What is it about?
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. En route to testing this ‘maybe,’ we will explicate the challenges and opportunities in Newton’s classical mechanics along with Einstein’s introduction of quantum theory, the Bohr-Heisenberg indeterminist interpretation, and the holistic determinism proffered by Bohm. The proleptic theist will test the viability of downward causation from whole to part, knowing that the whole of the history of God’s creation is only proleptically complete.
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Why is it important?
Most quantum theologians rely on the Copenhagen interpretation of quantum physics with its emphasis on indeterminism. In this treatment, the deterministic and holistic interpretation shared by Albert Einstein and David Bohm becomes a source for theological reflection.
Perspectives
The theology of creation should strive for consonance with the best science. When two competing theories of sub-atomic physics are both coherent and seem adequate to the empirical evidence, the theologian is not in a position to adjudicate. Implications of both theories should be explored.
Prof Ted F Peters
Graduate Theological Union
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This page is a summary of: Holistic Determinism and God’s Action in Nature’s World: David Bohm and Quantum Theology, Theology and Science, December 2025, Taylor & Francis,
DOI: 10.1080/14746700.2025.2592327.
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