UNIQUENESS, THE IMAGE OF GOD, AND THE PROBLEM OF METHOD: ENGAGING VAN HUYSSTEEN

Author: Peterson, Gregory R.

Source: Zygon, Volume 43, Number 2, June 2008 , pp. 467-474(8)

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Abstract:

Wentzel van Huyssteen's book Alone in the World? provides a thoughtful and nuanced account of human evolution from a theological perspective. Not only does his work provide what is perhaps the only sustained theological reflection specifically on human evolution, but his working through of many of the issues, particularly on the image of God literature in theology, has few parallels. Despite this, I focus on what I consider to be several weaknesses of the text, including areas of theological method, theological interpretation, and the central topic of human uniqueness. Addressing these weaknesses will, I propose, improve van Huyssteen's argument and lead in new and fruitful directions.

Keywords: foundationalism; human uniqueness; image of God; Wentzel van Huyssteen

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9744.2008.00928.x

Affiliations: 1: Associate Professor and Program Director of Philosophy and Religion at South Dakota State University;, Email: greg.peterson@sdstate.edu.

Publication date: 2008-06-01