The normative implications of the doctrine of creatio ex nihilo and Nikolai Berdyaev: Towards a renewed Christian understanding of human freedom for the twenty-first century

Abstract

In this dissertation, I attempt to answer the following question: Is it possible to give a different interpretation of creatio ex nihilo so that to allow Christians to perceive human freedom in terms of absolute freedom of choice rather than submission to Church regulations and laws? To do so, I explain that the traditional Christian understanding of human freedom as submission to Church regulations and laws stands in opposition to the post-modern understanding of human freedom. Furthermore, I argue that behind the disagreement between the Christian and the post-modern understanding of human freedom lies the doctrine of creatio ex nihilo. Finally, I introduce Nikolai Berdyaev’s philosophical interpretation of the doctrine of 'creation out of nothing' and based on it, I develop a new and more post-modern Christian understanding of human freedom.