Human Aging as a Creational Good: Interactions between Theology and Molecular Biology.
A Christian theology of human aging faces significant challenges. First, aging receives far less theological attention than the heavily related and well-established themes of creation, sin, death, and imago Dei. Second, Christian theology discordantly supports two fundamental yet polarized claims: t...
| Published in: | Zygon: Journal of Religion & Science Vol. 61; no. 1; pp. 240 - 269 |
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| Format: | Article |
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Open Library of Humanities
Mar2026
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| Online Access: | View this record in EBSCOhost |
| fields | @attributes: recordID: 1 pdfLink: plink: https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=hlh&AN=192794300&site=ehost-live header: @attributes: shortDbName: hlh uiTerm: 192794300 longDbName: Humanities International Complete uiTag: AN controlInfo: bkinfo: jinfo: jid: 05912385 ZYG jtl: Zygon: Journal of Religion & Science issn: 05912385 maglogo: N pubinfo: dt: Mar2026 vid: 61 iid: 1 pid: 15576 pub: Open Library of Humanities artinfo: ui: 192794300 10.16995/zygon.24673 ppf: 240 ppct: 29 formats: fmt: – @attributes: type: T – @attributes: type: P size: 1.9MB tig: atl: Human Aging as a Creational Good: Interactions between Theology and Molecular Biology. aug: au: Hooker, David James affil: Publications Director, Institute for the Study of Christianity in an Age of Science and Technology, Melbourne, Australia Research Officer, Monash University, Melbourne su: Aging Molecular biology Creationism Transhumanism Image of God Expiration Sin Theology sug: subj: Aging Molecular biology Creationism Transhumanism Image of God Expiration Sin Theology ab: A Christian theology of human aging faces significant challenges. First, aging receives far less theological attention than the heavily related and well-established themes of creation, sin, death, and imago Dei. Second, Christian theology discordantly supports two fundamental yet polarized claims: that human aging is a good of creation, and that it is an effect of humanity's fall. Third, it lags in its engagement with the science of aging. This article counteracts these obstacles by integrating Christian theology with molecular biology. Aging generating lifespan ("human biological aging," or HBA) is distinguished from aging leading to life expectancy. Intrinsic molecular pathways driving HBA are orchestrated, functional systems spanning multiple biological strata. Surprisingly, aging processes are indivisible from life, health, and growth processes. These considerations build a case for understanding HBA as a good of divine creation, clarify interpretations of humanity's fall, challenge transhumanist aspirations of age reversal or cybernetic immortality, inform theology–evolutionary biology dialogue, and promote a holistic view of human life through time. pubtype: Academic Journal doctype: Article src: R language: English refInfo: copyright: @attributes: flag: Y custom: Copyright of Zygon: Journal of Religion & Science is the property of Open Library of Humanities and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. item: Zygon: Journal of Religion & Science holder: Open Library of Humanities dt: @attributes: year: 2026 holdings: @attributes: islocal: N |
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