Peter Ahlwardt’s Theology of Thunder

Abstract

Peter Ahlwardt, an eighteenth-century professor at the University in Greifswald, is primarily remembered as the author of the Bronto-theology, in which he presented his thunder-theology – an idea which belongs to a very strong physico-theology movement at that time. This article situates this very small portion of physico-theology in the context of Ahlwardt’s philosophy and theology. In his epistemology, Ahlwardt stressed the need for reason in understanding and appreciating revelation. Conversely, he also required that reason should be illuminated by the Holy Spirit, thereby stating that the revelation is the final authority. Ahlwardt rejected the idea of an inborn concept of God – thus, the only way open to the knowledge of God is a posteriori from God’s creation. Ahlwardt proved the existence of God from self-awareness. Creation exists to show God’s infinite perfections, and humans, as rational creatures, should investigate nature to see these perfections and learn about the will of God. Like other physico-theologians, Ahlwardt used his investigation of thunder and lightning to show that they are manifestations of God’s attributes. Relying on the perfection and the unity of God’s attributes, Ahlwardt argued that these investigated atmospheric phenomena are as much the manifestations of God’s wrath as of His love; they make people see the greatness of God’s splendour and make them think about God’s perfections.

Keywords

• Ahlwardt
• physico-theology
• thunder
• lightning
• God’s attributes