10/07/2025 08:30
- 16:15
HALL: Personalentwicklung Seminar Room
Proponent:
Ten Klooster A.
Chair:
Van Erp S.
Speaker:
Bell C.,
French W.,
Iula E.,
Jankowski J.,
Polgar N.,
Potappel M.,
Potschka M.,
Ten Klooster A.,
Teubner J.
The teaching of churches on the content of their beliefs (doctrine) and the moral behavior considered fitting for their members (ethics) has developed over time, and still develops. To some, this is a given, whereas to other the notion of 'change in teaching' is contentious. The purpose of this session is to unite scholars interested the fundamental notion of the development of doctrine, including ethics. There are several angles from which the question of development can be studied. Historically, it could be argued that some teachings and practices do change. When they do, the question remains how a tradition accounts for it. In systematic theology, contributions might theorize what hermeneutics can be recognized in the development of teaching - for example by analyzing accounts such as those of Newman or recently Seewald 'Theories of Doctrinal Development'. In the field of moral theology/ethics, the question of development can touch upon neuralgic issues, specifically considering human sexuality. Here too, we invite speakers to explore fundamental questions such as human dignity, the function of penal law, or natural law. How has the content or use of these notions shifted, and what has this contributed to the development of ethical teaching and practice? Possible paper subjects include, but are not limited to: methods to study the development of (ethical) teaching, analysis of the dynamics of previous changes in teachings of churches, the role of theology in facilitating development, the appropriation of new ideas such as human dignity by theology, the use of traditional ethical categories for new topics such as climate change, reflection on 'silent' reversals in pastoral practices, ecclesiological processes of discerning future developments etc.