Critique of Pannenberg’s Angelology and Diabology — University of St. Mary of the Lake

At the Third International Wolfhart Pannenberg Symposium I offered a sympathetic yet critical reading of Pannenberg on angels and demons, arguing that his engagement with the natural sciences led him to underplay the personal character of spiritual powers.

The paper

“Critique of Wolfhart Pannenberg’s Angelology and Diabology: Toward a Constructive Theology of Spiritual Powers in View of Theology-Science Dialogue.”

Abstract

There has been a resurgence of interest in spiritual powers within twentieth-century theology. Wolfhart Pannenberg has been extensively examined for his perspective that, unlike traditional theological doctrines, angelic and demonic powers are not personal entities. However, his perspective has not been sufficiently analyzed in conjunction with his theological engagement with science. This paper addresses this gap and provides a sympathetic-critical evaluation of Pannenberg’s theology concerning angels and demons, contending that his engagement with (natural) science causes him to underestimate the personal nature of spiritual powers, thereby resulting in an underdeveloped theology of such powers. To achieve this objective, the paper explores Pannenberg’s intellectual framework, connecting his valuable contributions to the dialogue between theology and science with his understanding of angels and demons. First, the paper presents its theological sources, including Scripture, theological traditions, and natural sciences, and analyzes how these diverse sources have influenced his conceptualization of angels and demons. Second, the paper delineates key aspects for constructing a theology of spiritual powers in conversation with the natural sciences and cognitive science. The importance of this study lies in offering a novel perspective within Pannenberg scholarship by correlating his pneumatology with his insights into the dialogue between theology and science.

Keywords: Wolfhart Pannenberg · angelology · diabology · theology and science

Event

• Event: The Third International Wolfhart Pannenberg Symposium — “Sub ratione dei: Wolfhart Pannenberg and the Sources of Theology”
• Host: University of St. Mary of the Lake (Mundelein Seminary); convened by Matthew Levering
• Venue: Mundelein, Illinois, USA
• Dates: May 28–30, 2026