Thesis--Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (p. 247-255).

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Modernity as a philosophical and intellectual movement has cultivated a perspective of humanity as separated from nature. In modernity, nature is valuable only insofar as it has instrumental value (i.e. that it may be utilized for the benefit of humanity). This study postulates that such an approach to the nature-human relationship may have led to considerable environmental damage and misuse, and that the perspective of humanity as separate from nature should be re-evaluated. Pierre Teilhard de Chardin‟s philosophy is investigated as a possible means to overcome this dichotomy. De Chardin describes varying ontologies that are embedded in the evolutionary process and against which all human relevance and action must be sketched. This differs from an evolutionistic approach, because whilst engaging with scientific discourse (which tends to be reductionist in approach), De Chardin also incorporates spiritual and religious ideas and perspectives. Furthermore, De Chardin‟s ideas differ from vague pantheism, irrationally or mystically formulated, because he engages with the terminology used in modern science and re-evaluates this terminology‟s application and conclusions in relation to his newly developed cosmology (or cosmogenesis). Several questions are central in this study: Firstly, could De Chardin‟s approach be incorporated into the natural scientific discourse? Secondly, does De Chardin‟s cosmology provide new avenues for investigation into a closer and more sustainable relationship between humanity and the natural world? In this study it is postulated that De Chardin does make a contribution to a more sustainable relationship between nature and humanity through his perspective of a holistic ontology that differs from simple mysticism and his postulation of the noosphere, which leads to a new evaluation of humanity‟s technology use. / MPhil, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013

Modernity as a philosophical and intellectual movement has cultivated a perspective of humanity as separated from nature. In modernity, nature is valuable only insofar as it has instrumental value (i.e. that it may be utilized for the benefit of humanity). This study postulates that such an approach to the nature-human relationship may have led to considerable environmental damage and misuse, and that the perspective of humanity as separate from nature should be re-evaluated. Pierre Teilhard de Chardin‟s philosophy is investigated as a possible means to overcome this dichotomy. De Chardin describes varying ontologies that are embedded in the evolutionary process and against which all human relevance and action must be sketched. This differs from an evolutionistic approach, because whilst engaging with scientific discourse (which tends to be reductionist in approach), De Chardin also incorporates spiritual and religious ideas and perspectives. Furthermore, De Chardin‟s ideas differ from vague pantheism, irrationally or mystically formulated, because he engages with the terminology used in modern science and re-evaluates this terminology‟s application and conclusions in relation to his newly developed cosmology (or cosmogenesis). Several questions are central in this study: Firstly, could De Chardin‟s approach be incorporated into the natural scientific discourse? Secondly, does De Chardin‟s cosmology provide new avenues for investigation into a closer and more sustainable relationship between humanity and the natural world? In this study it is postulated that De Chardin does make a contribution to a more sustainable relationship between nature and humanity through his perspective of a holistic ontology that differs from simple mysticism and his postulation of the noosphere, which leads to a new evaluation of humanity‟s technology use. / MPhil, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013

“A Theological Paradigm – Spirituality – as a belief synthesis in a religious, dogmatic, and philosophical context,” pursues an understanding of spirituality from a theological paradigm within a religious, dogmatic, and philosophical context. Contemporary manifestations of practical and relevant day-to-day situations are taken as vantage points in order to unfold the meaning and implications of stories as metaphors for reality. Two basic statements guide the unfolding of the research process, namely firstly that a belief synthesis is shaped by religion as foundation. It entails that the belief synthesis represents a living framework that incorporates the origin, different definitions, worldwide landscapes, religious movements, as well as the epistemic understanding of spiritual and religious experiences. Secondly, that a belief synthesis incorporates spirituality as an experience. It entails that in this experience of spirituality, the following constitutive dimensions and developments can be distinguished: the relation between religion and spirituality, the revival of the academic discipline spirituality, a working definition of spirituality, which includes a general theory of spirituality and methodological aspects of spiritual development. To develop the research focus on the belief synthesis as a theological paradigm, specific theological and philosophical aspects of the palaeontologist-theologian Pierre Teilhard de Chardin (1881-1955) and the German American systematic theologian Paul Tillich (1886-1965) are investigated. With regard to Teilhard de Chardin, the emphasis falls on his development of a positive process - a new kind of spirit (Hope) – that humans can experience in their contemporary evolving worlds. With regard to Tillich, the emphasis falls on his method of correlation explaining the contents of the Christian faith through existential questions and theological answers in mutual interdependence. The research focus on mentioned theologians brings about a closer but different clarification of the term spirituality as belief synthesis in religion as well as the influence of Christian spirituality and the impact that it had on our quest to understand the Christian experience in Christian spirituality. The closer, but different clarification of the term spirituality is elaborated on and subsequently justified by a discussion of different definitions of Christian spirituality, as well as a tentative indication of the road to a new kind of Christian spirituality - which entails a transformation of Christian spirituality that includes mysticism. Finally, the terms Spirit and Hope are identified and discussed as integral parts of the belief synthesis as theological paradigm. At the same time, their significance respectively for the belief synthesis are indicated. The importance and crucial role of hermeneutics are subsequently elucidated within the theological paradigm of spirituality. The research conclusion culminates in the open statement that more than one religion, philosophy, or intuitive infinite belief can be accommodated in a person’s religious life and can satisfy humans in their expectations, experiences, hopes, and fears, in their vulnerable existence. / Dissertation (MA(Theol))--University of Pretoria, 2011. / Dogmatics and Christian Ethics / unrestricted

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O presente trabalho tem como finalidade principal demonstrar que não existem maiores divergências entre o criacionismo bíblico e a teoria da evolução, quando olhamos o fato à luz do transformismo do Pe. Teilhard de Chardin, isto é, sem desprezar a ciência, mas com um profundo conhecimento bíblico, no qual seja possível detectar a verdade científica e, ao mesmo tempo, ter uma visão da verdade bíblica revelando-se a ponto de ver e sentir a união entre matéria e espírito. Quanto ao criacionismo bíblico, fizemos questão de apresentar as duas narrativas da criação descrita nos Gênesis e algumas interpretações hermenêuticas sobre elas, bem como a aceitação da segunda narrativa no Antigo e no Novo Testamento. No que se refere à teoria da evolução, preocupamo-nos em apresentar os pontos de vista científicos, com as naturais divergências entre eles, para que se possa entender melhor o conteúdo de tal teoria, que se empenha em mostrar como surgiu o ser humano na terra, através de uma enorme cadeia de ocorrências até a aparição inexplicável do homo sapiens. Após colocarmos as bases do criacionismo e do evolucionismo é que tratamos dessa possibilidade de equilíbrio entre os dois temas através do transformismo teilhardiano, que nos deixa ver bem claro que o elo perdido da evolução é o sopro de Deus, que promove aquele salto, inexplicável pela ciência, através do fenômeno complexidade-consciência, promovendo o equilíbrio tão almejado / This Work aims meanly at demonstrating that there are not so great divergences between biblical Creationism and Evolution Theory, as we look onto the fact on its whole, in view of Fr. Teilhard de Chardins Transformism, i. e. without disregarding Science, but with a biblical deep knowledge in which it could be possible detecting up scientific truth, revealing itself in a such way that turns possible seeing and feeling deep unity, fusion between matter and spirit. Regarding to biblical Creationism, we have assumed, we have undertaken presenting the two narratives in reference to Creation, described in Genesis and some hermeneutic interpretations about them the two narrations as weel as our adoption, acceptance with regards to second narration in Old and New Testament. As for Evolution Theory, we have been concerned focusing the scientifical viewpoints, with natural divergences among them, in order to make possible a better comprehension, understanding regarding to such a theory content that strives showing up the way human being arose in earth, through a large events, accurences chain, series until Homo Sapiens inexplicable appearance. Since we have delt with we have discussed this equilibrium possibility between these two themes, through Teilhardian transformism, that enables us seeing very clearly that Evolutions missing link is Gods Breath that moves on, through complexity consciousness, that leap, jump, inexplicable for Science, moving on the so longed for equilibrium