Natural Sciences as a Contemporary Locus Theologicus

Can the natural sciences, in particular, be a subject of interest for the doctrine or theology of different religions? Can science have a positive influence on religious truths, their expression, and their communication? These questions are addressed by twelve original research papers collected in a reprint entitled Natural Sciences as a Contemporary Locus Theologicus. This Reprints central issue is addressed by eminent authors from the three main Christian denominations (Catholicism, Protestantism, and Orthodoxy), as well as by an author from the Islamic theological tradition. Their work constitutes an innovative contribution to the contemporary discussion on the theology of science, a new theological discipline that has emerged in recent years. The results also demonstrate the potential for reflecting on the 16th-century concept of loci theologici in relation to modern scientific linguistic, logical, and methodological tools and presuppositions of science as elements of theological discourse that can be adopted by different religions. The uniqueness of the works presented in this Reprint is also evident in the fact that nearly half of the authors are both professional theologians and natural scientists.