Theology of Creation

Theology of Creation, volume seven of the Collected Essays of Peter Damian Fehlner,presents Fehlner's writings on creation, spanning forty years of reflection. Emphasizing the dogmatic, Fehlner presents an accessible, yet rigorous, analysis of the key assumptions, missteps, ambiguities, and plain equivocations that have given rise to so much controversy since the appearance of Darwin's 1859 On the Origin of Species. Basing himself firmly on theological and metaphysical foundations that must be maintained and clarified in order to provide a coherent and faithfully Catholic account of the origins and purposes of the created order, Fehlner clarifies the concept of creation, addresses the distinction between scientific, theological, and metaphysical taxonomies, and points to the Marian mode of the Incarnation as the key for disentangling valid from invalid or ambiguous conceptions of creation and evolution. Throughout these essays, Fehlner strives to present scientific claims in a clear and concise manner, while adhering closely to the method and metaphysical insights of Augustine, Bonaventure, John Duns Scotus, and Maximilian Kolbe. These essays present a fascinating window into the evolution of the thinking of an outstanding theologian and metaphysician wrestling with profoundly impactful questions, both within and beyond the borders of the church.