A Christian Natural Theology

A Christian Natural Theology of Chance & Contingency-Toward An Evolutionary Telos for Late‑Modern Theology addresses a question that confronted me early in my studies in biology: if chance events and contingent pathways shape life's history, how can Christians still speak meaningfully of providence and purpose? This book is my answer in systematic form.

I begin by clarifying what biologists typically mean by chance-random mutation, genetic drift, contingent historical developments-and how these phenomena are described within the modern synthesis. I then bring classical Christian doctrines of creation, providence, and divine wisdom into conversation with those scientific accounts, asking where inherited metaphysical assumptions must be revised and where they may be retrieved.

Central to the argument is the claim that contingency need not threaten Christian confession. Instead, when interpreted within a suitably nuanced natural theology, the ubiquity of chance can point toward a telos that is open, relational, and love‑driven rather than micromanaged. I develop a metaphysical framework in which God grants the world genuine creaturely freedom while remaining deeply involved, guiding creation toward Christological fulfillment.

The book is aimed at theologians, philosophers of religion, and advanced students seeking a rigorous account of providence that fully acknowledges contemporary evolutionary biology. It can function as a primary text in seminars on science and theology, or as a reference work for scholars crafting their own accounts of divine action. Extensive notes and engagement with current literature make it a useful resource for thesis projects and scholarly writing.