Progress in Theology - Winter Seminar

Whereas many contemporary universities originated from theological schools, over the past centuries the status of theology as a proper academic discipline has become contested, to say the least. Among the many allegations levelled against theology is the idea that there is no progress in theology. The aim of this Winter Seminar is to investigate under which conditions, if any, theology can still function as an intellectually respectable academic discipline. In particular, the Seminar will zoom in on the notion of progress in theology. Is there any? If not, is that a problem? If so, what shape does such progress take and is it possible to make more progress in theology?

Program

Over the course of three days, we will explore topics that concern the status of the discipline of theology. We set out with the intellectual tasks of theology: what work should theologians do which cannot be done by the other disciplines? In this connection it is important to explore what kind of knowledge theology produces, which research methods enable such knowledge production, and to what extent theological research can be replicated. Next, we will discuss whether there should be more progress in theology, or, rather, more theology in progress, i.e. more critical theological reflection on the modern ideal of progress and its ambiguities. Find the program here.

Online & live streamed

The seminar will be organised in an online format and will be live streamed from the Pakhuis de Zwijger, Piet Heinkade 179, Amsterdam (timezone: CEST). With the current corona measures it is no longer possible to attend on location.

Confirmed speakers

- Prof. Kevin Schilbrack (Appalachian State University, United States), author of Philosophy and the Study of Religions: A Manifesto (London: Blackwell, 2014)

- Dr. Katrin Gülden Le Maire (FIIT, Heidelberg) finished a PhD-thesis on contemporary challenges to academic theology with reference to Wolfhart Pannenberg’s work (2019)

- Prof. Benedikt Göcke (Ruhr University Bochum, Germany), editor of Die Wissenschaftlichkeit der Theologie (Münster: Asschendorf Verlag, 2018)

- Jan G. Michel (University of Düsseldorf) locum professor in the Department of Philosophy.

- Prof. Oliver Crisp (University of St Andrews, United Kingdom), Professor of Analytic Theology, Director of the Logos Institute for Analytic and Exegetical Theology and author of many works in ‘analytical theology’

- Prof. Katherin Rogers (University of Delaware, United States), specialized in two areas of study: the philosophy of religion and Medieval philosophy, author of several philosophical books related to the life of St. Anselm of Canterbury.

- Prof. Gijsbert van den Brink (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam), author of Philosophy of Science for Theologians (Frankfurt: Peter Lang, 2009)

- Dr. Rik Peels (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam), author of Responsible Belief: A Theory in Ethics and Epistemology (New York: Oxford University Press, 2017)

- Dr. Jennifer Frey (University of South Carolina), fellow of the Institute for Human Ecology at the Catholic University of America. She recently co-edited an interdisciplinary volume; Self-Transcendence and Virtue: Perspectives from Philosophy, Theology, and Psychology, and has two forthcoming volumes; Practical Truth and Practical Wisdom.

This seminar is part of the research project ‘Epistemic Progress in the University‘ of the Abraham Kuyper Center, funded by the Templeton World Charity Foundation.