https://ej-theology.org/index.php/theology/issue/feed European Journal of Theology and Philosophy 2025-01-02T19:33:38+01:00 Editor-in-Chief editor@ej-theology.org Open Journal Systems European Journal of Theology and Philosophy https://ej-theology.org/index.php/theology/article/view/148 Towards a New Scientific Revolution for a Human Science: The Linguistic Criterion in the Universally Modified Occam’s Razor 2024-10-18T04:56:00+02:00 Michail Kikrilis acadutilmail@yahoo.com <p>Although William of Occam’s early epistemological quote “Entities must not be multiplied beyond necessity” attempted to put an end to the uncontrollable ontological confusion of his time, Occam’s Razor as its modern epistemological version considers as unscientific any non- measurable entity. However, words such as “immaterial”, “spirit” and “free will” have never ceased to exist in everyday human communication. According to Linguistics every word that has not historically ceased to be used by the total of people (or most of their societies) corresponds to a commonly accepted entity for which its users generally recognize the same distinguishable characteristics. A new, revised and complete–in the standards of the universal human communication–epistemological criterion is required fully now adapted in the linguistic criterion–the language people commonly communicate and use.</p> 2025-01-18T00:00:00+01:00 Copyright (c) 2025 Michail Kikrilis https://ej-theology.org/index.php/theology/article/view/147 Kant’s Reliance on Reason Rejects the Essence of Sympathy and Empathy in Any Moral Choice 2024-10-16T05:08:18+02:00 Anthony Kwaku Boakye aboakye@ug.edu.gh <p><span class="fontstyle0">Kant is noted to have pioneered the deontological position when he argued in defence of reason and duty in moral decision-making. Kant’s use of reason in moral decision-making has made him an ethical rationalist. As moral agents, our theories must be based on rational cognition. This can be said to have dominated Western philosophy since the time of Plato. During Plato’s time, the tradition believed that one must know the object and possess the cognitive principles of practical reason. This must be exercised by the will or rational capacity guided by the categorical imperative. It is only when this is accomplished that it can be said that an action is morally worthy or morally permissible. This paper argues that Kant’s reliance on reason rejects the essence of sympathy and empathy in any moral decision-making endeavour. To act justly there is the need to employ reason so that such action could be attractive as well.</span></p> 2024-12-04T00:00:00+01:00 Copyright (c) 2024 Anthony Kwaku Boakye https://ej-theology.org/index.php/theology/article/view/146 Revitalizing Lay Theological Education in Africa: Development, Challenges and Hopes 2024-10-10T02:11:40+02:00 Michael Ufok Udoekpo ufokism@yahoo.com <p>The legacy of the Second Vatican Council, of which the Churches in Africa and in the United States form a part, is a story of accomplishment, communion, co-responsibility and synodality. It affirms the need for proper education, formation and preparation for those who exercise a ministry, including the lay faithful, who have the right and duty to acquire knowledge of Christian teaching and theology. This paper discusses the development, challenges and hopes for lay theological education in the Church in Africa as a family, with a particular focus on Nigeria as a case study. It revitalizes the need to develop and strengthen existing lay theological structures to ensure adequate and qualified personnel for the mission of the Church in Africa and beyond. Theological appeals and proposals are finally and newly presented for possible areas of mutual collaboration and solidarity between the Church in Africa and the Church in America.</p> 2024-12-25T00:00:00+01:00 Copyright (c) 2025 Michael Ufok Udoekpo https://ej-theology.org/index.php/theology/article/view/144 Biblical Studies about the Kingdom of Heaven based on the Gospel of Mattew and Its Implication at Borneo Evangelical Mission (BEM) Miri Sarawak Church 2024-10-09T00:45:15+02:00 Rosmaida Sianipar rosmaidanipar@gmail.com Muner Daliman munerdaliman16@gmail.com Paulus Sentot Purwoko paksentot@gmail.com Danik Astuti Lumintang daniklumintang@gmail.com <p>The news about the Kingdom of Heaven is the central news in the preaching of Jesus during His life, specifically based on the Gospel of Matthew. The Lord Jesus always preached the news about the Kingdom of Heaven because the news carried by Jesus was not only limited to political or geographical dimensions but also spiritual. The preaching of Jesus about the Kingdom of Heaven brings about an important message, specifically concerning the restoration of the relationship between humans and God. However, this news or preaching seems to be hidden and veiled. Even the values of the Kingdom of Heaven are increasingly unidentified in the form of church service and ministry because the news about the Kingdom of God is less voiced out and disseminated. Based on this, a theological study is very important and necessary to discuss Jesus’s news about the Kingdom of Heaven, which can be implied in the Borneo Evangelical Mission church today. The methods used in this study are qualitative research and literature study. Through this study, it can be concluded that the News of Jesus about the Kingdom of Heaven can be implied and applied in the BEM Miri Sarawak church. First, Jesus prioritizes changes of heart and repentance as basic teachings of the Kingdom of Heaven. Second, Jesus emphasized the High Moral Teachings and Ethical Values in the expression of “Blessed or Beatitude” about the Kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 5: 3–12). Third, Jesus proclaimed Unconditional Love as a basic principle in the Kingdom of Heaven. Fourth, Jesus taught about His Power as evidence of the Presence of the Kingdom of Heaven. Fifth, the Secret of the Kingdom of Heaven is revealed in the form of Parables.</p> 2025-02-02T00:00:00+01:00 Copyright (c) 2025 Rosmaida Sianipar, Muner Daliman, Paulus Sentot Purwoko, Danik Astuti Lumintang https://ej-theology.org/index.php/theology/article/view/141 A Study of Salvation based on 1 Peter 3:18-22 among Batak Toba Christians, North Sumatra 2024-08-20T22:36:11+02:00 Budiono Simbolon budionosimbolon@gmail.com Hana Suparti hanakadesi@gmail.com Srini M. Iskandar iskandar.srini45@gmail.com Ari Suksmono arisuksmono@gmail.com <p>Salvation is a very broad subject and very important to understand properly in the Bible. Salvation in Jesus Christ can be responded to by believing in Christ and His work. The understanding of salvation is now understood in universalism, and not a few people or groups have also turned to syncretism. The emergence of many teachers, pastors, and theologians had a great impact on providing different understandings among Christians. Each tribe has a belief in their ancestors, which later becomes a culture or custom. Initially, every Batak culture or custom was inseparable from magical elements. Any rituals or traditional ceremonies performed by certain groups or people are believed to keep them away from danger so that they are fine. But in reality, not a few of them experience the opposite. The initial motivation for getting blessings and safety turns out to be the tribulation or wretchedness that befalls their lives. The purpose of this research is to find out the magnitude of the confirmation of salvation in Jesus Christ. The most dominant dimension determines the confirmation of salvation, and the most dominant background category determines the confirmation of salvation based on 1 Peter 3:18-22 among Batak Toba Christians in Sumatra North. The method used is a quantitative approach using explanatory and confirmatory surveys. Research Results: Confirmation level about salvation based on 1 Peter 3:18-22 is in the high category. The most dominant dimension determining Confirmation about salvation is Preaching the Gospel by Jesus Christ (D3). The dominant background category determining confirmation of safety is age.</p> 2024-10-18T00:00:00+02:00 Copyright (c) 2024 Budiono Simbolon, Hana Suparti, Srini M. Iskandar, Ari Suksmono