Why Christianity Needs Metaphysics

The paper attempts to give an answer to the question why Christianity needs metaphysics in several steps. First, it highlights some important aspects of the historical alliance between Christian theology and metaphysics. Based on a working definition of metaphysics, it then outlines how metaphysics can serve to support theistic beliefs in general. Afterwards, the relation between metaphysics and Christian faith in particular is elucidated. Finally, the question is raised which metaphysical theories are suitable candidates for grounding Christian faith and which are not. It will transpire that several mutually incompatible metaphysical theories pass the compatibility test almost equally well, or might at least be able to pass it after some reconfiguration. Which of them is true cannot be determined on theological grounds but only within philosophy itself. Others, including metaphysical materialism and metaphysical idealism, clearly fail. Still others remain rather contested candidates for a metaphysical theory that supports Christian faith. This holds, most notably, for contemporary process metaphysics.

Publication year:2018

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Authors from:Higher Education

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