Systems Theory and Theology


Book Description

The contributions to the collection explore the interplay between systems theory, religion and theology, and the symbolic expressions and philosophical foundations of these academic disciplines. This endeavor is rooted in the oeuvre of the late Austrian physicist Alfred Locker (1922-2005), who firmly believed that systems theory would finally emerged, some sixty years after Bertalanffy's seminal work on General System Theory, as a bridge-building metatheory between the sciences and religion. The studies contained in this collection enter into a critical evaluation and reassessment of the dominant postulates of scientific and theological systems and their interaction, including treatments of paradoxes (A. Locker), the inner sciences (Zwick), systems of meaning (Krieger), philosophy (Murphy), theology (Sedmak), isomorphies of religious symbols (Zwick), and the bridging of science and religion (A. Locker).




A Systems Theory of Religion


Book Description

A Systems Theory of Religion, still unfinished at Niklas Luhmann's death in 1998, was first published in German two years later thanks to the editorial work of André Kieserling. One of Luhmann's most important projects, it exemplifies his later work while redefining the subject matter of the sociology of religion. Religion, for Luhmann, is one of the many functionally differentiated social systems that make up modern society. All such subsystems consist entirely of communications and all are "autopoietic," which is to say, self-organizing and self-generating. Here, Luhmann explains how religion provides a code for coping with the complexity, opacity, and uncontrollability of our world. Religion functions to make definite the indefinite, to reconcile the immanent and the transcendent. Synthesizing approaches as disparate as the philosophy of language, historical linguistics, deconstruction, and formal systems theory/cybernetics, A Systems Theory of Religion takes on important topics that range from religion's meaning and evolution to secularization, turning decades of sociological assumptions on their head. It provides us with a fresh vocabulary and a fresh philosophical and sociological approach to one of society's most fundamental phenomena.




Systems Theory and Theology


Book Description

The contributions to the collection Systems Theory and Theology explore the interplay between systems theory, religion and theology, and the symbolic expressions and philosophical foundations of these academic disciplines. This endeavor is rooted in the oeuvre of the late Austrian physicist Alfred Locker (1922-2005), who firmly believed that systems theory would finally emerge, some sixty years after von Bertalanffy's seminal work on General System Theory, as a bridge-building metatheory between the sciences and religion. The essays in this volume show, however, that such conversation transcends the usual form of dialogue among these disciplines. The studies contained in this collection enter into a critical evaluation and reassessment of the dominant postulates of scientific and theological systems and their interaction. Systems Theory and Theology includes treatments of paradoxes (A. Locker), the inner sciences (Zwick), systems of meaning (Krieger), philosophy (Murphy), theology (Sedmak), isomorphies of religious symbols (Zwick), and the bridging of science and religion (M. Locker).




Family Systems and Congregational Life


Book Description

Experienced pastor and seminary teacher R. Robert Creech helps pastoral leaders increase their effectiveness by applying family systems theory to congregational life and ministry. Creech introduces readers to the basic concepts of Bowen Family Systems Theory, applies family theory to the work of ministry in church settings, and connects systems thinking to the everyday aspects of congregational ministry, such as preaching, pastoral care, leadership, spiritual formation, and interpreting biblical texts. Each chapter contains discussion questions, and there are five helpful appendixes with supplemental information about Bowen theory.




African Women's Theology, Gender Relations, and Family Systems Theory


Book Description

African women theologians have written extensively about problems in gender relations in African contexts, identifying oppressive elements and their effects on women's self-concept and status in the church, family, and society. This book provides much-needed pastoral theological attention and a response to the psychospiritual, relational, and sociocultural effects of gender injustice and marginalization of women. It critically examines concepts, methods, and principles of family systems theory, analyzes gender relations in African families and churches, and develops a theology of pastoral care (based on the Trinitarian concept of perichoresis) that offers pastoral guidelines for effective pastoral counseling with women and men, as well as recommendations for corrective and preventative care grounded in educational strategies. The paradigm of pastoral care that emerges attends both to women affected by gender injustice and to the sociocultural norms that cause distress and perpetuate gender oppression.







Systems Theory VS Evolutionary Theory


Book Description

“Your interesting, carefully detailed manual about Systems Theory V.S Evolutionary Theory is original in the field. The subject is vividly and easily explained with examples that help the reader understand the peculiarities and insights described. All the aspects of interpreting the human conscience, morality and law, the evolutionary theory in society from a theological and scientific viewpoint. War, conspiracy, are classified in depth, with a simple and clear prose that leaves no doubts regarding the subject. The theological references are correctly placed, and provide crucial additional information for those who want to deepen the content. I think this manual will be very useful for your country’s readers and for European ones as well.” —Source: Ginevra Picani, Assignment Editor for Press House Europe Books Publishing Firm and Manuscript Reviews. The contents of this book is in relation to the subject of human equality with a strong focus on interpreting the human conscience, morality, and law. The book contains references to theological terms from the Holy Bible, as well as scientific references to systems theory and systems science. The book is intended to empower the individual with knowledge concerning the basic rights of a human being, whilst exploring the implications of the evolutionary theory in society from both a theological and scientific viewpoint. The book also contains references to quantum theory, war, conspiracy, the Holocaust, Communism, New Atheism, politics, nudity, sexual immorality, animal cruelty, hell and racism from a Christian perspective. This book is not recommended for individuals under the age of 18. All views within this book are within the spectrum of the law concerning freedom of speech, so as to not break the law, nor infringe upon a person’s basic rights as a human being.










Scientific Theology: Reality


Book Description

The second volume of an extended and systematic exploration of the relation between Christian theology and the natural sciences, focussing on the examination and defense of theological realism