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Hope in Imperfection: Toward a Naturalized Theology of Grace

Hope in Imperfection: Toward a Naturalized Theology of Grace Hope in Imperfection: Toward a Naturalized Theology of Grace Taylor Thomas n this article, I argue for a new theological conception of grace in which I examine the evolutionary roots of cognitive error, focusing on its re- Ilationship to prejudice. Contrary to traditional views, I articulate grace as neural plasticity, the possibility for profound neuronal changes within the brain. In this manner, grace is an immanent component of being evidenced by our cognitive capacities for moral reflection and behavioral adjustment. By defining original sin in relation to cognitive error and reimagining God as a collaborative metaphor for the interdependent processes in nature that produce and shape creation, I identify grace as both a new way of understanding the ontological reality of “sin” and a practical means of resisting our inherited inclination toward cognitive error. In this framework, humans are understood as beings with adaptive traits that, while once advantageous to our survival, now reinforce ways of perceiving the world that perpetuate bias. Ultimately, I use this reconceptualization of grace to develop alternative modes of under- standing ethical engagement, emphasizing the need for targeted intercession in disrupting particularly destructive thought patterns in humans. This goal involves addressing the moral implications http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png American Journal of Theology & Philosophy University of Illinois Press

Hope in Imperfection: Toward a Naturalized Theology of Grace

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Publisher
University of Illinois Press
ISSN
2156-4795

Abstract

Hope in Imperfection: Toward a Naturalized Theology of Grace Taylor Thomas n this article, I argue for a new theological conception of grace in which I examine the evolutionary roots of cognitive error, focusing on its re- Ilationship to prejudice. Contrary to traditional views, I articulate grace as neural plasticity, the possibility for profound neuronal changes within the brain. In this manner, grace is an immanent component of being evidenced by our cognitive capacities for moral reflection and behavioral adjustment. By defining original sin in relation to cognitive error and reimagining God as a collaborative metaphor for the interdependent processes in nature that produce and shape creation, I identify grace as both a new way of understanding the ontological reality of “sin” and a practical means of resisting our inherited inclination toward cognitive error. In this framework, humans are understood as beings with adaptive traits that, while once advantageous to our survival, now reinforce ways of perceiving the world that perpetuate bias. Ultimately, I use this reconceptualization of grace to develop alternative modes of under- standing ethical engagement, emphasizing the need for targeted intercession in disrupting particularly destructive thought patterns in humans. This goal involves addressing the moral implications

Journal

American Journal of Theology & Philosophy – University of Illinois Press

Published: Aug 5, 2020

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