Abstract:
The article provides an exposition of the theology of Günter Altner, well-known German scholar in both biology and theology. The article argues that, in Altner’s mind, the designs of Schweitzer and Darwin are applied as reciprocal corrections to one another. A juxtaposition is given of the “reverence for life” and “natural selection”, which apparently represent the subjective and objective dimensions respectively of Altner’s theological design. In order to avoid a naturalistic fallacy, one has to accept that the telos of creation is not an intrinsic value of nature itself, but an eschatological value added to nature. Therefore, appreciation for Altner’s handling of the matter is raised, albeit with some reservation with regard to the perhaps overemphasised role ascribed to the human mind.
