Full Text of Selected Articles

I. Essays toward an Evangelical Systematic Theology

A. Theology as Worship: The Place of Theology in a Postmodern University

Here I argue that theology should be understood as academic and as the love for God with our mind (worship)> As such Christian doctrine has three "publics" -- the first of which is the Triune God (pace David Tracy). A chapter in Ancient and Postmodern Christianity: Essays in Honor of Thomas C. Oden, edited by Kenneth Tanner and Christopher Hall (InterVarsity Press, 2002).

B. The Three-Fold Sense of Scripture: An Evangelical Grammar for Theological Hermeneutics

Confession of Christ as Messiah and the gospel itself entail a move away from merely literal interpretation. I argue that evangelical hermeneutics pays attention to three levels of meaning in Scripture: Conventional (plain sense), Canonical (Chirstocentric sense) and Contemporary. A Chapter in Semper Reformandum: Studies in Honour of Clark H. Pinnock, ed. S. E. Porter and A. R. Cross (Carlisle: Paternoster Press, 2003).

C. Word of God or Dialog with Science? Overcoming a False Dilemma through Missional Encounter

In this brief article I argue that with respect to theological method today, there is a false dilemma between a constructive theology (general revelation is a focus) and a Logos theology (Word of God or special revelation is a focus). I present the missionary encounter of the gospel with culture as the model for an "evangel" theology (one grounded in the gospel). An evangel theological method allows for both a proper grounding on the Word of God, and a serious engagement with science and philosophy (typical of constructive theological methods).

II. Essays on Theology & Science

A. The Mutuality of Theology and Science: An Example from Time and Thermodynamics.

This essays summarizes my “mutuality model” for the relationship between religion and science. It also explores the idea of explanation in theology, and discusses the support that theology and science can give one another, in the creation of a Christian worldview. The essay was printed in Christian Scholar’s Review 26 (1996), 12-35.

B. Advice for Religious Historians: On the Myth of a Purely Historical Jesus.

This essay was my presidential address to the AAR/Western Region (along with SBL/Pacific Coast); also presented to the Resurrection Summit, St. Joseph’s Seminary, NY (Easter, 1996), and published in the proceedings: The Resurrection, ed. S. T. Davis, G. O’Collins and D. Kendall (Oxford Univ. Pr., 1997), 287-307. I argue that religious studies, including biblical studies, has bought into an Enlightenment “myth,” which I call the myth of a purely historical Jesus. This ideology assumes that faith corrupts historical research, and further that science can be “neutral” and value-free. I expose this myth, and reject its assumptions, arguing instead for the integration of faith and science.

C. Putting Reason in its Place: Wesleyan Theology or Ontotheology?

This essay is a chapter in Bryan Stone and Thomas Oord, eds., Thy Nature and Thy Name is Love: Process and Wesleyan Theologies in Dialogue (Nashville, TN: Kingswood Books/Abingdon, 2001). It was an invited lecture at a session of the American Academy of Religion in Boston, Mass., (Nov. 1999). It represents my basic response to Process theology, with particular reference to theological method (rather than to any particular doctrine.) I argue that we must reject any “meta-narrrative” which establishes the truth about God in a way that this methodologically prior to Christ, special revelation and Scripture. In a way the essay is a defense of the Wesleyan Norms or “quadrilateral,” and the priority of Scripture among those norms.

D. Testing Models of the Incarnation: From Revelation to Historical Science.

This essay was presented at the Incarnation Summit at St. Joseph's Seminary (see also essay B, above.) It continues the theme of essay B, and investigates the role that historical science should play in theological reasoning. I argue that, using informal reasoning or logic, science can play a limited role in theological reflection. The focus is on Christology, especially models of the Incarnation. This essay was published on the Web, in the Journal for Christian Theological Research.

E. Dialectical Realism in Theology and Science.

This essay presents my proposed philosophical approach to the science and religion dialogue. It was printed in Perspectives on Science and Christian Faith 54 (2002), 184-192. I argue for realism in both theology and the sciences, a view which pays attention to the dialogical, communal and traditional character of rationality, thus going beyond critical realism. A longer version of this argument was also published in my 2003 book, Science and the Study of God.

F. The Roots of the Western Concept of the "Laws of Nature:" From the Greeks to Newton.

This essay was published in Perspectives on Science and Christian Faith 55 (2003), 212-221. It represents the historical aspect of my current research interest in divine action and the laws of nature.

G. Science and Theology.

This article from The Encyclopedia of Christianity volume 4 presents an historical overview of the relationship between natural science and theology in the West.

III. Papers on Religion and Science, Presented at Peking University

A. “Religion and Science in Christian Perspective,” The Symposium of Chinese-American Philosophy and Religious Studies, vol. I., ed Mel Stewart and Zang Zhigang. Bethesda, MD: International Scholars Pub., 1997

This essay was published in a collection of papers from the first conference on US-Sino Philosophy and Religious Studies (Peking I), sponsored by the Department of Philosophy, and of Religious Studies at Peking University, and now co-sponsored by the Society of Christian Philosophers in the US. The conference was arranged by Mel Stewart and Zhang Zhi-gang, who also edited the volume. My chapter discusses the nature and relationship between religion and science, arguing that science cannot replace religion.

B. “Ethical Values through Religious Studies: Beyond the Western Myth of "Scientific" Neutrality”

This second paper was published in Chinese, in East & West: Religious Ethics and Other Essays, eds. Zhang Zhigang and Melville Stewart [Beijing, China: Central Compilation & Translation Press, 1997]. Now available in English, with the same editors, under the title, The Symposium of Chinese-American Philosophy and Religious Studies, vol. III (Bethesda, MD: International Scholars Publ, 2000. I argue that there is no neutral, value-free approach to religious studies, and conclude with advocating some common values in the quest for religious knowledge. This has some similarities to my paper on the myth of a purely historical Jesus, below.

C. On the Very Idea of Theological Knowledge: A Comparison of Theology and Science

This third essay for China on religion and science was presented to the Fourth Peking Symposium in Philosophy & Religious Studies (1998.). Publication of an abstract only, in Chinese, is in a volume edited by Mel Stewart and Zhao Dunhua, from Peking University Press (2000).

IV. "Spot: Light on Science" columns for The Cresset.

A. Mini-Me: Can we Clone a Person?

Vol. 66 No. 1 (2002) 32-33

B. Epiphany for a Small Planet

Vol. 66 No. 3 (2003) 33-34

C. Do Embryos Pray? (with a response from Ben Mitchell)

Vol. 67 No. 1 (2003) 30-33

D. Intelligent Design: Creationism Redivivus?

Vo. 66 No. 5 (2003)42-44

E. The DaVinci Code and the Two Books

Vol. 67 No. 3 (2004) 36-37

F. By the Waters of Mars: A Bio-Friendly Universe?