Time&Eternity

Time in the Formulation of Scientific Theory 123
harmonization, Thomas F. Torrance, 9 writing in the Barthian tradition,
places more emphasis on the distinctions between nature and God. In a
model derived from Knud E. Løgstrup, Viggo Mortensen 10 also attempts to
preserve the differences. He does not wish either to mix or to separate theology
and science, but rather prefers seeing them in a lively, friendly interaction.
Process philosophy, which is associated with the names of Alfred
North Whitehead and Charles Hartshorne, has greatly influenced the development
of the dialogue. Among the French-speaking intelligentsia, programmatic
frameworks on the topic of science and theology can be found
in Teilhard de Chardin and Jean Ladrière, among others. 11
My own model is less a comprehensive attempt to synthesize different
systems than an attempt to initiate a discussion between science and theology
by asking specific questions. Here I assume that both are dealing with
the same reality, but proceeding from different presuppositions and using
different terminologies, so that although complete consensus is not possible,
a meaningful discussion can be achieved within the context of a still
unexhausted series of questions. I consider general models on the relationship
of science and theology as prolegomena for this discussion. My greatest
expectations, however, are linked to the dialogue on individual topics in
which theological symbol systems are discussed directly. In the field of
ethics, this method already has a long tradition. With respect to topics that
are traditionally ascribed to dogmatics, the discussion of questions dealing
with the theology of creation in light of the theory of evolution has the
longest history. 12 In this area, one can also find numerous apologetic writings,
especially of the fundamentalist-creationist type. 13 More recently, there
have been attempts to bring about a discussion of the doctrine of the Trinity
in relation to natural science. 14 The question of God’s actions in the
world has also been discussed repeatedly. 15 On the topic of time, there are at
least three more recent proposals. From a theological perspective, there is a
work by Duane Larson dealing with time, Trinity, and cosmology. 16
Lawrence Fagg attempts to integrate physical and religious time from the
perspective of a nuclear physicist. 17 Two theologians, Wolfgang Achtner and
Stefan Kunz, as well as physicist and mathematician Thomas Walter, have
jointly discussed time, from anthropological, scientific, and theological
viewpoints, as a so-called tripolar system. 18 Meanwhile, a new generation is
also critically examining the models of the “Great Thinkers” who participated
in the initial rounds of dialogue following the establishment of modern
physics. 19
There are primarily three reasons that make the dialogue between theology
and natural science attractive in relation to the subject of time. First, in
science, there seems to have been something like a “Copernican Revolu-