ORIGINAL RESEARCH

 

Christian attitudes in scholarship: The role of worldviews

 

Christelijke houdings in wetenskap: Die rol van wêreldbeskouings

 

 

Renato Coletto

School of Philosophy, Potchefstroom Campus, North-West University, South Africa

Correspondence

 

 

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ABSTRACT

This article starts from the realisation that a few different approaches to science and scholarship are implemented within different Christian traditions. In an attempt at identifying the reasons behind such differences, it is argued that the approach to science and scholarship adopted in each Christian tradition corresponds to a considerable extent to the worldview accepted in that tradition. In this article, several versions of the main Christian worldviews are identified and related to the work of authors (e.g. Murphy, the Theonomic movement, Barbour, Van Huyssteen, Wolterstorff) who were not discussed in previous works on this topic. The possibility of 'mixing' the worldviews (thus adopting an eclectic approach) is also discussed. The proposed taxonomy may be used to understand at a deeper level both individual authors and trends, and also to sketch a 'map' of the different movements, contributors and available options. It is argued that the different worldviews are not equally valuable and that the reformational worldview should be regarded as more integrally and originally biblical. The article ends with a call to consistency for the sake of sound Christian scholarship.

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OPSOMMING

Hierdie artikel begin met die besef dat 'n aantal verskillende benaderings tot tot wetenskap binne verskillende Christelike tradisies geïmplementeer word. In 'n poging om die redes vir sodanige verskille te identifiseer, word aangevoer dat die benadering tot wetenskap wat in elke Christelike tradisie aangeneem word, tot 'n groot mate met die aanvaarde wêreldbeskouing van daardie tradisie ooreenstem. In hierdie artikel word 'n aantal weergawes van die belangrikste Christelike wêreldbeskouings geïdentifiseer en in verband gebring met die werk van outeurs (bv. Murphy, die Teonomiese beweging, Barbour, Van Huyssteen, Wolterstorff) wat nie in vorige werke oor hierdie onderwerp bespreek is nie. Die moontlikheid om die verskillende wêreldbeskouings te 'meng' (en dus 'n eklektiese benadering te volg) word ook bespreek. Die voorgestelde taksonomie kan moontlik gebruik word om sowel individuele outeurs as tendense in meer diepte te verstaan, asook om ook 'n 'kaart' van die verskillende bewegings, bydraers en beskikbare opsies, te skets. Daar word aangevoer dat die verskillende wêreldbeskouings nie gelykwaardig is nie en dat die reformatoriese wêreldbeskouing as meer integraal en oorspronklik Bybels geag moet word. Die artikel sluit af met 'n oproep tot konsistensie ter wille van behoorlike Christelike wetenskap.

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Full text available only in PDF format.

 

Acknowledgements

Competing interests

I declare that I have no significant competing financial, professional or personal interest that might have influenced the performance of the work described in this manuscript.

 

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Correspondence:
Renato Coletto
Private Bag X6001
Potchefstroom 2520
South Africa
Email: renato.coletto@nwu.ac.za

Received: 06 June 2011
Accepted: 30 Jan. 2012
Published: 14 Nov. 2012