Creation

This entry seeks to illustrate that as far as digital culture is the environment of our lives, it is the context of our theologising. It will begin by discussing why digital theological engagement is inevitable and thereafter discuss some of the doctrinal focus areas and debates within digital theology to date.

• Systematic Theology

The biological theory of evolution understands the emergence and further development of organisms as an ongoing process throughout history. This challenged theology to reflect on its own understanding of creation and related questions of the doctrine of God and anthropology. The background to these reflections is the question of the fundamental relationship between theology and natural science. Evolution and creation are related to each other in different ways – from the view that they are incompatible to a synthesis of both concepts.

Not only the theory of the natural origin of species, but also the idea of a naturally explainable evolution of religion has been and continues to be understood as a challenge to religion and theology.

For the majority of people, family is the most important reality in their lives. Its forms and functions are highly variable. At its core, it is about the everyday, intergenerational care of oneself and others. Therefore, it makes sense to speak of diverse practices of living together and to ask theological and ethical questions about what it means to be human and to have the capacity for humanity. In biblical-theological terms, human beings are conceived as creatures and allies of the God of Israel and as participants in a humanity oriented toward hope. Scriptures document openness and breadth, but also the struggle for rights and justice for the disadvantaged. Human rights are the basic norm for political-ethical efforts on behalf of families in today’s society.

• Society

This article establishes nonbinarity as an important fold in the evolution of human sexuality. Having social, political, cultural, and religious implications, this article fleshes out the landscape that is shaped by the interlocking systems of meaning making. This article also addresses the current context in the United States in which the authors are living and cites care as an important factor to consider when creating social policies that might impact a segment of the population.

• Anthropology