Människans plats i naturen. I skärningspunkten av vetenskap och livsåskådning

Abstract

Intelligent Design (ID) is an intellectual movement that has received much attention lately for giving an alternative to current scientific theories, especially the theory of evolution. ID claims that the universe and living creatures can best be explained by an intelligent cause and gives human beings a prominent place on Earth. The movement has, however, not received acceptance from the scientific community. ID has been criticized for pseudoscience and proposing a Christian creationism in secular terms. This paper argues that ID could also be criticized from a theological perspective. Three contemporary theologians, Larry Rasmussen, Leonardo Boff and Rosemary Radford Ruether, are presented as giving a better integration of theological doctrine and science and an interesting alternative in theological environmental ethics, thus giving powerful tools for handling the ecological crisis. Two areas are discussed, (i) The relation between theology and science. It is argued that Rasmussen, Boff and Ruether all construct an environmental theology and ethics where integration between science and the theological doctrines are an important task, (ii) The place of human beings in nature. Here, the theologians relate to ecological theory, which results in a critical and constructive approach to Christian theology. Even if Rasmussen’s, Boff’s and Ruether’s theologies differ in important areas, for example what happens after death, they all agree in giving human beings a place in the eco-system equal to other living beings, and claiming an ethical awareness of a special responsibility for the future and survival of Earth.