Systems Theory and Theology: The Living Interplay Between Science and Religion

The contributions to the collection Systems Theory and Theology explore the interplay between systems theory, religion and theology, and the symbolic expressions and philosophical foundations of these academic disciplines. This endeavor is rooted in the oeuvre of the late Austrian physicist Alfred Locker (1922-2005), who firmly believed that systems theory would finally emerge, some sixty years after von Bertalanffy's seminal work on General System Theory, as a bridge-building metatheory between the sciences and religion. The essays in this volume show, however, that such conversation transcends the usual form of dialogue among these disciplines. The studies contained in this collection enter into a critical evaluation and reassessment of the dominant postulates of scientific and theological systems and their interaction. Systems Theory and Theology includes treatments of paradoxes (A. Locker), the inner sciences (Zwick), systems of meaning (Krieger), philosophy (Murphy), theology (Sedmak), isomorphies of religious symbols (Zwick), and the bridging of science and religion (M. Locker). ""I recommend this illuminating and enlightening book to anyone/all who wish to learn more about deeper spiritual meaning and insights into important connections of General System Theory with various aspects of contemporary theological thought and supernatural phenomena."" --George Lasker President of the IIAS ""A timely contribution to bridge the often conflicting sides of science and theology. Systems theory provides a promising interface to recognize interactions, isomorphism, and deep convergences between both parts. The collected studies trace an original path for an updated understanding of traditional theological issues."" --Lluis Oviedo Department of Christian Anthropology Antonianum University, Rome ""Throughout his distinguished life as a physicist, biologist, and systems theorist, Alfred Locker was preoccupied with the relationship of this work to his profound religious beliefs. In later life, he wrote more and deeper about how he could understand this connection. This book, edited by his son Markus, which includes Locker's key works, together with work by other scholars, would, I believe, have appeared to him as his greatest legacy. It provides a valuable contribution to the debate and a strong counter to the arguments of the rationalists."" --Ranulph Glanville Professor in Architecture, Design, Research and Research design UCL and the RCA, London Markus Locker, the son of Alfred Locker, is Associate Professor of Theology at the School of Humanities, Ateneo de Manila University in the Philippines. He is the author of The New World of Jesus' Parables (2009).Read less