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Relationality in Theology: A Study in the Context of Jürgen Moltmann’s Theological Anthropology

Year 2023, Volume: 9 Issue: 1, 701 - 729, 30.06.2023
https://doi.org/10.47424/tasavvur.1272117

Abstract

This study deals with the concept of relationality, which has become one of the central themes of contemporary theological literature. The value of the concept in terms of philosophy of religion and related disciplines such as ecotheology and comparative theology is questioned within the framework of Jürgen Moltmann’s ecotheological anthropology. This study claims that the applications of relationality in theology have the potential to make significant contributions to the enrichment and deepening of the perspectives of the philosophy of religion and related disciplines and that especially philosophy of religion can make conceptual and methodological contributions to relational theology. Relationality, in general, is the approach that puts the claim that everything exists in relation to everything else at the centre and is widely applied in many disciplines such as psychology, sociology, ecology, political science, education, philosophy, and theology. Relationality, which has become one of the most current issues in contemporary philosophy and metaphysics, is a method widely used in contemporary theology, especially in Christian theology, to define different dimensions of the relationship between God, the human being, and nature. Relationality in theology is a theological approach that emphasizes the importance of relationships and interdependence in understanding the nature of God, the world, and human beings. Moltmann, one of the most influential names in contemporary Christian theology, presents his theological anthropological views around the Biblical verses expressing that the human being was created in the image of God, as an alternative to traditional anthropology, on the basis of the theological dimensions of the ecological crisis and through a relational approach. In this respect, Molt-mann's anthropology is a remarkable option in dealing with the relational approach in theology with the current dimensions of the concept and within the framework of different philosophical and theological disciplines. In the context of this background, the study consists of four parts. In the first chapter, an introduction to the relational approach in theology is made to clarify the conceptual framework of the study. The function and role of relationality as an approach in contemporary theological anthropology are discussed in the second part, which presents the claim that the discussions on the current ecological crisis cause changes in the scope and focus of contemporary theological anthropological studies. This section is followed by an examination of Moltmann’s relational anthropology with reference to his approach to the doctrine of imago Dei. In the fourth and last part, in the context of Moltmann’s arguments and also beyond them, the problems that may occur as a result of the application of relationality in theology in terms of the aforementioned contemporary theological disciplines, especially the philosophy of religion, and its possible contributions to those fields are evaluated.

References

  • Barth, Karl. Church Dogmatics III/I. Edinburgh: T&T Clark, 1958.
  • Benjamin, Andrew. Towards a Relational Ontology: Philosophy's Other Possibility. New York: SUNY Press, 2015.
  • Bryner, Gary C. "Theology and Ecology: Religious Belief and Environmental Stewardship". BYU Studies Quarterly 49, 3 (2010), 21-45.
  • Cammel, Paul. “Relationality and Existence: Hermeneutic and Deconstructive Approaches Emerging From Heidegger’s Philosophy”. The Humanistic Psychologist 43 (2015), 235-249.
  • Center for Open and Relational Theology. Erişim 24 Mart 2023. https://c4ort.com/
  • Conradie, Ernst M. An Ecological Christian Anthropology: At Home on Earth?. Oxon, New York: Routledge, 2016.
  • Conradie, Ernst. “Stewards or Sojourners: In the Household of God?”. Scriptura 73, (2000), 153-174.
  • Donati, Pierpaolo, vd. “Introduction”, Social Science, Philosophy and Theology in Dialogue: A Relational Perspective, ed. Pierpaolo Donati vd. 29-34. Oxon, New York: Routledge, 2019.
  • Erickson, Millard J. Christian Theology. 3rd Edition. Michigan: Baker Academic, 2013.
  • Grenz, Stanley J. The Social God and the Relational Self: A Trinitarian Theology of the Imago Dei. Louisville, London: Westminster John Knox Press, 2001.
  • Güder, Süleyman. Kurtuluş Teolojisi ve Öze Dönüş: Hıristiyan ve İslami Perspektifler. İstanbul: Büyüyen Ay, 2021.
  • Lynn, White. “The Historical Roots of Our Ecological Crisis”. Science 155/3767 (1967), 1203-1207.
  • Mesle, C. Robert. Process-Relational Philosophy: An Introduction to Alfred North Whitehead. West Conshohocken: Templeton Foundation Press, 2008.
  • Milford, Stephen. “Substantive or Relational? The Counterfeit Choice in the Imago Dei Debate”, McMaster Journal of Theology and Ministry 20 (2018-2019), 84-117.
  • Moltmann, Jürgen. “A Common Earth Religion: World Religions from an Ecological Perspective”, The Ecumenical Review 63/1 (2011), 16-24.
  • Moltmann, Jürgen. God in Creation: An Ecological Doctrine of Creation. çev. Margeret Kohl. London: SCM Press, 1985.
  • Moltmann, Jürgen. “The Future of Theology”, The Ecumenical Review 68/1 (2016), 3-13.
  • Moltmann, Jürgen. The Trinity and the Kingdom: The Doctrine of God. çev. Margeret Kohl. San Francisco: Harper and Row, 1981.
  • Oord, Thomas Jay. “What is Relational Theology?”, Relational Theology: A Contemporary Introduction. ed. Brint Montgomery vd. 1-4. Eugene, Oregon: Wimp and Stock, 2012.
  • Öztürk, Sevcan. “Felsefi Teolojide Antroposentrik Dönüş: Teolojik Antropolojiye Bir Giriş” Beytülhikme: An International Journal of Philosophy 10/4 (2020), 1383-1404.
  • Rust, Eric C. “A Theology of Stewardship”. Review & Expositor 70, 2 (1973), 163-171.
  • Shults, F. Leron. Reforming the Doctrine of God. Michigan, Cambridge: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2005.
  • Shults, F. Leron. Reforming Theological Anthropology After the Philosophical Turn to Relationality, Michigan, Cambridge: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2003.
  • Simango, Daniel. “The Imago Dei: A History of Interpretation from Philo to the Present”, Studia Historiae Ecclesiasticae 42/1 (2016), 172-190.

Teolojide İlişkisellik: Jürgen Moltmann’ın Ekoteolojik Antropolojisinden Hareketle Bir Değerlendirme

Year 2023, Volume: 9 Issue: 1, 701 - 729, 30.06.2023
https://doi.org/10.47424/tasavvur.1272117

Abstract

Bu çalışma çağdaş teoloji literatürünün merkezi konularından biri haline gelmiş olan ilişkisellik kavramını ele almaktadır. Kavramın din felsefesi ve din felsefesinin irtibatlı olduğu ekoteoloji ve karşılaştırmalı teoloji gibi disiplinler açısından değeri Jürgen Moltmann’ın ekoteolojik antropolojisi çerçevesinde sorgulanmaktadır. Bu çalışma, ilişkiselliğin teoloji alanındaki uygulamalarının din felsefesi ve ilgili disiplinlerin perspektiflerinin zenginleşmesi ve derinleşmesi açısından önemli katkılar sunma potansiyeline sahip olduğunu ve özellikle din felsefesinin de ilişkisel teolojiye kavramsal ve metodolojik katkılar sunabileceğini iddia etmektedir. İlişkisellik, genel anlamda, her şeyin ilişki içinde var olduğu iddiasını merkeze alan yaklaşımdır ve psikoloji, sosyoloji, ekoloji, siyaset bilimi, eğitim, felsefe ve teoloji gibi birçok disiplinde yaygın şekilde uygulanmaktadır. Çağdaş felsefe ve metafizikte en güncel konulardan biri haline gelen ilişkisellik, çağdaş teoloji alanında da, özellikle Hıristiyan teolojisinde, Tanrı, insan ve doğa ilişkisinin farklı boyutlarının tanımlanma-sında yaygın olarak kullanılan bir yöntemdir. Teolojide ilişkisellik, Tanrı’nın, dünyanın ve insanın mahiyetini anlamada ilişkilerin ve birbirine bağlılığın önemini vurgulayan teolojik bir yaklaşım tarzını ifade etmektedir. Günümüz Hıristiyan teolojisinin en etkili isimlerinden olan Moltmann teolojik antropo-lojik görüşlerini, insanın Tanrı’nın suretinde yaratıldığını ifade eden kutsal metin ayetleri etrafında, geleneksel antropolojiye alternatif olarak, ekolojik krizin teolojik boyutları temelinde ve ilişkisel yaklaşım aracılığıyla ortaya koymaktadır. Bu yönüyle Moltmann’ın antropolojisi teolojide ilişkisel yakla-şımın güncel boyutlarıyla ve farklı felsefi ve teolojik disiplinler çerçevesinde ele alınmasında kayda değer bir seçenek olmaktadır. Bu arka plan bağlamında çalışma dört bölümden oluşmaktadır. Birinci bölümde çalışmanın kavramsal çerçevesinin belirgin hale getirilmesi amacıyla teolojide ilişkisel yaklaşıma bir giriş yapılmıştır. Mevcut ekolojik kriz tartışmalarının çağdaş teolojik antropoloji çalışmalarının kapsamında ve odağında değişikliklere sebep olduğu iddiasını ortaya koyan ikinci bölümde çağdaş teolojik antropolojide bir yaklaşım olarak ilişkiselliğin fonksiyonu ve rolü ele alınmıştır. Bu bölümü takiben Moltmann’ın ilişkisel antropolojisi imago Dei doktrinine yaklaşımı etrafında incelenmiştir. Dördüncü ve son bölümde ise, Moltmann’ın yaklaşımlarından hareketle ve onun da ötesinde, teolojide uygulanan ilişkisel yaklaşımın din felsefesi başta olmak üzere bahsi geçen çağdaş teolojik disiplinler açısından doğurması muhtemel sorunlar ve uygulanması neticesinde sunacağı katkılar değerlendirilmiştir.

References

  • Barth, Karl. Church Dogmatics III/I. Edinburgh: T&T Clark, 1958.
  • Benjamin, Andrew. Towards a Relational Ontology: Philosophy's Other Possibility. New York: SUNY Press, 2015.
  • Bryner, Gary C. "Theology and Ecology: Religious Belief and Environmental Stewardship". BYU Studies Quarterly 49, 3 (2010), 21-45.
  • Cammel, Paul. “Relationality and Existence: Hermeneutic and Deconstructive Approaches Emerging From Heidegger’s Philosophy”. The Humanistic Psychologist 43 (2015), 235-249.
  • Center for Open and Relational Theology. Erişim 24 Mart 2023. https://c4ort.com/
  • Conradie, Ernst M. An Ecological Christian Anthropology: At Home on Earth?. Oxon, New York: Routledge, 2016.
  • Conradie, Ernst. “Stewards or Sojourners: In the Household of God?”. Scriptura 73, (2000), 153-174.
  • Donati, Pierpaolo, vd. “Introduction”, Social Science, Philosophy and Theology in Dialogue: A Relational Perspective, ed. Pierpaolo Donati vd. 29-34. Oxon, New York: Routledge, 2019.
  • Erickson, Millard J. Christian Theology. 3rd Edition. Michigan: Baker Academic, 2013.
  • Grenz, Stanley J. The Social God and the Relational Self: A Trinitarian Theology of the Imago Dei. Louisville, London: Westminster John Knox Press, 2001.
  • Güder, Süleyman. Kurtuluş Teolojisi ve Öze Dönüş: Hıristiyan ve İslami Perspektifler. İstanbul: Büyüyen Ay, 2021.
  • Lynn, White. “The Historical Roots of Our Ecological Crisis”. Science 155/3767 (1967), 1203-1207.
  • Mesle, C. Robert. Process-Relational Philosophy: An Introduction to Alfred North Whitehead. West Conshohocken: Templeton Foundation Press, 2008.
  • Milford, Stephen. “Substantive or Relational? The Counterfeit Choice in the Imago Dei Debate”, McMaster Journal of Theology and Ministry 20 (2018-2019), 84-117.
  • Moltmann, Jürgen. “A Common Earth Religion: World Religions from an Ecological Perspective”, The Ecumenical Review 63/1 (2011), 16-24.
  • Moltmann, Jürgen. God in Creation: An Ecological Doctrine of Creation. çev. Margeret Kohl. London: SCM Press, 1985.
  • Moltmann, Jürgen. “The Future of Theology”, The Ecumenical Review 68/1 (2016), 3-13.
  • Moltmann, Jürgen. The Trinity and the Kingdom: The Doctrine of God. çev. Margeret Kohl. San Francisco: Harper and Row, 1981.
  • Oord, Thomas Jay. “What is Relational Theology?”, Relational Theology: A Contemporary Introduction. ed. Brint Montgomery vd. 1-4. Eugene, Oregon: Wimp and Stock, 2012.
  • Öztürk, Sevcan. “Felsefi Teolojide Antroposentrik Dönüş: Teolojik Antropolojiye Bir Giriş” Beytülhikme: An International Journal of Philosophy 10/4 (2020), 1383-1404.
  • Rust, Eric C. “A Theology of Stewardship”. Review & Expositor 70, 2 (1973), 163-171.
  • Shults, F. Leron. Reforming the Doctrine of God. Michigan, Cambridge: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2005.
  • Shults, F. Leron. Reforming Theological Anthropology After the Philosophical Turn to Relationality, Michigan, Cambridge: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2003.
  • Simango, Daniel. “The Imago Dei: A History of Interpretation from Philo to the Present”, Studia Historiae Ecclesiasticae 42/1 (2016), 172-190.
There are 24 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language Turkish
Subjects Religious Studies
Journal Section Articles
Authors

Sevcan Öztürk 0000-0001-5423-4986

Publication Date June 30, 2023
Submission Date March 28, 2023
Acceptance Date June 6, 2023
Published in Issue Year 2023 Volume: 9 Issue: 1

Cite

ISNAD Öztürk, Sevcan. “Teolojide İlişkisellik: Jürgen Moltmann’ın Ekoteolojik Antropolojisinden Hareketle Bir Değerlendirme”. Tasavvur / Tekirdağ İlahiyat Dergisi 9/1 (June 2023), 701-729. https://doi.org/10.47424/tasavvur.1272117.

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