Nikolai Berdiaev’s Freedom to Create

This book explores Nikolai Berdiaev''s thought on freedom and the ‘creative act.'' Berdiaev''s vision contains two types of freedom – first is a nuanced multi-layered conception of human freedom that offers intriguing possibilities for considering freedom and creativity with its implications for humanity. The second type is a speculative metaphysical view that attempts to explain freedom as non-determination and answer the challenges of theodicy. This research also contends that his thought is most comprehensible from a theological perspective: a perspective that underscores the significant tension within his work due to his speculative metaphysics. Although previous research has glossed over this tension, it is addressed here by engaging Jürgen Moltmann''s theology of freedom. Moltmann''s theology offers a rich resource for an analysis, critique and reconfiguration of Berdiaev''s vision. This reconfiguration seeks to remain faithful to Berdiaev''s core concerns, while providing a new interpretation of his thought that is relevant for a contemporary dialogue concerning the significance of freedom and creativity for the person and community in relation to God.