Analytic Theology and the Nature of God: Integrating Insights from Science and Philosophy into Theology

For a long time the exciting work done by analytic philosophers of religion has largely passed unnoticed by the “most natural” audience – systematic theologians and religious scholars. The European Analytic Theology Project (2010-2014) was developed as a response to this unsatisfying situation. The project successfully paved the way toward establishing a vital interdisciplinary network of scholars interested in analytic theology and it has already begun training a young generation of European analytic theologians. Moreover, there is an increasing sense among professional theologians that that the traditional way of theologizing about God faces serious problems in being transmitted into our modern, scientifically informed understanding of reality. Especially among younger theologians, analytic theology is seen as a promising way out of this predicament. Its prioritization of conceptual precision, argumentative clarity, and logical coherence promotes a style of research that is able to meet the scientific standards demanded by the secular-minded opinion-leaders who dominate contemporary academic culture. The proposed project aims to capitalize on the successes of the first project and to make use of the momentum which analytic theology is currently gaining among theologians in continental Europe. These goals shall be attained by the launching of various programs aimed at advancing this novel approach to theological research. In addition to fostering direct engagement between scholars in this field through summer schools and conferences, it also aims to provide training programs for students considering entering the field, as well as opportunities for younger scholars to develop their own research trajectories. Finally, a series of engagement activities such as training for high-school teachers, an essay prize for high-school students, and a German webpage on analytic theology, shall disseminate the fruits of analytic theology to a broader, non-academic, audience.