MEMAKNAI HIDUP DI DEPAN KEMATIAN DALAM REFLEKSI KOMPARATIF HEIDEGGER DAN RAHNER

Abstract

Death is usually seen as the end of everything. So many people try and build an effort to run from death in so many ways, both conventional and modern, from the traditional one to the high technology usage. However, whatever we do, we finally face death. The fear of death sometimes makes humans run from it, make a tranquilization, an inauthentic attitude, or according to Heidegger “inauthenticity of being-toward-death”. Consequently, so many opportunities for a meaningful life are left behind. By using the qualitative method through literature research, this inquiry comes to a reflection of the meaning of life in the face of death in the frame of comparative study. This paper is based on Heidegger’s argument in his book Sein und Zeit (SZ). A new terminology he built, Sein-zum-Tode, stimulates various questions vis-a-vis the reality of life encountered by the entire society in today’s world. Are there any relevances of his argument on death to build a meaningful life here and now? To make a balance of reflection, this paper presents the theological perspective of Karl Rahner, Heidegger’s former student. By comparing these two thinkers, between a philosopher and a theologian, the author comes to a reflection that the mystery of death must be understood in relation to the creative and meaningful life in this world