Tobias Peters
Biographic Data
| ID | 202230 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Tobias Peters |
| GIVEN NAMES | Tobias |
| FAMILY NAME | Peters |
| SIGNATURE | PETERS T |
| AFFILIATIONS | Graduate Theological Union |
| ORCID | 0000-0002-2148-5858 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 65 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 12 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 65 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 1974 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 2 |
The Technosapien Temptation in AI, Genetic Engineering, and Mars Colonization
The technosapiens among us promise technological transformation. The technosapien temptation is to trust in the call to digital transformation, even if what is promised is more than technology can deliver. Here are six scenarios tempting the present generation: (1) Despite the capacity of cyberspace and social media to actualize our potential for global peace, disinformation along with conspiracy theories and competing ideologies are fragmenting …
Holistic Determinism and God’s Action in Nature’s World: David Bohm and Quantum Theology
Can a theology of divine action within nature's world be rendered coherent and consonant with (1) classical determinism, as plied by Newtonian mechanics? No! With (2) quantum indeterminism as plied by Niels Bohr and Werner Heisenberg? Yes! With (3) holistic determinism as plied by David Bohm? Maybe, if we take the perspective of proleptic holism. The proleptic theist will test the viability of downward causation from whole to part and future to p…
The Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence: Why It Matters for Science and Theology
“The search for life beyond Earth resonates with profound issues of how humans view their place in the universe,” avers Chris Impey, Distinguished Professor of Astronomy at the University of Arizon
Clergy Letter Project: Message on the Importance of Religion and Science
You probably know the Clergy Letter Project. Under the sedulous leadership of Butler University's Michael Zimmerman, many of us receive a monthly newsletter and coordination for the annual “Religio
Theology and Science Update 2025
This is a brief update on Theology and Science demonstrating continuity between speculative dialogue, on the one hand, and research aimed at public policy formulation, on the other hand. For more than three decades the field of Theology and Science has researched the ecological crisis, bioethical implications of genomics and gene editing, astrobiology with astroethics, the AI revolution, neuroscience, and, of course, the evolution controversy. Ne…
Machine Intelligence, Artificial General Intelligence, Super-Intelligence, and Human Dignity
Our temptation to personify machine intelligence is not unexpected. As a child we named our dolls and took our Teddy Bear to bed with us. Today we ask death bots to comfort us with post-mortem conversation. All the while we know this to be pretend. Yet we must ask: if Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) or even Artificial Super-Intelligence (ASI) become available, will our game of pretend continue? Or will intelligent robots actually become sel…
Do You Trust Science
Do you trust science? This is the question asked by The Aspen Institute Science & Society Program during 2023. This is a question I have tried to address here in Theology and Science.1 I am ready t
Memories of Philip Hefner
There are so many ties that bind us in Berkeley to Philip Hefner, both professionally and personally. Professionally Phil was a theological colleague uniquely committed to the interaction between s
Can Scientists Become Prophets? Christian and Islamic Eco-Theology
Who would have expected to hear God's word spoken by Amos (760–755 BCE)? Amos was no prophet by profession. He was a sheep herder near Tekoa, in Judah, the southern kingdom. Amos wandered north to
Communicatio idiomatum in deep incarnation
The communicatio idiomatum (the exchange of divine and human properties or attributes), apparently discarded by the Council of Chalcedon in 451, becomes central to both Christology and the life of faith during the Lutheran Reformation. In our own century, the communicatio idiomatum has been expanded and deepened to incorporate all that is biological and even physical, turning the entire history of creation into the eschatological body of Christ, …
AI, robots, and the church
Are we on the brink of a robot rebellion in the form of a technological singularity? The upheaval over ChatGPT which began in the fall of 2022 has shadowed our planet in a new blanket of Angst. A fear is rife that Asimov's First Law may get violated by Artificial Intelligence (AI). Everywhere, scientists and techie whiz kids are now talking about the extinction of the human race (Peters, 2018). As I mentioned, a renewed fear of extinction arose i…
Why communicatio idiomatum now
Christian Transhumanism and Transhumanist Christianity
What might a Christian Transhumanism or, better, a Transhumanist Christianity, look like? Might conscientious Christians today absorb transhumanist zeal and enhancement technology into holy goals of enriching the individual soul and transforming the social fabric? As stewards of human creativity, public theologians and cybertheologians are provided an opportunity by their transhumanist friends to contribute to wider human flourishing and global w…
Cybertheology and the Ethical Dimensions of Artificial Superintelligence: A Theological Inquiry into Existential Risks
Purpose: This study explores the role of cybertheology in addressing the ethical and societal challenges posed by Artificial Superintelligence (ASI), which has the potential to surpass human cognitive capabilities, heralding a profound cultural and existential crisis. It integrates theological anthropology to assess the implications of a posthuman future. Methodology: Utilising a comprehensive literature review, the research examines technologica…
Muslims, Christians, Scientists, and Extraterrestrial Aliens
On May 31, 2023, NASA quizzed a panel of scientists regarding UFOs. “Six revelations from NASA’s public panel on UFOs: Strange metallic orbs are being spotted ‘all over the world,’ and an unidentif
America's 2nd opiate crisis: Christian nationalism
Astrobiology: The Almost Religious Science
Theology of Nature Belongs within Public Theology
Prebunking Disinformation in Science, Skepticism, and Theology
Can we locate our origin in the future? Archonic versus epigenetic creation accounts
Myths of origin in archaic culture – including the Hebrew Scriptures – locate reality at the point of origin. The Greek term, αρχη, means both origin and governance. How something originates governs its definition; it was assumed by our ancestors. Hence the term archonic. Until we get to Christian eschatology and the promise of the new creation. In the New Testament, we find that God’s eschatological consummation will retroactively define what ha…
My outrage over outrage
Deep grace in deep space? How to become an astrotheologian
If God's grace is already present to outer space, then Christian doctrines such as creation and redemption become as public as outer space is public. The public Christian theologian should engage in astrotheology as well as astroethics. This article tenders seven steps toward becoming an astrotheologian and astroethicist. (1) Become sensitive to the Beyond and the Intimate when talking about the true God. (2) Think cosmically. (3) Do not be bulli…
Space ‘n’ grace: Introducing astrotheology and astroethics
Will Superintelligence Lead to Spiritual Enhancement
If we human beings are successful at enhancing our intelligence through technology, will this count as spiritual advance? No. Intelligence alone-whether what we are born with or what is superseded by artificial intelligence or intelligence amplification-has no built-in moral compass. Christian spirituality values love more highly than intelligence, because love orients us toward God, toward the welfare of the neighbor, and toward the common good.…
Public Theology, Discourse Clarification, and Worldview Construction
On the one hand, the theologian who engages natural science provides a service to the church. Because faith naturally seeks understanding, fides quaerens intellectum, a healthy appropriation of the
Future space missions and human enhancement: Medical and ethical challenges
Future human space missions to Mars and beyond may be realized for different research, economic, political or survival reasons. Since space remains a hazardous environment for humans, space exploration and exploitation requires the development and deployment of effective countermeasures. In this paper, we discuss prospects for human enhancement by gene editing, synthetic biology, or implants, for the purposes of future space missions. We argue th…
Public Theology: Its Pastoral, Apologetic, Scientific, Political, and Prophetic Tasks
This blueprint for a constructive public theology assumes that Christian theology already includes public discourse. Following David Tracy’s delineation of three publics—church, academy, culture—further constructive work leads to a public theology conceived in the church, reflected on critically in the academy, and meshed with the wider culture. Public reflection on classic Christian doctrines in a post-secular pluralistic context takes the form …
Imago Dei, DNA, and the Transhuman Way
Might genetic engineering or cyborgization turn mortal humans into immortal gods? How transformable are we? A proleptic model of the imago Dei signifies that a transformation is coming, that who we are as human beings is yet to be determined by our future. Of five theological models of the imago Dei-(1) rationality; (2) morality; (3) relationality; (4) prolepsis; and (5) created co-creator-the proleptic and co-creator models are particularly open…
Inklusion. Genealogie und Dispositivanalyse eines Leitbegriffs der Gegenwart
In der soziologischen Diskussion spielen Begriff und Konzept der Inklusion – verstanden als umfassende Teilhabe aller Gesellschaftsmitglieder – aktuell eine große Rolle. Gleichzeitig gibt es eine entsprechende Konjunktur in den (sozial-)politischen, medialen und pädagogischen Diskursen. Über das Bildungssystem hinaus, wo Inklusion vor allem mit Blick auf die schulische Erziehung behinderter Kinder diskutiert wird, ist der Inklusionsgedanke auch i…
Cult books revisited: Ian Barbour’s Issues in Science and Religion
The quiet 1966 publication of Issues in Science and Religion by Ian G. Barbour became the blueprint from which, now a half century later, an entire bridge discipline has been constructed. That discipline is known as 'Science and Religion' or, sometimes, 'Theology and Science'. Rather than see science and theology as in conflict or even independent from one another, Barbour built the bridge for dialogue and even integration. Today's scholars cross…
Metaphor and the Horizon of the Unsaid
The Whirlwind As Yet Unnamed
Journal Article The Whirlwind As Yet Unnamed Get access TED PETERS TED PETERS TED PETERS (Ph.D., Chicago) is Assistant Professor of Religion and Philosophy at Newberry College, Newberry, South Carolina. He has recently published other articles on topics related to the present one: “The Use of Analogy in Historical Method,” in The Catholic Biblical Quarterly (October 1973), and “The Nature and Role of Presupposition: An Inquiry into Contemporary H…
The Apostles' Creed in Light of Today's Questions. Wolfhart Pannenberg , Margaret Kohl
The Theology of Wolfhart Pannenberg . E. Frank Tupper
Truth in History: Gadamer's Hermeneutics and Pannenberg's Apologetic Method
Comparative History of Religion
COMPARATIVE HISTORY OF RELIGION Get access The Apocalyptic Movement Introduction and Interpretation By WALTER SCHMITHALS. Translated by John E SteelyNashville: Abingdon Press, 1975. 255 pages $8.95 L C. No 74-34242 TED PETERS TED PETERS Newberry College, Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar Journal of the American Academy of Religion, Volume XLIV, Issue 3, September 1976, …
Speaking in Parables: A Study in Metaphor and Theology. Sallie McFague TeSelle
Truth and Method. Hans-Georg Gadamer
Metaphor and the Horizon of the Unsaid
Theology
THEOLOGY Jewish Monotheism and Christian Trinitarian Doctrine A Dialogue By Pinchas Lapide and Jurgen Moltmann Fortress, 1981 91 pages $4.50 Ted Peters Ted Peters Pacific Lutheran Seminary and Graduate Theological Union Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar Journal of the American Academy of Religion, Volume L, Issue 4, December 1982, Pages 644–645, https://doi.org/10.1093/jaarel/L.4.644 Published: 01 December 1…
Imagination and the Future: Essays on Christian Thought and Practice . John A. Henley
The Modern Theologians: An Introduction to Christian Theology in the Twentieth Century . David E. Ford
Scientific Research and the Christian Faith
Bunk or Blasphemy
Modern Trinitarian Perspectives. John Thompson
Research with Human Embryonic Stem Cells: Ethical Considerations
Geron Corporation announced that scientists working in collaboration with Geron had succeeded in establishing cell culture lines of human embryonic stem (hES) cells.Because these cells are considered pluripotent (capable of being the precursors to a variety of human cell types) and immortal (sustainable in culture and reproducing themselves indefinitely), they represent a major breakthrough in scientific research, with potential for significant a…
Covenant and Commitments: Faith, Family and Economic Life
Ethicist Max Stackhouse challenges libertarian and liberationist arguments that distort the nature and character of love, sexuality, and commitment. He seeks to recover a covenantal ethic, which would recapture the value of strong family relationships. The Family, Culture, and Religion series offers informed and responsible analyses of the state of the American family from a religious perspective and provides practical assistance for the family's…
In Memoriam: Ian Graeme Barbour (1923-2013)
Short‐term reproducibility and variability of the pupillographic sleepiness test
We conclude that recordings of the PST have a good reproducibility and low intra- and inter-individual variability compared to subjective scales of sleepiness or the Multiple Sleep Latency Test. The PST is thus a viable method to measure daytime sleepiness objectively
Justice, justification, and self-justification
In anticipation of 2017 commemorations of Martin Luther’s Ninety-Five Theses, the time is ripe for a reconsideration of Reformation themes such as justification by faith. Because we are justified by God’s grace as a free gift received in faith, the 16th-century Reformers argued, no human works or merits are required for salvation. Yet, our human proclivity is to self-justify, to obtain justice on our own apart from divine grace. This article advo…
Science, Theology, and Ethics
Science challenges faith to seek fuller understanding, and faith challenges science to be socially and ethically responsible. This book begins with faith in God the Creator of the world, and then expands our understanding of creation in light of Big Bang cosmology and new discoveries in physics. Examining the expanding frontier of genetic research, Ted Peters draws out implications for theological understandings of human nature and human freedom.…
Inklusion. Genealogie und Dispositivanalyse eines Leitbegriffs der Gegenwart
In der soziologischen Diskussion spielen Begriff und Konzept der Inklusion – verstanden als umfassende Teilhabe aller Gesellschaftsmitglieder – aktuell eine große Rolle. Gleichzeitig gibt es eine entsprechende Konjunktur in den (sozial-)politischen, medialen und pädagogischen Diskursen. Über das Bildungssystem hinaus, wo Inklusion vor allem mit Blick auf die schulische Erziehung behinderter Kinder diskutiert wird, ist der Inklusionsgedanke auch i…
Cult books revisited: Ian Barbour’s Issues in Science and Religion
The quiet 1966 publication of Issues in Science and Religion by Ian G. Barbour became the blueprint from which, now a half century later, an entire bridge discipline has been constructed. That discipline is known as 'Science and Religion' or, sometimes, 'Theology and Science'. Rather than see science and theology as in conflict or even independent from one another, Barbour built the bridge for dialogue and even integration. Today's scholars cross…
Should CRISPR Scientists Play God
Will CRISPR usher in a new era of Promethean overreach? CRISPR makes gene editing widely available and cheap. Anti-play-god bioethicists fear that geneticists will play god and precipitate a backlash from nature that could be devastating. In contrast to the anti-play-god bioethicists, this article recommends that laboratory science invoke the Precautionary Principle: pause at the yellow caution light, but then with constant risk-assessment procee…
Public Theology: Its Pastoral, Apologetic, Scientific, Political, and Prophetic Tasks
This blueprint for a constructive public theology assumes that Christian theology already includes public discourse. Following David Tracy’s delineation of three publics—church, academy, culture—further constructive work leads to a public theology conceived in the church, reflected on critically in the academy, and meshed with the wider culture. Public reflection on classic Christian doctrines in a post-secular pluralistic context takes the form …
Imago Dei, DNA, and the Transhuman Way
Might genetic engineering or cyborgization turn mortal humans into immortal gods? How transformable are we? A proleptic model of the imago Dei signifies that a transformation is coming, that who we are as human beings is yet to be determined by our future. Of five theological models of the imago Dei-(1) rationality; (2) morality; (3) relationality; (4) prolepsis; and (5) created co-creator-the proleptic and co-creator models are particularly open…
Philosophy (52 works) · Theology (33 works) · Epistemology (24 works) · Computer Science (23 works) · Sociology (21 works) · Political science (18 works) · Environmental ethics (15 works) · Law (15 works) · Space Science and Extraterrestrial Life (14 works) · Religious studies (13 works)