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Framing Christian Eschatology through Natural Teleology? Theological Possibilities and Concerns

Framing Christian Eschatology through Natural Teleology? Theological Possibilities and Concerns Christian theology typically maintains that God is transforming the universe into a New Creation. Christianity is significantly forward looking with its concern with the ‘last things’ and the final destinies of individual people, human history, and the cosmos as a whole.1 The history of the world is, therefore, interpreted in light of what will come. A theology of creation, given this eschatological understanding, entails a teleological view of nature moving towards a transcendent future that is revealed proleptically in Jesus Christ. In this way, evolutionary history is interpreted against the backdrop of eschatology, so that for Christianity purpose is a real feature of creation. As John Haught has suggested, creation is purposeful and teleological in that it is ‘orientated towards the implementation of something intrinsically good.’2Yet, the idea of teleology has come under attack by modern science and evolutionary biology in particular. It is argued that science with its emphasis on mechanistic explanations leaves no room for Aristotle's ‘final cause’ and no intrinsic goal‐directedness in nature. While teleological language often shows up in biological discourse, such language is generally seen as an unwanted legacy from the Christian tradition.3 In many cases, philosophers propose solutions relating to teleonomy, which suggests http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png The Heythrop Journal Wiley

Framing Christian Eschatology through Natural Teleology? Theological Possibilities and Concerns

The Heythrop Journal , Volume 63 (3) – May 1, 2022

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References (38)

Publisher
Wiley
Copyright
© 2022 Trustees for Roman Catholic Purposes Registered
ISSN
0018-1196
eISSN
1468-2265
DOI
10.1111/heyj.13305
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

Christian theology typically maintains that God is transforming the universe into a New Creation. Christianity is significantly forward looking with its concern with the ‘last things’ and the final destinies of individual people, human history, and the cosmos as a whole.1 The history of the world is, therefore, interpreted in light of what will come. A theology of creation, given this eschatological understanding, entails a teleological view of nature moving towards a transcendent future that is revealed proleptically in Jesus Christ. In this way, evolutionary history is interpreted against the backdrop of eschatology, so that for Christianity purpose is a real feature of creation. As John Haught has suggested, creation is purposeful and teleological in that it is ‘orientated towards the implementation of something intrinsically good.’2Yet, the idea of teleology has come under attack by modern science and evolutionary biology in particular. It is argued that science with its emphasis on mechanistic explanations leaves no room for Aristotle's ‘final cause’ and no intrinsic goal‐directedness in nature. While teleological language often shows up in biological discourse, such language is generally seen as an unwanted legacy from the Christian tradition.3 In many cases, philosophers propose solutions relating to teleonomy, which suggests

Journal

The Heythrop JournalWiley

Published: May 1, 2022

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