2013/01/01 by James Eglinton, Michael Bräutigam · 1 citation
Arts and Humanities · Social Sciences · #Reformation and Early Modern Christianity #Religious Education and Schools #Religion, Gender, and Enlightenment #Subject (documents) #History of religions #Context (archaeology) #Theology #Systematic theology #Power (physics) #Philosophical theology #Sociology #Coherence (philosophical gambling strategy) #Mythical theology #Philosophy #Religious studies #Natural theology #History
paper · doi:10.1163/15697312-12341275
openalex publication_date 2013/01/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
Abstract This article, primarily historical in focus, explores the contributions of Herman Bavinck (1854-1921) and Adolf Schlatter (1852-1938) to discussion on the place of theology within the university. Schlatter’s belief that theology is a science belonging within the academy is explored via his debate with Paul Jäger on the possibility of ‘atheistic theology’. Bavinck’s similar convictions, it is seen, were formed in response to the Higher Education Act (1876), a piece of legislation which sought to marginalise theology in a Dutch academic context. The article concludes by tentatively encouraging twenty-first century theology to see itself as a necessary subject (on the grounds of its divine object and power to bring coherence among the sciences) within the contemporary university.