Divine Revelation and Human Learning

Chapter 1

Revelation and Human Self Understanding
(Chapter1.pdf 98kb)

Lays the groundwork for the investigation by putting forward a theory for the relationship between natural science, the social sciences, philosophy and theology. The point at which all these branches of knowledge cohere is the study of human beings. If there is to be divine revelation, it will address the unanswered questions of human existence

Theory and Observation in Science
Relationship between philosophy and the natural sciences – 'all data is theory-laden' – Thomas Kuhn's paradigm theory – Imre Lakatos and 'research programmes'

Theology and Social Science
Approach to the social sciences - problems of the empiricist approach - intersubjectivity and the agent's point of view - 'images of man' - relationship of theology and social sciences

The Possibilities of Revelation
Common-sense understanding of human nature: the role of 'tacit knowledge' - the insoluble problem of human nature - revelation offers a definitive image of human nature - but revelation must still be interpreted