Analytic Theology

Analytic Theology is a theological approach that utilizes the tools and methods of Analytic Philosophy to engage in the study of theological topics. It seeks to bring rigorous philosophical analysis and conceptual clarity to theological questions and doctrines.

Logical Problem of the Trinity
In recent years, analytic philosophical theology has grappled extensively with the intricate "logical" problem of the Trinity. This problem revolves around reconciling the existence of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit as three distinct divine entities with their fundamental unity as one God. While the early ecumenical councils established orthodox terminology for articulating this doctrine, they did not offer a philosophical solution to the logical challenge. According to traditional language, the Father, Son, and Spirit are considered as three separate divine persons who share a single divine nature. This gives rise to the question of how three divine persons can embody a single divine nature while remaining numerically distinct.

Different approaches have emerged in response to this logical problem, each with its strengths and weaknesses. "Social" trinitarians argue that the Father, Son, and Spirit are three distinct centers of consciousness, knowledge, will, and action, while still being considered one God. They assert that a single divine nature can accommodate three individual consciousnesses and emphasize the perfect love and harmony among the three persons. On the other hand, "Latin" trinitarians reject the idea of the Father, Son, and Spirit as distinct centers of consciousness and instead propose a unified actor with a single will. The challenge for Latin trinitarianism lies in explaining how the three persons can exist as concrete and distinct entities within this framework.

Critics of Latin trinitarianism argue that it leads to tritheism, while social trinitarians question how the Father and Son can have a genuine personal relationship in the context of the Latin model. In addition to these approaches, "relative identity" theorists propose that identity is relative to kinds, allowing the Father to be the same God as the Son without being the same person as the Son. "Constitution" theorists draw on the metaphysics of constitution to argue that the divine nature can constitute the three divine persons without entailing their identity with one another. However, both of these perspectives face criticism regarding their coherence and usefulness.

Scott Williams presents a hybrid model called the "Latin social" model, where the Father, Son, and Spirit are each constituted by the single divine nature without being numerically identical to it or to each other. Williams maintains that each person is a distinct agent while sharing the same set of powers and a singular will. However, critics raise concerns about the viability of this model.

Incarnation and Christology
The fundamental philosophical problem of Christology arises from the question of how Jesus, who is fully human and fully divine, can possess properties that seem incompatible. Different solutions have been proposed to address this problem. One solution involves using grammatical modifiers to distinguish between the divine and human natures of Christ. However, this approach fails to resolve the contradiction. Kenotic Christologies suggest that during the incarnation, God the Son relinquished some divine attributes, but this raises issues regarding the essential nature of divinity. Compositional Christologies propose that Christ is composed of divine and human elements, and by borrowing properties from these parts, the contradiction can be avoided. Timothy Pawl revises the truth conditions of Christological predications, arguing that contradictory properties can be true of Christ. Jc Beall takes a non-standard approach to logic and defends a contradictory Christology, asserting that some predicates can be both true and false of Christ. Each solution offers a distinct perspective on how to understand the complex nature of Christ, but the debate continues among theologians and philosophers.

Atonement and Salvation
The Christian belief that Christ saves or atones for the sins of humanity is a central tenet, but the early Church did not establish a single orthodox explanation of how this salvation occurs. Various theories of atonement have emerged throughout history. Satisfaction models propose that humans have an unpayable debt to God due to their sinfulness, and Christ discharges this debt by living a sinless life and voluntarily dying. Penal substitution models assert that humans deserve punishment, and Christ saves by taking their place in undergoing punishment. Critics argue that these views depict God as wrathful and tyrannical, and feminist theologians criticize the valorization of suffering.

Eleonore Stump presents the "Marian" interpretation of atonement, which focuses on addressing the sinner's disposition toward wrongdoing and feelings of shame. This view emphasizes union with God, with Christ empathetically experiencing the mental states of sinners on the cross, leading to their union with God and the healing of shame through the indwelling Holy Spirit.

Other models such as ransom theories (freedom from Satan's grasp) and theosis (divinization of humanity) have received less attention from analytic philosophers. The moral exemplar model, which views Christ as a moral example for imitation, is also not widely defended.

Sin, Original Sin, and the Fall
The doctrine of sin and atonement in Christianity are interrelated, similar to a disease and its remedy. Sin is understood as a failure or fault in relation to God, adding a spiritual dimension to moral wrongdoing. The doctrine of sin can be divided into different components: the first sin, the Fall, original sin, and personal sin.

The problem of the first sin raises philosophical challenges concerning the possibility of a morally upright being, such as Satan, choosing to reject God. Various philosophers, including Augustine, Anselm, and Duns Scotus, have grappled with this issue. Contemporary philosophers, such as Barnwell, MacDonald, Rogers, and Timpe, provide responses based on their understanding of human freedom and consciousness. Wood further distinguishes between the metaphysical possibility and subjective rationality of Satan's sinful choice.

The biblical story of Adam and Eve's fall in Genesis 3 presents challenges in reconciling it with evolutionary accounts of human origins and historical knowledge. Philosophers like Peter van Inwagen and Hud Hudson propose interpretations that maintain key elements of the Fall while accommodating evolutionary theory or alternative theories of time.

Original sin refers to the human condition resulting from the Fall, where subsequent generations inherit a disposition toward sin and an attraction to evil. Strong interpretations suggest that all humans are born guilty even before their own sins, raising questions of moral responsibility and the mechanism of inheritance. Some philosophers reject the stronger versions as incoherent, while others, like Swinburne, propose alternative interpretations. Michael Rea and John Mullen suggest metaphysical frameworks, including fission theory, temporal parts, and Molinist-inspired accounts, to address these challenges.

Personal sin refers to individual sinful acts, but there has been relatively less philosophical exploration of this aspect compared to moral wrongdoing. Definitional questions regarding the distinction between sin and moral wrongdoing remain open for investigation.