Original Research

Panenteïsme as ’n funksionele, induktiewe konstruk in die gesprek tussen die teologie en die (natuur)wetenskap

Johan Buitendag
Verbum et Ecclesia | Vol 35, No 2 | a879 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/ve.v35i2.879 | © 2014 Johan Buitendag | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 05 June 2013 | Published: 06 August 2014

About the author(s)

Johan Buitendag, Faculty of Theology, University of Pretoria, South Africa

Abstract

Panentheism: A functional and inductive endeavour in the dialogue between science and religion. Panentheism is an approach that gains more and more popularity in both systematic and practical theology, as well as in philosophy. But what lies at the heart of panentheism? Could panentheism be the key to a valid contemporary understanding of God and creation? This article aims at illuminating the richness of panentheism whilst at the same time exploring whether this construct could enhance the interdisciplinary dialogue. The author of this article departs from the premise that it is the task of systematic theology to understand reality in a collective enterprise, together with other disciplines and even other sciences. A constructive empiricism could, when combined with the notion of social constructionism, lead to an understanding of reality where reality is more than mere idealistically conceived. Truth is therefore to be replaced with a pragmatic but value-laden concept of understanding. Therefore panentheism and both epistemology and ontology have to be reconsidered. It is the opinion of the author that panentheism can enrich both the dialogue between disciplines as well as the interaction between practical and systematic theology. However, panentheism then has to be even more radical and steer clear of the traditional meaning of space and time.

Keywords

Panentheism, Moltmann, ontology, theism, Muller Julian

Metrics

Total abstract views: 3570
Total article views: 7210

 

Crossref Citations

1. Teologie as wetenskap: Noodsaak van dialoog
Marius Nel
Koers - Bulletin for Christian Scholarship  vol: 83  issue: 1  year: 2018  
doi: 10.19108/KOERS.83.1.2309