God's action in history: A realistic doctrine of Providence [Gottes Handeln in der Geschichte: Eine realistische Vorsehungslehre]

Abstract

The historical experiences of the 20th century as well as scientific naturalism have led the Christian belief in God's providence into a crisis . Realistically, we must admit that much happens in history that contradicts God's will, so that God must assert himself and his will in history . Following Hannah Arendt, Hans Jonas, and Alfred North Whitehead, the idea is developed that God does so „sine vi, sed verbo“. The article reconstructs the belief in providence as the trust that God, through his Word, persistently works to build and maintain legally structured, life-supporting environments that also benefit the individual, even when there are times of lament in which individuals, even entire peoples and epochs, do not experience this caring action of God . © 2019 Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht GmbH & Co . KG, Göttingen