The Depth of the Human Person: A Multidisciplinary Approach

by Michael Welker (Editor)

Overview

This volume brings together leading theologians, biblical scholars, scientists, philosophers, ethicists, and others to explore the multidimensionality and depth of the human person. Moving away from dualistic (mind-body, spirit-flesh, naturalmental) anthropologies, the book's contributors examine human personhood in terms of a complex flesh-body-mindheart- soul-conscience-reason-spirit spectrum.

The Depth of the Human Person begins with a provocative essay on the question “Why is personhood conceptually difficult?” It then rises to the challenge of relating theological contributions on the subject to various scientific explorations. Finally, the book turns to contemporary theological-ethical challenges, discussing such subjects as human dignity, embodiment, gender stereotypes, and human personhood at the edges of life.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780802869791
Publisher:	Eerdmans, William B. Publishing Company
Publication date:	06/30/2014
Pages:	406
Product dimensions:	8.80(w) x 5.90(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Michael Welker is professor and chair of systematic theologyand executive director of the Research Centre forInternational and Interdisciplinary Theology at the Universityof Heidelberg, Germany. His previous books includeThe Spirit in Creation and New Creation andThe Work of the Spirit.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments ix

Introduction Michael Welker 1

I Person and Personhood: Introductory Questions

Why Is Personhood Conceptually Difficult? Andreas Kemmerling 15

Flesh-Body-Heart-Soul-Spirit: Paul's Anthropology as an Interdisciplinary Bridge-Theory Michael Welker 45

Emergence, the Quest for Unity, and God: Toward a Constructive Christian Theology of the Person Philip Clayton 58

II Scientific Perspectives in Interdisciplinary Dialogues

Towards an Integrated Anthropology John C. Polkinghorne 79

Brains, Minds, Souls, and People: A Scientific Perspective on Complex Human Personhood Malcolm Jeeves 93

The Emergence of Human Distinctiveness Warren S. Brown 109

Hierarchical Selection and the Evolutionary Emergence of "Spirit" Jeffrey P. Schloss 125

III Sources of the Christian Traditions in Historical and Global Contexts

"Soul" and "Spirit" in the Anthropological Discourse of the Hebrew Bible Andreas Schüle 147

Sarx, Soma, and the Transformative Pneuma; Personal Identity Endangered and Regained in Pauline Anthropology Gerd Theissen 166

Augustine's Aporetic Account of Persona and the Limits of Relatio: A Reconsideration of Substance Ontology and Immutability Volker Henning Drecoll 186

Augustine's Investigation into Imago Dei Eiichi Katayanagi 205

The Affects of the Soul and the Effects of Grace: On Melanchthon's Understanding of Faith and Christian Emotions Markus Höfner 218

The Concept of "Body" in Indian Christian Theological Thought Origen V. Jathanna 236

IV Contemporary Theological, Ethical, and Interdisciplinary Challenges

The Dignity of Human Personhood and the Concept of the "Image of God" Bernd Oberdorfer 257

Human Dignity and the Concept of Person in Law Stephan Kirste 274

On the Relation of Personhood and Embodiment Frank Vogelsang 297

Can Ethics Be Fully Naturalized? Maria Antonaccio 316

Beyond Distinct Gender Identities: The Social Construction of the Human Body Isolde Karle 333

Moral Inwardness Reconsidered William Schweiker 351

Human Personhood at the Edges of Life: Medical Anthropology and Theology in Dialogue Gunter Thomas 370

Contributors 395

Editorial Reviews

Mission Today
“Makes invaluable contributions to theological anthropology. . . . The contributions in this book are the type of writings we hungrily look for when we wish to holistically expand our anthropological horizon from a vigorous biblical-theological-scientific perspective. More such interdisciplinary works are always welcome!”
 

From the Publisher