Artificial intelligence is rapidly and radically changing our lives and world. This book is a multidisciplinary engagement with the present and future impacts of AI from the standpoint of Christian faith. It provides technological, philosophical, and theological foundations for thinking about AI, as well as a series of reflections on the impact of AI on relationships, behavior, education, work, and moral action. The book serves as an accessible introduction to AI as well as a guide to wise consideration, design, and (...) use of AI by examining foundational understandings and beliefs from a Christian perspective. (shrink)

English summary: Was Paul of Tarsus a philosopher? Does he even rank amongst those philosophers who influenced occidental live and thought? The Italian philosopher Giorgio Agamben says, that the Epistle to the Romans is the fundamental messianic text of the western culture. The Jewish scholars Jacob Taubes and Daniel Boyarin insist on the philosophical and political Force of Pauline thinking. Long before that, Friedrich Nietzsche and Martin Heidegger dealt intently with the Epistle. Was Paul a Philosopher? In any case he (...) received a lot of attention from the modern philosophers. The collection of contributions by theologians and philosophers gives profound insights into his thinking. German description: War Paulus aus Tarsus ein Philosoph? Zahlt er gar zu jenen bedeutenden Philosophen, die das abendlandische Leben und Denken massgeblich mit pragten? Der italienische Philosoph Giorgio Agamben bezeichnet jedenfalls den Romerbrief des Apostels als "grundlegenden messianischen Text der westlichen Kultur". Nachdrucklich weisen auch judische Gelehrte wie Jacob Taubes und Daniel Boyarin auf die philosophisch-politische Sprengkraft paulinischen Denkens hin. Lange zuvor setzten sich bereits Friedrich Nietzsche und Martin Heidegger intensiv mit den Briefen des Apostels auseinander. War Paulus ein Philosoph? In jedem Fall geniesst er unter den Philosophen der Moderne und Spatmoderne eine bemerkenswert grosse Aufmerksamkeit. Die hier versammelten Beitrage von Philosophen und Theologen geben einen profunden Einblick in sein denkerisches Potential. (shrink)

Holistic service for youth and youth is the basic thing today because youth and youth are the present generation for the future of the church. By using descriptive qualitative methods, it can be concluded that the holistic ministry for youth and youth carried out by church leaders is able to build today's generation that continues to have an impact on the world and is also expected to bring Christian education that has one clear and definite goal/direction, namely knowing, loving, believe (...) in, obey and serve God according to His will and plan and for His glory. (shrink)

Appolonius von Tyana und Christus.--Das Christliche des Platonismus.--Seneca und Paulus.

Paul, the peacemaker. On the reception of the Letter to Philemon in the 4th and 5th centuries AD. By means of his letter to Philemon Paul attempted to make peace between Philemon and his slave, Onesimus. The theological aspects of this endeavour have been discussed often in academic circles, but thus far little attention has been given to what the practical implications of this would have been for Philemon’s household. In this article, this issue is addressed from a particular perspective, (...) namely how this aspect was interpreted by Christians in the 4th and 5th centuries CE. The interpretations of the Letter to Philemon by Ambrosiaster, Jerome, John Chrysostom, Pelagius, Theodore of Mopsuestia and Theodoret of Cyrus are then investigated systematically in order to determine what their views were in this regard. It is shown that they all agreed that Philemon would (or would have no choice but to) forgive Onesimus, and that Onesimus would have turned into a better slave. All of these interpreters agreed that there would not be any drastic social changes in Philemon’s household although it does seem as if one of them, Ambrosiaster, realised that what Paul expected of Philemon could have had serious consequences for the relationship between Philemon and Onesimus. (shrink)

This big book is a welcome collection of some of the most important theological studies on St. Paul written by German scholars of this century. Some of the authors are among the greatest names of modern exegetical science and the present selection enables the reader to have access to a wide range of first-rate, often classical, accounts of Paulinian research, without being forced to go through the back-issues of German theological journals. Besides the classical studies, written for encyclopedical purposes, by (...) A. Schaatter and W. Wrede, we can compare A. Schweitzer's and R. Bultmann's accounts on the state of Paulinian researches. Another article of R. Bultmann is about the ethics of St. Paul while von Soden studies sacrament and ethics in the work of the apostle of the Gentiles. Other major articles are: K. Holl: Paul's concept of the Church in its relationship to the primitive Christian community; R. Reitzenstein: Paul as a pneumatician; [[sic]] M. Dibelius: Paul and the Mystic; M. Pohlenz: Paul and the Stoa; L. Baeck: The faith of Paul; G. Bornkamm: Faith and reason in Paul.--M. J. V. (shrink)

English summary: Arnold presents the first systematic study of the early biblical and exegetical writings from Schelling's schooldays and years of study in Tubingen (1787-1795) and puts them in the context of the complex history of problems in the late Enlightenment. Apart from the general challenge of theology due to Kant's reception, debates on basic principles regarding authenticity and and the Bible's claim to divine authority had begun. Arnold shows that Schelling studied these controversies very closely and developed them into (...) his own hermeneutic methodology. Schelling's theory of interpreting the Scriptures, of the Christian religion and of the concept of faith, developed as a result of these studies, is also significant for understanding his later works on the history of philosophy and moral philosophy. German description: Mit diesem Band liegt die erste systematische Untersuchung der fruhen biblisch-exegetischen Schriften aus Schellings Schul- und Tubinger Studienzeit (1787-1795) vor. Diese Schriften stellt Arnold in den Horizont der komplexen Problemgeschichte der Spataufklarung: Neben der generellen Herausforderung der Theologie durch die Rezeption Kants waren im Vorfeld Grundsatzdebatten zur Authentizitat und zum gottlichen Autoritatsanspruch der Bibel aufgebrochen. Dabei zeigt Arnold, dass Schelling diese Kontroversen intensiv rezipiert und zu einer eigenen hermeneutischen Methodik ausgearbeitet hat. Schellings aus dieser Auseinandersetzung entwickelte Theorie der Schriftinterpretation, der christlichen Religion und des Glaubensbegriffs ist gerade auch fur das Verstandnis seines spateren geschichts- und moralphilosophischen OEuvres bedeutsam. (shrink)

This article analyzes the encounter story of Paul and Lydia (Acts 16:13-15) as a concrete example of the practice of reciprocal gift exchange. The exchange of “gifts” between the two took place when Paul preached the Christian faith and baptized Lydia, and she reciprocated by giving Paul a ride. This study employs a social science approach by taking a repertoire of gift exchanges from the ancient Greco-Roman world to be applied to this story, and biblical studies for interpretation. From the (...) repertoire of exchanges available, we chose χάρις to apply to this story. The concept of χάρις reflects a reciprocal exchange that involves two actions at once, namely the giving of a “gift” and the receiving of it with gratitude in return. The reciprocal gift exchange between Paul and Lydia shows that a gift demands a response (reciprocity). However, the reciprocal exchange between the two was not exploitative, as it took place within the framework of Christ’s χάρις. Through the gift of Christ’s χάρις, they concretely share χάρις with one another. In this context, Paul and Lydia not only demonstrated their identity as followers of Christ but also strengthened their bonds as brothers and sisters. Abstrak Artikel ini menganalisa kisah pertemuan Paulus dan Lidia (Kis. 16:13-15) sebagai sebuah contoh konkret dari praktik pertukaran hadiah atau pemberian timbal balik. Pertukaran “hadiah” antara keduanya terjadi ketika Paulus mengajarkan iman Kristen dan membaptis Lidia, dan Lidia membalasnya dengan memberikan tumpangan kepada Paulus. Studi ini menggunakan pendekatan ilmu sosial dengan memakai repertoar pertukaran hadiah atau pemberian timbal balik dari tradisi dunia Yunani-Romawi kuno untuk diterapkan dalam penafsiran biblis. Dari repertoar pertukaran yang tersedia, studi ini memilih χάρις untuk diterapkan dalam kisah tersebut. Konsep χάρις mencerminkan pertukaran timbal balik yang melibatkan dua tindakan sekaligus, yakni pemberian “hadiah” dan penerimaan dengan rasa syukur sebagai balasannya. Pertukaran hadiah timbal balik antara Paulus dan Lidia menunjukkan bahwa sejatinya sebuah pemberian menuntut tanggapan (resiprositas). Namun pertukaran timbal balik antara keduanya tidak bersifat eksploitatif, karena terjadi dalam bingkai χάρις Kristus. Melalui pemberian χάρις Kristus, mereka secara konkret berbagi χάρις terhadap satu sama lain. Dalam konteks ini, Paulus dan Lidia tidak hanya menunjukkan identitas mereka sebagai pengikut Kristus, tetapi juga memperkuat ikatan mereka sebagai saudara seiman. Kata-kata kunci: Paul, Lidya, χάρις, pertukaran timbal-balik, Kis 16: 13-15, budaya Yunani-Romawi. (shrink)

In this Germantranslation of an essay published 1988 in Afrikaans, the South African author criticizes the views ofthe influential Dutch Reformed New Testament scholar, E. P. Groenewald. In 1947 Groenewald published an essay on the nature ofthe Early Church and Pauline theology, in an effort to justify apartheid ideologically. The views expressed in that essay are still alive among concervatives in the DRC. From the perspective of Pauline soteriology, so Breytenbach argues, Apartheid is principally incompatible with Christian baptism.

In the December 2013 issue of the periodical ‚Merkur‘, philosopher Andreas Dorschel presents a literary experiment. In the spirit of 18th century Enlightenment, he feigns an apocryphal letter including philological apparatus; it is – mind the boldness – a response letter by the Corinthians to St Paul’s first epistle. The ancient port city, multicultural, of syncretist religiousness and libertine in erotics, rejects the disciplining by the apostle. (Summary by Gustav Seibt, ‚Die Häresie der Abgrenzungen. Andreas Dorschel entwirft ein korinthisches Christentum‘, (...) in Süddeutsche Zeitung 293, 19 December 2013, p. 14). (shrink)

Jon Sobrino and Jean-Marc Éla provide unique contributions for theological ethics in reflecting suffering as mystery of evil (mysterium iniquitatis) and suffering as the driving force for liberation (mysterium salutis). As a proponent of liberation theology, Sobrino focuses on structural problem of evil. In this regard, Éla gives his unique voice by analyzing suffering from its socio-cultural perspectives. Putting Sobrino and Éla in dialog shows the need for interdisciplinary approach in doing theological ethics. This interdisciplinary reflection on suffering on the (...) one hand will bring a more holistic view on the complexity of the problem of suffering. On the other hand, it brings a more contextual understanding on the meaning of discipleship in a violent world. Keywords: Saffering, evil, liberation, resocialization, structural & socio- cultural approach, discipleship. Abstrak: Jon Sobrino dan Jean-Marc Éla memberikan sumbangan yang khas bagi refleksi teologis etis tentang kompleksitas problem penderitaan sebagai misteri kejahatan (mysterium iniquitatis) namun sekaligus menawarkan daya dorong bagi kesetiaan menapaki jalan pembebasan (mysterium salutis). Sobrino yang menekankan analisa struktural atas kejahatan membutuhkan analisa sosio-kultural dari Éla sehingga aneka upaya “memberi nama” dan melawan problem kejahatan mendapatkan pijakannya pada praktik-praktik kultural dalam komunitas lokal. Dialog Sobrino dan Éla juga menunjukkan bahwa teologi mesti membuka diri pada kajian interdisipliner dengan ilmu lain sehingga, di satu sisi, misteri penderitaan dapat didekati secara lebih utuh dan, di sisi lain, jalan kemuridan yang muncul karena tanggapan atasnya menjadi lebih kontekstual. Kata-kata kunci: Penderitaan, kejahatan, pembebasan, resosialisasi, pendekatan struktural, pendekatan sosio-kultural, kemuridan. (shrink)

With this book, respected academic and community leader, Paulus Zulu, cuts right to the heart of our current malaise. Drawing equally on Western concepts and on African traditional thought, he provides a searing indictment of the state of the nation, casting new light on corruption, incompetence and mismanagement."--Back cover.

The passage in Proverbs 31:10–31 is a beautiful depiction of the virtuous wife, also known as the Proverbs 31 woman. This passage is often used as a guide for women in their roles within their families and communities. The heart of her husband trusts in her” (Proverbs 31:11). She seeks wool and flax and works with willing hands” (Proverbs 31:13). She opens her hand to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy” (Proverbs 31:20). 4. She opens her (...) mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue” (Proverbs 31:26). Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised” (Proverbs 31:30). The Role of the Husband and Family The passage also highlights the role of the husband and family in relation to the virtuous wife. The husband of the virtuous wife is respected and known in the gates, which indicates that he benefits from her hard work and reputation (Proverbs 31:23). The children and husband of the virtuous wife praise her, and her works bring them honor (Proverbs 31:28). Reflection on Proverbs 31:10–31 The passage in Proverbs 31:10–31 provides a timeless model of a woman who is dedicated to her family, diligent in her work, and deeply rooted in her faith. It serves as a source of inspiration and encouragement for women in their various roles within the family and society. (shrink)

In many countries publications in Web of Knowledge journals are dominant in the evaluation of educational research. For various purposes comparisons are made between the output of philosophers of education in these journals and the publications of their colleagues in educational research generally, sometimes also including psychologists and/or social scientists. Taking its starting-point from Hayden’s article in this journal (Stud Philos Educ 31:1–27, 2012), this paper discusses the situation of educational research in three countries: The Netherlands, South Africa and Norway. (...) In this paper an alternative for comparing research output is offered by invoking comparisons with colleagues at the international level from within the same sub-discipline. It is argued that if one would do so a different picture would emerge, even if one were to limit oneself to particular kinds of publications. The case is then made that if comparisons are regarded as a necessary part of the evaluation of an individual scholar (for appointment, promotion, tenure, and/or funding application purposes), it would be more fair to use a proxy system which is sub-discipline specific, or minimally contains some kind of correction factor in relation to the over-all quality assessment device. Debates about the relevance or irrelevance of philosophy of education in the context of educational sciences are now obscured, even poisoned by focusing almost exclusively on a particular kind of publication output. As the ‘reward’ system that is developed accordingly is possibly the most important driver of educational research, it puts the sub-discipline unduly under pressure to the extent that it possibly cannot survive. (shrink)

Time, space, causality, communicating and acting together set limits on our freedom. Starting from the position of Wittgenstein, who advocates neither a position of pure subjectivity nor of pure objectivity, and taking into account what is implied by initiation into the symbolic order of language and culture, it is argued that the limitations on our freedom are not to be deplored. The problems of conservatism, relativism and scepticismwhich confront us often in the context of education and child rearingare inadequately dealt (...) with if attention is primarily focused on ways to resist or act differently. Following Cavell and his insistence that we should not try to escape from the existential conditions we find ourselves in and look for false certainties, the relevance of embracing a particular stance is elaborated. A commitment to giving substance to an ideal of the good life is neither an injustice towards the other nor an ignorance of her freedom. On the contrary, here responsibility is accepted, and at the same time it is acknowledged that we always have only the particular points of departure that we contingently start from. Coming to terms with this kind of dependency constitutes living out the scepticism that is implied by our being human: the logic of this is given along with our human condition. (shrink)

This paper is the sequel to Part 1, which appeared in this Journal, Vol. 46 No. 2, 2012. Following Cavell and his insistence that we should not try to escape from the existential conditions we find ourselves in and look for false certainties, the relevance of embracing a particular stance is elaborated. A commitment to giving substance to an ideal of the good life is neither an injustice towards the other nor an ignorance of her freedom. On the contrary, here (...) responsibility is accepted and at the same time it is acknowledged that we always have only the particular points of departure that we contingently start from. Coming to terms with this kind of dependency constitutes living out the scepticism that is implied by our being human: the logic of this is given along with our human condition. (shrink)

Psychology has penetrated many domains of society and its vocabulary and discourse has become part of our everyday conversations. It not only carries with it the promise that it will deliver insights into human behaviour, but it is also believed that it can address many of the problems human beings are confronted with. As a discipline it thrives in the present climate of performativity, where more attention is given to means than to ends. The article observes first that for education (...) and thus for educational research, though psychology's approach can be valuable, other theoretical stances are also necessary. It then analyses why psychology may be attractive nowadays in the educational field and identifies its prestige in academia, partly arising from its professionalization, but above all the use of a particular method and the focus on certain contents. This has historical antecedents, and so some illustrations are given of previous developments, paying attention as well to the controversies in which educational psychology has been involved in the past, as well as to the need of biographical research, which warns us to be careful with generalizations. It is argued that a more balanced approach (invoking the particularities of the situation as well as a broader concept of practical rationality) is required for the study of education and that educational researchers therefore should resist the tendency to see psychology as the default auxiliary science of education; instead they should reclaim their territory, do justice to the responsibility that is required and highlight the importance of understanding social practices to a large extent in terms of reasons and intentions. (shrink)

Jacques Derrida is doubtless one of the most controversial phi- losophers of our time. Controversies surrounding him are mainly caused by his radical ideas which have shaken the main traditions of thinking in Western Philosophy. He demonstrates the contradictions of various philophical concepts. He also uses a provocative approach by connect- ing religion with atheism. This essay will demonstrate Derrida’s concept of religion and how it is connected with atheism. Derrida does not present a theology; however his idea of atheistic (...) faith can contribute to a critical understanding of faith and its expressions within religions. Keywords: Iman (faith), agama (religion), teror (terror), ateis (atheist; athe- istic), hadiah (gift; reward), pengetahuan (knowlegde). (shrink)