On emergence and eschatology : something has to give ...

Abstract

Emergence and eschatology – and their connection - represent most probably two of the most difficult topics to explore within the current lively and intense ongoing science-religion dialogue. In this article the challenge is taken up, asking what we are talking about when the discussion is about emergence, and whether it is important enough to engage in a scholarly discussion on the topic and its influence on eschatological reflection. The answer is argued for in the affirmative. Given the affirmative answer on the importance of the concept of emergence, the second part of the article discusses the recent contributions of Robert Russel and Klaus Nürnberger on eschatology in which the concept of emergence is taken seriously within the science-religion framework. A number of tentative conclusions are drawn in the last part of the article, emphasising the emerged outcome as core of the “whole story” in terms of the ultimate good of God’s creation as a creation out of nothing else than God’s inner motivation of love.