Theological Anthropology, Fundamental Need, and Human Flourishing: A Women Scholar’s Project

This project seeks to advance our understanding of what it means to be human by bringing the latest scientific research into constructive engagement with theological anthropology. As such, it will offer a contribution towards the burgeoning field of science-engaged theology. More specifically, the project will focus on the concept of “need”, which has been largely overlooked in contemporary discussions of human spirituality. In so doing it will address the following big question: Are there fundamental spiritual needs that contribute uniquely to human flourishing and, if so, what are they? This will invite a number of sub-questions. Can theology help us to understand the nature of human need? In what ways can cognitive science of religion, developmental psychology and social psychology complement this understanding? Together, how do they help us to understand the purposes for which God has created human persons? By showing the connection between human uniqueness and a need for God, this project will serve to develop a more positive account of the relationship between CRS, developmental psychology, social psychology, and theology. Specifically, the work of Justin Barrett, Ryan and Deci, Pam Ebstyne King, and Douglas Kenrick's will be examined in detail. The primary strategy for executing this project is to sponsor an international public engagement conference and also fund the education of two women’s Ph.D.’s (one at the University of St Andrews and one at the University of Otago), and one post-doctoral fellow who will investigate these questions in detail. One collaborative volume on these research areas, with women contributing at least one-half of the chapters, will be produced. One popular level book regarding the research results, especially focused on undergraduate readers, will be in development by the grant's end. This project will investigate and publish on a needed area of study while also increasing the number of women in Christian theology.