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TITLE: The tyranny of facts and the demise of truth in modern theological
reflection: The future of Christian belief
ABSTRACT: A scientific approach to reality, though probably having arisen from a
Christian perspective (at least in part), has dominated modern thinking. An
important pillar of the scientific approach is the authority given to “facts” or
“evidence”. This pillar has now become so dominant that “facts” alone are viewed
as important and in fact as able to make a case themselves. This “tyranny of
facts” ignores that facts do not speak for themselves and are only assembled by
an author, or scientist, or lawyer, etc. as a part of a larger picture. Modern
Christian theology has succumbed to this tyranny and has surrendered with it the
Christian story and with it Christian truth. A biblical Christian alternative to
the modern tyranny of facts is one in which faith establishes the picture and
enables one to see that what is observed in the picture is true. The truth,
then, may or may not fit the “facts” as the modern world sees them and may thus
see our “truth” as nonsensical.
EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES:
- A philosophically and theologically correct understanding of facts,
values, and faith.
- A dialogue on the place of Christian faith in relation to science.
- Consideration of the place of Christian faith as a contribution to
knowledge (vs. the exclusion of faith from any consideration as to its
contribution to knowledge).
READING:
- Bloomquist, L. Gregory. "A Contemporary Exegesis at the Edges of Chaos," Religion & Theology / Religie & Teologie 11,
no. 1 (2004): 1–38 (originally the keynote address, AAR Eastern International
Region, held at Saint Paul University, Ottawa, Canada (April, 2002) --
available from the author electronically.
- Bloomquist, L. Gregory.
The Role of Theology on the Campus: Does the Academy Need the Study of
Theology? Currents in Biblical and Theological Dialogue (forthcoming)
-- in the interim available from the author electronically.
- Louth, Andrew. Discerning the Mystery: An Essay on the Nature of
Theology. Oxford [England]: Clarendon Press, 1983.
TEXT: For a copy of the text of the presentation, please contact
L. G. Bloomquist
For More Information, contact:
L. Gregory Bloomquist
Saint Paul University, 223 Main St., Ottawa, Ontario K1S1C4 Canada
Tel: 613-782-3027
FAX: 772-365-4684
Internet:
info@bloomquist.ca
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