action. Our goal should rather be to open up the (...) boundaries between Practical Theology, Human, Social and Natural Sciences. (shrink)

The aim of the paper is to discern between philosophy and theology. A philosopher is looking after impersonal wisdom, a theologian searches for a personal God. This differentiation is fundamental because knowledge of persons differs from knowledge that. The author shows how taking into account the fact that theology is based on the second-person knowledge changes the way one should approach the hiddenness argument.

Calling is a very important concept in Christianity. In the medieval era, calling was restricted to ecclesiastical work alone, a devotion to the life of contemplation. Ordinary work or physical labour was not considered qualified to be a calling. Martin Luther was the one who taught that the ordinary work of the ordinary people was also God’s calling and equally spiritual as the ecclesiastical work. However, Miroslav Volf, a Croatian theologian, criticised Luther that his view of calling was too static (...) and irrelevant to the modern context where people often choose to quit a job because of its negative effects and some people have to do multiple jobs in order to make ends meet. While recognising the validity of Volf’s critique, this article seeks to demonstrate that even in the modern context, calling is still a very important theological concept to reflect upon work. Luther’s vocational view of work could be retrieved in discussing the theology of work by putting it in dialogue with Calvin, Kuyper, and other theologians.Contribution: This article seeks to show that the concept of calling is indispensable in constructing a sound theology of work for the modern context. By understanding work as calling, Christian workers are enabled to see how they are participating in God’s redemptive work through their jobs. (shrink)

This article attempts to draw the scope and content of contemporary Political Theology, based on a review of the 2013 publication titled, Political Theology: Contemporary challenges and future directions, edited by Francis Schüssler Fiorenza, Klaus Tanner and Michael Welker. The book is a collection of contributions which explore the contemporary content and potential future of the subject discipline. ‘Political Theology’ as critical theology and as a ‘theology with its face towards the world’ is committed to (...) ‘justice, peace and the integrity of creation’ and is multifaceted. It represents a discipline with which theologians reflect on political-theological objectives across continents and paradigms. The article concludes with a brief investigation of the implications of insights offered in the book for the South African context. (shrink)

This essay replies to the responses of Harold Netland, Charles Taliaferro, and Kate Waidler to my symposium paper, “Gethsemane Epistemology.” It contends that a God worthy of worship would not need the arguments of traditional natural theology, and that such arguments would not lead to such a God in the way desired by God. In addition, it explains why Paul’s position in Romans 1 offers no support to the arguments of traditional natural theology.

The application of paraconsistent logics to theological contradictions is a fascinating move. Jc Beall’s (J Anal Theol, 7(1): 400–439, 2019) paper entitled ‘Christ—A Contradiction: A Defense of ‘Contradictory Christology’ is a notable example. Beall proposes a solution to the fundamental problem of Christology. His solution aims at making the case, and defending the viability of, what he has termed, ‘Contradictory Christology’. There are at least two essential components of Beall’s ‘Contradictory Christology’. These include the dogmatic statements of Chalcedon and FDE (...) logic. The first is the theological contradiction in question. The second is the type of paraconsistent logic. Both components are integral to a contradictory theology in general. I argue that there can be no such thing as an Islamic contradictory theology. I make the case by establishing two points. These points correspond to both integral components of a contradictory theology in general. The first is that an Islamic theological contradiction does not entail an actual (logical) contradiction. The second is that FDE logic, including alternative sub-classical systems of logic, are not adequate in tolerating an Islamic theological contradiction. (shrink)

This article explores the trends in the implementation of Islamic moderation through aqidah and sharia in Singkawang, as it is considered the most tolerant city in Indonesia based on a research report published in 2019. Using grounded research analysis, the authors found three structured patterns: implementation strategies, implementation processes and implementation patterns. This study shows that these strategies and methods, implemented through a flexible, straightforward and easy-to-implement model are relevant to the fundamental values of Islamic education and offer a means (...) of forming a complete and comprehensive network. These implementation patterns encourage religious communities to develop and maintain healthy social relationships. Hopefully, such implementation patterns can be imitated and modified by policyholders to realise Islam rahmatanlil ‘alamin [as a blessing for all].Contribution: Scholars in the fields may benefit from the findings of the research as it provides a new perspective of the Islamic educational moderation theory grounded from the field research. It argues that the practice of community tolerance, especially by the Muslims, has been based on the good understanding of the theology of Islamic education moderation. Education matters in the process of community peace building and in generating tolerance through the implementation of Islamic moderation values. (shrink)

"Even those already familiar with Aristotle may be surprised to learn that discussions of theological topics can be found in so many of his works. Reeve's idea of packaging these texts sequentially along with commentary and notes is brilliant. This book will be essential reading for anyone interested in Aristotle's theology."_— S. Marc Cohen_,__Professor of Philosophy, Emeritus, University of Washington.

I. The soul & its faculties.--II. The world, the soul, and God.

This book explores the thought of Jacques Derrida as it relates to the tradition of apophatic thought--negative theology and philosophy--in both Western and Eastern traditions. Following the Introduction by Toby Foshay, two of Derrida's essays on negative theology, Of an Apocalyptic Tone Newly Adopted in Philosophy and How to Avoid Speaking: Denials, are reprinted here. These are followed by essays from a Western perspective by Mark C. Taylor and Michel Despland, and essays from an Eastern perspective by David (...) Loy, a Buddhist, and Harold Coward, a Hindu. In the Conclusion, Jacques Derrida responds to these discussions. (shrink)

The view that theology represents the highest level of academic learning and the summit of human knowledge has a long history. In this article, starting from Aristotle, the genealogy of this view is excavated. Second, it is examined how and why theology lost this special status in modernity, as this appears in Immanuel Kant’s The Conflict of the Faculties. Third, it is shown in which way and for what reasons theology continued to have a place of its (...) own in the modern university since the founding of the University of Berlin. In particular, the crucial role of Friedrich Schleiermacher’s proposal is highlighted. Fourth, it is suggested that, under certain conditions, theology can still be conceived as a proper university discipline in contemporary pluralistic societies. (shrink)

Drawing on mostly ignored texts, this book thoroughly reassesses Marx and Engels's engagement with theology.

This book examines the transcendental dimension of Kant's philosophy as a positive resource for theology.

Vardoulakis examines the concept of political theology in terms of the ancient greek term "stasis." The term "stasis" means both mobility and immobility. Vardoulakis explores these seemingly contradictory meanings generate a notion of agonistic politics that challenges perceived ideas about political theology.

Philosophical theology is aimed primarily at theoretical understanding of the nature and attributes of God and of God's relationship to the world and its inhabitants. During the twentieth century, much of the philosophical community had grave doubts about our ability to attain any such understanding. In recent years the analytic tradition in particular has moved beyond the biases that placed obstacles in the way of the pursuing questions located on the interface of philosophy and religion. The result has been (...) a rebirth of serious, widely-discussed work in philosophical theology. The Oxford Handbook of Philosophical Theology attempts both to familiarize readers with the directions in which this scholarship has gone and to pursue the discussion into hitherto under-examined areas. Written by some of the leading scholars in the field, the essays in the Handbook are grouped in five sections. In the first, articles focus on the authority of scripture and tradition, on the nature and mechanisms of divine revelation, on the relation between religion and science, and on theology and mystery. The next section focuses on philosophical problems connected with the central divine attributes: aseity, omnipotence, omniscience, and the like. In Section Three, essays explore theories of divine action and divine providence, questions about petitionary prayer, problems about divine authority and God's relationship to morality and moral standards, and various formulations of and responses to the problem of evil. The fourth section examines philosophical problems that arise in connection with such central Christian doctrines as the trinity, the incarnation, the atonement, original sin, resurrection, and the Eucharist. Finally, Section Five introduces readers to work that is being done in Jewish, Islamic, and Chinese philosophical theology. (shrink)

Book Reviewed in this article:Daniel M. Bell, Liberation Theology After the End of History: The Refusal to Cease Suffering.

This chapter contains sections titled: Liberation Theology Philosophy of Liberation Pedagogy of the Oppressed Conclusion References Further Reading.