Science and Spirit: A Critical Examination of Amos Yong’s Pneumatological Theology of Emergence

• Authors: Mikael Leidenhag , Joanna Leidenhag
• Languages of publication: EN

Abstracts

EN

This paper is a critical examination of Amos Yong’s pneumatological use of emergence theory. In seeking to bridge the divide between the worldviews of science and Pentecostalism, Yong sees emergence theory as a fruitful mediating discourse. We will argue for the following: 1) the supernaturalism of Yong’s Pentecostal theology renders the concept of emergence obsolete; 2) the ontological independence of various types of spirits in Yong’s theology breaks his commitment to supervenience theory; and 3) Yong’s transference of scientific concepts into the normative discourse of theology is potentially problematic. These criticisms should be seen as a call for Yong to depart from emergence theory (and supervenience) in his admirable ambition to harmonize the spirit-filled imagination of Pentecostalism with the scientific culture of the 21st century.

Keywords

EN

Emergence; Supervenience; Pneumatology; Amos Yong

• Publisher: Sciendo
• Journal: Open Theology
• Year: 2014
• Volume: 1
• Issue: 1

Dates

received

2015-07-17

accepted

2015-09-23

online

2015-10-27

Contributors

author

Mikael Leidenhag

• Uppsala University

author

Joanna Leidenhag

• Edinburgh University

References

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Identifiers

DOI

10.1515/opth-2015-0025