Duquesne University Duquesne Scholarship Collection Electronic Theses and Dissertations Spring 1-1-2017 Relational Interreligious Dialogue: Interdisciplinary Arguments from Creator/Creature Theology and Quantum Entanglement Joyce Ann Konigsburg Follow this and additional works at: https://dsc.duq.edu/etd Recommended Citation Konigsburg, J. A. (2017). Relational Interreligious Dialogue: Interdisciplinary Arguments from Creator/Creature Theology and Quantum Entanglement (Doctoral dissertation, Duquesne University). Retrieved from https://dsc.duq.edu/etd/133 This Worldwide Access is brought to you for free and open access by Duquesne Scholarship Collection. It has been accepted for inclusion in Electronic Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Duquesne Scholarship Collection. For more information, please contact [email protected]. RELATIONAL INTERRELIGIOUS DIALOGUE: INTERDISCIPLINARY ARGUMENTS FROM CREATOR/CREATURE THEOLOGY AND QUANTUM ENTANGLEMENT A Dissertation Submitted to the McAnulty College and Graduate School of Liberal Arts Duquesne University In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy By Joyce Ann Konigsburg May 2017 Copyright by Joyce Ann Konigsburg 2017 RELATIONAL INTERRELIGIOUS DIALOGUE: INTERDISCIPLINARY ARGUMENTS FROM CREATOR/CREATURE THEOLOGY AND QUANTUM ENTANGLEMENT By Joyce Ann Konigsburg Approved March 28, 2017 ________________________________ ________________________________ Marinus Iwuchukwu, Ph.D. Elizabeth Agnew Cochran, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Theology Associate Professor of Theology (Committee Chair) (Committee Member) ________________________________ ________________________________ Sebastian Madathummuriyil, Ph.D. Theodore A. Corcovilos, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Theology Assistant Professor of Physics (Committee Member) (Committee Member) ________________________________ ________________________________ James C. Swindal, Ph.D. Marinus Iwuchukwu, Ph.D. Professor of Philosophy Associate Professor of Theology (Dean, McAnulty School of Liberal Arts) (Chair, Department of Theology) iii ABSTRACT RELATIONAL INTERRELIGIOUS DIALOGUE: INTERDISCIPLINARY ARGUMENTS FROM CREATOR/CREATURE THEOLOGY AND QUANTUM ENTANGLEMENT By Joyce Ann Konigsburg May 2017 Dissertation supervised by Marinus Iwuchukwu, Ph.D. Globalization, technological advances, and worldviews that perceive religious others with suspicion, all intensify society’s awareness of religious plurality and the subsequent necessity for effective interreligious dialogue. Engaging in interreligious dialogue through daily encounters, conversations, common concerns, and shared religious experiences advances religious pluralism. Nevertheless, the current state of interreligious dialogue is at an impasse; its existing substantive ontological approaches introduce, perpetuate, or worsen challenges of hegemony, elitism, and marginalization, as well as tensions between the diametric goals of religious unity versus unique religious identity. Substantive ontological models emphasize religious autonomy instead of any relational connections between religious traditions. These prevalent methods hinder effective interreligious dialogue. iv In response, this project proposes relational ontology as a constructive method to address existing issues within interreligious dialogue. Relational ontology asserts that reality is being as being–in–relation. By employing relational ontology, interreligious dialogue participants recognize their fundamental interconnected unity while respecting each religious tradition’s particularity. Moreover, relationality assists in neutralizing power inequalities and marginalization. To illustrate relational ontology and explain its advantages for interreligious dialogue, this project evaluates the models of quantum entanglement and Christianity’s Creator/creation relationship. Placing interdisciplinary perspectives from science and religion in dialogue essentially instantiates the project’s methodology, it validates relational ontology as an effective method for improving the effectiveness of interreligious dialogue. v DEDICATION In memory of my dad, Richard Balukonis and my grandma, Genevieve Forystek with love and gratitude To my dear husband, Brian, my mom, Josephine Balukonis, and my daughter, Jennifer vi ACKNOWLEDGEMENT This project’s fundamental idea is that relational approaches improve interreligious dialogue. Because relationality likewise improves the dissertation process, it only seems fitting to acknowledge the significant relationships that have inspired and sustained my theological journey. Thus, I humbly recognize my creaturely relationship with the wholly other Creator, who lovingly bestows the gift of my very existence and whose grace guides all my accomplishments for God’s own glory. I am also grateful for the many academic relationships that direct my education and contribute to this project. I wish to thank my professors at St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, Texas for instilling their masters’ level academic instruction upon my catechetical foundation of faith and for encouraging me to pursue a Ph.D. in Theology. Similarly, I appreciate the theology professors at Duquesne University for conveying their expertise and guidance in developing my theological voice as well as my skills as a professor. In particular, I would like to acknowledge my dissertation director, Marinus Iwuchukwu, for his desire to work with me as well as for his helpful suggestions and support throughout this project. I also value the careful reading and comments from my theology committee members, Elizabeth Cochran and Sebastian Madathummuriyil, with special thanks for the contributions of Theodore Corcovilos from the Physics department. Three additional academic mentors and friends deserve specific recognition: Maureen O’Brien, William Wright, and Aimée Upjohn Light. My gratitude extends to precious relationships with family and friends. A sincere, heart–felt thank you for all your countless prayers, companionship, shared insights, words vii of encouragement, examples of courage and perseverance, and the occasional prodding to meet deadlines, followed by listening, understanding, and laughter. Initially, we were others and strangers; I am so grateful we became friends. From my heart, I appreciate your many meaningful contributions to this project and to my life. Additionally, I am blessed with my daughter, Jenni. I value your love, your steadfast confidence in me, and your sense of humor. My mom likewise deserves a special thank you and a hug. I am grateful for your unconditional love, your unwavering faith in me, and your inspiring example of what it means to be a successful woman of integrity. I am very proud to be your daughter. For my most important relationship, I want to thank my husband, Brian. I truly appreciate your patience and sacrifice involving multiple relocations and the subsequent isolation that we endured to achieve this desired goal. Through your steadfast love, gentle encouragement, and occasional back rubs, you nurtured this “budding” theologian into a “blossomed” doctor of philosophy. Even after writing an entire dissertation, mere words fail to express the gratitude, appreciation, and deep love I have for you. You are my hero, my life companion, and my friend. I love you! viii TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ABSTRACT ....................................................................................................................... iv DEDICATION ................................................................................................................... vi ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ................................................................................................ vii INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................ xii Project Summary .......................................................................................................... xii Purpose, Scope, and Methodology .............................................................................. xiv Chapter Synopses ........................................................................................................ xvi CHAPTER 1 – RELIGIOUS PLURALITY AND INTERRELIGIOUS DIALOGUE ...... 1 Introduction .................................................................................................................... 1 State of Interreligious Dialogue ..................................................................................... 2 Interreligious Dialogue .............................................................................................. 3 Theologies of Religions ............................................................................................ 6 Comparative Theology ............................................................................................ 11 Religious Hegemony .................................................................................................... 14 Western Colonialism, Imperialism, and Mission .................................................... 15 Representation Challenges ...................................................................................... 23 Marginalization ....................................................................................................... 27 Tensions between Unity and Particularity ................................................................... 31 Unity–Particularity Conundrum .............................................................................