Complete in manhood: understanding Christ’s humanity in light of quantum holism

Book chapter


Lawson, F. 2018. Complete in manhood: understanding Christ’s humanity in light of quantum holism. in: Evers, D., Fuller, M., Runnehov, A. and Saether, K. (ed.) Are We Special? Science and Theology Questioning Human Uniqueness Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg.
AuthorsLawson, F.
EditorsEvers, D., Fuller, M., Runnehov, A. and Saether, K.
Abstract

The theologian must be able to not only explain the relationship of the two unique natures in the hypostatic union but also what it means to say that that each nature (divine and human) is fully exemplified in Christ. I argue that our understanding of Christ’s humanity is hampered by the shadow of philosophical and scientific atomism that brings to the table unquestioned, as an a priori truth, the fact that the world and people are divisible into parts.

Having outlined the reductionist challenge, I examine how the shift in scientific understanding, to a holistic ontology, brought about by quantum physics has the potential to radically alter our understanding of the nature of the hypostatic union. In order to achieve this, I apply the work of Hans Primas on Non-Boolean descriptions of the mind-body problem to the discussion of human-divine relations in the person of Christ and examine how this shift in metaphysics can alter the shape of the debate whilst maintaining theological coherence.

KeywordsIncarnation; quantum holism; reductionism; atomism; hypostatic union; humanNature; complementarity; primas; non-boolean descriptions; ontology; metholodgy
Year2018
Book titleAre We Special? Science and Theology Questioning Human Uniqueness
PublisherMartin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg
Output statusPublished
ISBN9783000585784
Publication dates
Print2018
Publication process dates
Deposited02 Jan 2019
Journal citation16, pp. 127-142
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