Studia Nauk Teologicznych PAN

The Influence of the Work of Art on the Josephological Reflection in Ratzinger’s Sermon

Bogusław Kochaniewicz — Mon, 27 Jun 2022 00:00:00 +0200

This essay presents the image of St. Joseph in one of the sermons by Joseph Ratzinger preached on the occasion of the 60^th anniversary of religious vows by two sisters from the Congregation of Our Lady of Sorrows. The special character of this approach lies in the fact that the main source of inspiration for the Bavarian Theologian is a relief from the baroque altar located in a certain, unknown church in Portugal. The preacher, thanks to the reading of certain elements contained in the sculpture of St. Joseph, was able to emphasize aspects that had so far remained invisible: readiness to do God’s will, going on a pilgrimage in faith or resignation from one’s own plans made to the point of heroism. Ratzinger’s interpretation, reinforced with references to Sacred Scripture, confirms the presence of a work of art among theological topics.

Revelation as the Mediation of the Unconditional in the Contidioned Reality in the Thought of Paul Tillich

Marcin Walczak — Mon, 27 Jun 2022 00:00:00 +0200

The idea of revelation is closely related in theology with the idea of mediation. Present article analyzes the meaning of the concept of revelation and its relation to the category of mediation in the theological thought of Paul Tillich, one of the great Protestant theologians and philosophers of the twentieth century. Tillich's doctrine of God assumes inconceivable closeness and, at the same time, transcendence of the Ultimate Reality. However, it also assumes that God reveals Himself to man through the elements of temporal reality. The first part of the article therefore deals with Tillich's understanding of revelation. In the next part, we will analyze the question of the final form of God's revelation, which, according to Tillich, is Jesus Christ. Finally, in the concluding third part, the concept of revelation will be presented in the key of mediation. Through revelation, the incomprehensible God mediates in the world so that man can recognize His closeness and presence. The revelatory mediation in this optics does not mean that the immediate closeness of God is denied, but leads to it and shows it.

The theodrama of Hans Urs von Balthasar in the agathological-agogical cognitive context

Lech Bolesław Wołowski — Mon, 27 Jun 2022 00:00:00 +0200

This article examines the anthropological cognitive aspects of the contemporary theological thought of Hans Urs von Balthasar, with particular emphasis on the analysis of the relationship between agathology and theodrama. Starting from the theatrical and literary inspirations of the Swiss theologian, the key link between agathology and agogics is established, which explains why the Basel theologian chose the good as the starting point for his theodramatic reflections. On the other hand, it is shown that theodrama cannot be exhausted in theoagatology. In order to understand the depth of theodrama, an extended analysis of the dialogical aspect and the issue of the drama of choice is necessary. However, the essence of theodrama is discovered only when the central role of the paradox related to the problem of mysterium iniquitatis is taken into account. The theodramatic approach to this mystery and the proposal of the Swiss theologian regarding the positive view of this problem in the light of the indefinite finality paradox immersed in the mystery of the cross are thoroughly analyzed here.

The prophetic mission of the social teaching of the Church

Andrzej Ochman — Mon, 27 Jun 2022 00:00:00 +0200

Prophetic vocation belongs to the essence of the bond between man and God. In the creation story God speaks words and everything comes into being, He inscribes his law into the world, and tells the first people how they should act. That speaking to man is continued first by prophets in the Old Testament and then by Jesus Christ who commissions his disciples to go and proclaim the Gospel (cf. Matt 28:19-20). The Church has been fulfilling this commission until now. The aim of the article is to indicate that it is the constitutive element of her nature to preach in the name of God. Evangelisation, as John Paul II put it in the encyclical Sollicitudo rei socialis (No. 41), is the nature of the prophetic mission of the social teaching of the Church. She cannot stop preaching the Gospel, since she would deprive herself of a part of her nature. Thus, it is important to properly understand the place of the Church in society and among its structures and institutions. False concepts of the presence of the Church in public space result in the criticism of both the positions taken by her and her assessment of social phenomena. Therefore, that requires taking up discussion and explanation of the issues of her prophetic mission, especially her social teaching.

Theodoret of Cyrus towards pagan worship in the light of the work "Cure of the Greek Maladies"

Maria Piechocka-Kłos — Mon, 28 Nov 2022 00:00:00 +0100

This paper presents a detailed analysis of the work of Theodoret of Cyrus, the theologian and representative of the fifth-century Antiochian exegetical school, entitled Cure of the Greek Maladies, with reference to the passages presenting the question of pagan worship and, more specifically, his [Theodoret’s] position towards it. The Antiochenian understands perfectly well that literature, culture and philosophy are the meeting point between Christianity and Hellenism. He does not explicitly reject the entire output of Greek culture, because he believes that an attempt to reconcile Christianity with Hellenism is possible, but without the participation of pagan worship. Christianity’s superiority to Hellenism must undoubtedly be granted. The author of the apologia offers the pagans a remedy to cure themselves of the disease of conceit. Theodoret of Cyrus condemned, among other things, secret practices and bowing to statues (III, 84; III 85), rejected bloody and impious sacrifices (VII, 3; VII, 10; VII 22; VII, 24), warned not to confuse the cult of martyrs with supplication offerings to the dead for the well-being of the living (VIII, 33; VIII 34), and was critical of the Greek oracles (X, 2-3; X, 9). In order to show more fully the issue referred to in the theme, the historical and social context of the apologia are analysed and the circumstances of the formation of the author's own reason and spirituality are also discussed.

Recension: The Future of Catholic Higher Education: The Open Circle

Sławomir Nowosad — Mon, 28 Nov 2022 00:00:00 +0100

Recension: Abp Jerzy (Pańkowski), Misterium metanoi i spowiedzi

Eugeniusz Krzysztof Sakowicz — Mon, 28 Nov 2022 00:00:00 +0100

Introduction

Krzysztof Pawlina — Mon, 28 Nov 2022 00:00:00 +0100

Introduction

Contemporary reminiscences of the thirteenth-century dispute over the understanding of theology as a science (scientia) and the solution proposed by St. Thomas Aquinas

Janusz Pyda — Mon, 28 Nov 2022 00:00:00 +0100

The article is an attempt to present the context and the essence of the dispute about understanding theology as a science (scientia) in the Aristotelian sense, which took place at 13th-century universities. The aim of the text is also to indicate selected threads of the discussed dispute, which seem to be present also in today's metatheological and cultural debate. Finally, the article presents a brief presentation of the main threads of the solution to the dispute about the scientific character of theology proposed by St. Thomas Aquinas. Aquinas' metatheological proposal is presented because of its completeness and coherence at the same time as well as its inspiring character even today.

Fundamental Theology in Relation to the Scientific Character of Theology

Tadeusz Dola — Mon, 28 Nov 2022 00:00:00 +0100

The aim of this article is to demonstrate the contribution of fundamental theology to meta- theological research. The main considerations are introduced by a brief presentation of the main stages of development of the theory of theology. This renders it possible to indicate at which moment fundamental theology enters the meta-theological research and to present the research in this area. The participation of fundamental theology in these investigations is presented in two parts: (1) fundamental theological research in the area of the general theory of theology and (2) in the area of the theory of fundamental theology. In both areas, fundamental theology has a good number of publications and significant substantive achievements. This is undoubtedly due to the inclusion of meta-theology by many fundamental theologians as being important subjects of their research. Important, too, is the acknowledgement that fundamental theology, more than other theological disciplines, is predestined to carry out this type of investigation.

Missiology as a theological and interdisciplinary science

Tomasz Szyszka — Mon, 28 Nov 2022 00:00:00 +0100

After the establishment of the first University Faculties of Missiology (Protestant and Catholic) in Germany, there was a dynamic development of missiology in Europe. In the second half of the twentieth century, several academic missiological centers were established in America, Asia, Africa, and Oceania. The missiologists of the first half of the twentieth century through their scientific work have proved that missiology is a theological and interdisciplinary science. This was achieved by emphasizing in their publications that the essence of missiology finds its foundations not in reference to history and direct missionary practice, but in the theology of mission, i.e., the theological justification of the Church's missionary activity. This trend of missiological reflection was highlighted in the teaching of the Second Vatican Council and in numerous papal documents of the post-conciliar period. Teaching on the missionary nature of the Church has become the subject of scientific and interdisciplinary missiological reflection. Unfortunately, up to the present day, the acceptance of missiology as a theological science is not yet fully understood nor is it always accepted.

Contribution of linguistics to theology

Pawel Sambor — Mon, 28 Nov 2022 00:00:00 +0100

This paper discusses the contribution of linguistics to theology, taking the specific example of L.-M. Chauvet’s thought. First, the critique of language as a tool is analyzed. According to Chauvet, language can no longer be considered as a tool, but as a mediation, understood as a “matrix” or environment (milieu). Linguistic mediation is thus explained from the conceptual perspective of symbol and symbolic order: human subjectivity is inseparable from language, and language has a symbolic structure. Theological reflection follows the concept of mediation and symbol as an important anthropological fact. Faith, then, involves rejecting the illusion of direct contact with God and accepting the mediation of the Church and the sacraments as a process of “accepting ourselves” as children of God and accepting one another in Christ as brothers.

Natural Sciences and/in Moral Theology: The Case of Free Will

Mateusz Jarmużewski — Mon, 28 Nov 2022 00:00:00 +0100

The issue of free will, supporting moral responsibility in various accounts of Catholic moral theology, is in a particular way situated at the crossroads of theological and non-theological disciplines. Because of its connection to philosophy, as well as to natural and empirical sciences, the topic enjoys growing interdisciplinary attention. Early studies in cognitive neuroscience of volition, inspired by the experiment of Libet (1983), suggest that free will is an illusion because our conscious intentions do not cause corresponding actions: these are initiated earlier by the unconscious brain processes. While this seems to conflict with fundamental anthropological and ethical assumptions, a closer look renders such a worry immature. The more traditional, pre-modern notion of what willing, intending and choosing actually means – and how does it relate to us having free will or not – proves largely intact by the Libet-style argumentation. At the same time, new developments within a multidisciplinary science of volition highlight several aspects of freedom and agency that could be central to the way humans produce actions and control their lives. Implications from these studies might provoke some reformulations on the side of theological ethics. They might also set forth some particular schools and traditions, such as Christian virtue ethics, as theologically preferable. All this on the condition that a kind of knowledge coming from natural sciences – which often already contains a measure of (theological) interpretation– can be seen as both relevant and integrable in theological methodology and insight. Anthropological and ethical realms strike as particularly suitable for such integration: the essential embodiment of personal agency definitely deserves more attention, also for clarifying its free and indeed moral predicate.

The Marian pattern of theology

Izabella Smentek — Mon, 28 Nov 2022 00:00:00 +0100

This paper takes into account questions formulated by the Holy Mother. Her thought and consideration on the revealed word serves as pattern of theological thinking and key to understanding of the relationship between theology and other sciences. This study is based on the Church’s magisterial documents, papal teaching, as well as theological and philosophical statements. The matter of theology determines its principles, start point and methods. Its criteria consider the universal requirements of reason but, unlike in other sciences, are deeply and indispensably enrooted in ecclesial community. The purpose also distinguishes theology in the scientific world and confers particular meaning concerning its pragmatism, benefits and importance.

The "Cathedral" of Catholic Theology

Tracey Rowland — Mon, 28 Nov 2022 00:00:00 +0100

In the third decade of the twenty-first century the “cathedral” of Catholic theology has suffered some structural assaults and the way forward is a contemporary “hot topic”. This paper argues against the idea, common among Catholics of the millennial generation, that we simply need to “reboot” the system to 1959 and restore the framework of “Strict Observance Neo-Scholasticism”. Instead it suggests that attention needs to be given to the structure itself, to issues in fundamental theology, and the relationships or “joints” in the framework of Catholic theology, along the lines recommended by Joseph Ratzinger and others in his theological circle.

Secularization, Models of the Church, and Spirituality

Ferenc Patsch — Mon, 28 Nov 2022 00:00:00 +0100

This paper has an ambitious aim: to predict the future of the Church. How can anyone undertake such an enterprise since the one thing we know for certain about history is omnia aliter, that is, everything will be different than we once imagined. However, such a project is not as unfeasible as it seems. In the footsteps of literary critics, economists, historians, political scientists, philosophers, and theologians, we sketch some of the most likely shifts in the light of already-observable trends using the finest hermeneutics available. First, we interpret the most significant global trend today: secularization (sections 1). Second, we present and evaluate current models for the future of the Church, paying particular attention to the Magisterium of Pope Francis (sections 2). Finally, we predict likely developments in the area of spirituality (sections 3). In setting out to write academically about futuristic topics, we are aware that one looks to the future not so much to predict it accurately, as to shape it.