There is probably no more persistent trope in Christian theology than the doctrine of the fall, nor one that clashes on its surface most with the science of evolutionary theory. The fall has received an enormous amount of theological attention in recent years. Anthropologists Graeber and Wengrow (in the Dawn of Everything) point to the theological story of the fall as one of the founding myths of our origins which binds us into a pessimistic narrative of our ability as humans to organize ourselves collectively. This conference will examine the notion that there is something wrong with us, and imagine also how we can re-frame the doctrine, and re-imagine the solutions that might allow for individual and corporate thriving. Can we imagine a doctrine of the fall that is true of evolutionary science and leaves room for hope?
A discussion in this area leads us to the deepest levels of what is meant by sin, freedom and redemption. This is a call for papers where theology is placed into dialogue with philosophy, history, biology or psychology.
Submissions to be emailed to admin@nzcis.org for consideration.
Conference details:
Location: Auckland, New Zealand
Dates: October 27th & 28th 2023
Further details to follow.
Key-note Speakers:
Dr. Bethany Sollederer
Dr. Bethany Sollereder is a research coordinator at the University of Oxford. She specialises in theology concerning evolution and the problem of suffering. Bethany received her PhD in theology from the University of Exeter and an MCS in interdisciplinary studies from Regent College, Vancouver.
Dr. Kathleen Rushton RSM
Dr. Kathleen P. Rushton RSM is an independent researcher and part-time lecturer and tutor of scripture and theology at the Catholic Education Office, Christchurch, Aotearoa New Zealand and the Ecumenical Institute of Distance Theological Studies.