Minding Creation: Theological Panpsychism and the Doctrine of Creation

Minding Creation is a book that examines panpsychism through the lens of Christian doctrine. It suggests that consciousness is spread more widely across all things, and that this implies key theological debates such as Gods presence and action, evolution and the origin of the soul, human uniqueness, and the environmental crisis. Joanna Leidenhag develops a theological panpsychism based on a wide range of scholarship, drawing on the theologies of historical figures such as Augustine of Hippo and Gottfried von Leibniz. She concludes that God created a universe from nothing that is filled with indwelling powers, sacramental value, and intrinsic experience, and that human beings must protect and lead in praise.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 216 pages
Publication date: 28 July 2022
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

Are humans the only creatures that can appreciate Gods creation? What if consciousness is spread more widely across all things? This volume examines panpsychism through the lens of Christian doctrine. Minding Creation is the first substantial examination of what a panpsychist theory of consciousness implies for key theological debates concerning Gods presence and action,evolution and the origin of the soul,human uniqueness and the environmental crisis. Joanna Leidenhag develops a theological panpsychism that is based on an exceptionally wide range of scholarship. Minding Creation draws on the theologies of historical figures such as Augustine of Hippo,Gottfried von Leibniz and others,in order to create a critical and constructive conversation with contemporary analytic philosophers of mind,such as Thomas Nagel,Galen Strawson,and David J. Chalmers. Leidenhag also discusses key concepts and issues,such as emergence theory,divine action,and ecology. She concludes that God created a universe from nothing which is filled with indwelling powers,sacramental value,and intrinsic experience. This is a creation in which the Holy Spirit is internally present at every point,a creation that worships God,and a creation that human beings must protect and lead in praise.

Are humans the only creatures that can appreciate Gods creation? What if consciousness is spread more widely across all things? This volume examines panpsychism through the lens of Christian doctrine. Minding Creation is the first substantial examination of what a panpsychist theory of consciousness implies for key theological debates concerning Gods presence and action,evolution and the origin of the soul,human uniqueness and the environmental crisis. Joanna Leidenhag develops a theological panpsychism that is based on an exceptionally wide range of scholarship. Minding Creation draws on the theologies of historical figures such as Augustine of Hippo,Gottfried von Leibniz and others,in order to create a critical and constructive conversation with contemporary analytic philosophers of mind,such as Thomas Nagel,Galen Strawson,and David J. Chalmers. Leidenhag also discusses key concepts and issues,such as emergence theory,divine action,and ecology. She concludes that God created a universe from nothing which is filled with indwelling powers,sacramental value,and intrinsic experience. This is a creation in which the Holy Spirit is internally present at every point,a creation that worships God,and a creation that human beings must protect and lead in praise.

Weight: 334g
Dimension: 155 x 234 x 15 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780567696892