Why is Theology Still (sometimes) Afraid of the Well-being Argument?

Abstract

A certain level of apprehension can be observed in contemporary theology when it comes to invoking the well-being argument. This apprehension stems from many theological convictions, the most important one being the warning against instrumentalization of religion and faith that appeared in the debate on the relationship between nature and grace. This paper discusses the different meanings of well-being in the history of theology, beginning with the scholastic concept of rectitude and the emphasis on happiness as an end of moral action. In this light, the contemporary challenges are presented in the context of the debates around human enhancement. Finally, in the context of public theology, suggestions are made with regard to the discourse on the role of religion in community and individual life, which focuses on revealing the power of grace and the logic of the anticipation of the happiness that will fully reveal itself in eschatological fulfillment.