Contemporary Theology Research Articles

Queer Theology and a Synodal Catholic Church

The emerging field of queer theology presents both a challenge and an opportunity to contemporary Catholic theology for deeper self-examination. In the context of a synodal Church, whereby the Catholic hierarchy consults and seriously considers the Spirit-guided insights of the sensus fidelium, queer theology can adequately respond to some of the challenges levied against Pope Francis’s inclusive vision. In order to do so, queer theology must be reframed as a project that stems from the lived experiences of the oppressed and their quest toward liberation. This article explores the field of queer theology and addresses some of the most contentious questions among theorists about the scope of the queer project. More importantly, the article synthesizes a historically conscious, eschatologically oriented, liberatory queer theology with Pope Francis’s synodal vision. The first part of this article explores contemporary theology on synodality. The second part explores the genealogy of queer theology. Finally, the third part constructs a Catholic queer theological framework that aids a synodal project. The conclusion will outline and explore some questions for future research.

Mempertanyakan Teodisi: Teodisi Yahudi Sesudah Auschwitz dalam Telaah Zachary Braiterman

The 20th century holocaust against Jews in Auschwitz, Buchenwald, and other concentration camps was the starting point for the change in modern Jewish theology towards contemporary theology. Contemporary Jewish theologians, rabbis, and philosophers have revisited their theodicy by critically reading scriptural texts and traditions (Midrash). The substance debated in theodicy is about God’s goodness which is in conflict with God’s omnipotence so that evil and suffering occur. The problem of Jewish theodicy after Auschwitz was studied by Zachary Braiterman by explaining the split between the hegemony of Jewish theodicy with a religious discourse and anti-theodicy with a pagan discourse. Braiterman uses a postmodern approach to map the criticism of Jewish theologians and philosophers towards the universal truth of theodicy before Auschwitz. This new discourse is useful for transforming the cultural changes of modern Jewish society from its marginal position in the text to becoming the main figure (anthropodicy). It seems that Braiterman is supporting the anti-theodicy movement to move beyond the nightmare of the holocaust in order to free the Jewish people from suffering by critically rereading texts and tradition.

The Kenosis Of Jesus Christ: Model Of The Christian Life According To Philippians 2:5-11

In the ancient city of Philippi, resonant with echoes of a bygone prosperity, the apostle Paul wove an indelible narrative in his epistle to the Philippians. Penned during his Roman imprisonment, this literary masterpiece, nestled within the realm of captivity epistles, expresses gratitude to a church intimately entwined with Paul's challenges. At its core lies a profound theme—the "Kenosis of Jesus Christ," unraveling divine humility as expounded in Philippians 2:5-11. This theological journey delves into diverse interpretations by researchers, spanning epochs from the Church Fathers to contemporary theologians. While the Church Fathers grapple with the dual nature of Jesus, reformers and modern theologians provide nuanced perspectives, revealing the enduring relevance of kenosis. The ramifications of kenosis on Malagasy life manifest in humanitarian salvation, exemplified in the voluntary abasement and subsequent exaltation of Jesus Christ outlined in Philippians 2:5-11. This transformative power extends beyond theological discourse, influencing progress, national reconciliation, and ecclesiastical renewal in the daily life of Madagascar. Examining the compatibility of kenosis with Madagascar's development, we discern its potential as both a tool and an obstacle. As an effective tool, kenosis aligns with the true preaching of the Gospel and the lived experience of humility, fostering a trajectory toward societal flourishing. However, as an obstacle, it is manifested in the tolerance of injustice, conflicting with the current societal situation. Kenosis emerges as a profound concept in Christian theology, inviting believers to embody the humility exemplified by Christ. The theological journey traverses diverse interpretations, illuminating the richness and complexity of this motif. In the context of Madagascar, kenosis catalyzes positive shifts in daily life, national reconciliation, and ecclesiastical renewal. This paradigm offers a transformative pathway for countries in progress, transcending economic metrics to embrace societal flourishing. The compatibility of kenosis with Madagascar's development calls for a recalibration of societal values, blending true Gospel preaching and humility to counter contemporary challenges and embrace the profound meaning of kenosis.

THE ESCHATOLOGICAL VISION OF RUDOLF BULTMANN AND ELLEN WHITE


 Rudolf Karl Bultmann (1884-1976) was a German Protestant theologian of the 20th century who influenced contemporary theology in multiple shades of Christianity. Ellen G. White (1827-1915), on the other hand, was an important American writer and co-founder of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Both authors developed an eschatology that encompasses, among other aspects, the attitude and action of believers today, as well as the essential personal contact with God through prayer and the proclamation of the Gospel. Therefore, the problem of this work is to identify common eschatological elements in these authors in order to establish a possible dialog on this theme in their writings. The aim of the study is to compare the eschatology of Rudolf Bultmann and Ellen G. White and verify their supposed implications. As for the methodology adopted, the research uses a qualitative approach, is of a pure and explanatory nature, and as for the procedures, it is a bibliographical research.

BETWEEN ETERNITY AND DIVINE DUALISM: HUGH OF SAINT-CHER’S OPUS II, PARS I

The paper contains the first Latin transcription and an English translation of the first part of the second book of Hugh of Saint-Cher's Opus, his commentary on Peter Lombard's Sentences accomplished between 1231 and 1234. The transcription is based on the codex Vat. lat. 1098 collated with five auxiliary manuscripts. In line with William of Auxerre and Alexander of Hales Hugh critically disavows pagan and heretical stances represented by Plato, Aristotle, Epicurus, and Manichean regarding the creation of the world. My foreword sheds light on the philosophical value of presented arguments plus the historical background of the issue and Hugh's relation with contemporary theologians whose ideas Hugh rearranges and modifies in one concise text. I argue that Hugh blends together these four authorities to challenge and reject the concepts of eternity and dualism. The theologian imputes dualism — contrary to the run-of-the-mill attribution of three beginnings — to the Stagyrite while putting the concept of opposite principles from Aristotle referenced before by William in Cathar's mouth. Even Plato and Epicurus become proponents of the heretical repudiation of creation from nothing in favor of divine production from adjacent matter which aligns the Greeks with Cathars' metaphysics. Hugh's Opus, if not original in the modern sense, anticipated a surge of refutations aimed at heretics and “Averroists”. The proposed isomorphism between Aristotle-Heretic and Cathar-Peripatetic partially molded early arguments in the theological Sentences as well as inquisitorial Summa. Whereas the focus on Сathars' dualism diminished when they were brutally wiped off the map, William, Alexander, and Hugh's reasons against the Peripatetic view on eternity continued to draw attention among theologians fighting back “Averroism”.

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

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.

Can Unions, Accountability, and Synodality Coexist? An Ecclesiological Analysis of the 2015 San Francisco Archdiocesan Teachers’ Union Dispute

What place does organizing have in the Church’s synodal journey? In his address for the opening of the Synod on Synodality in 2021, Pope Francis described synodality as “unity, communion, the fraternity born of the realization that all of us are embraced by the one love of God.” Yet the process of collective bargaining is often fraught with division, contention, and adverse interactions based on competing interests. The author argues that, in addition to following Catholic social teaching, organizing serves a crucial pragmatic and theological role in the synodal journey. First, the author explores contemporary theology on synodality and, second, applies it to the 2015 San Francisco archdiocesan teachers’ union dispute, in which the teachers entered the collective-bargaining process to try to repel the archbishop’s effort to strip them of their nondiscrimination rights and force employees to abide by strict sexual-morality codes. Finally, he reflects on organizing’s broader ecclesiological impact.

The Kenosis of Jesus Christ: Model of the Christian Life According To Philippians 2:5-11

In the ancient city of Philippi, resonant with echoes of a bygone prosperity, the apostle Paul wove an indelible narrative in his epistle to the Philippians. Penned during his Roman imprisonment, this literary masterpiece, nestled within the realm of captivity epistles, expresses gratitude to a church intimately entwined with Paul's challenges. At its core lies a profound theme—the "Kenosis of Jesus Christ," unraveling divine humility as expounded in Philippians 2:5-11. This theological journey delves into diverse interpretations by researchers, spanning epochs from the Church Fathers to contemporary theologians. While the Church Fathers grapple with the dual nature of Jesus, reformers and modern theologians provide nuanced perspectives, revealing the enduring relevance of kenosis. The ramifications of kenosis on Malagasy life manifest in humanitarian salvation, exemplified in the voluntary abasement and subsequent exaltation of Jesus Christ outlined in Philippians 2:5-11. This transformative power extends beyond theological discourse, influencing progress, national reconciliation, and ecclesiastical renewal in the daily life of Madagascar. Examining the compatibility of kenosis with Madagascar's development, we discern its potential as both a tool and an obstacle. As an effective tool, kenosis aligns with the true preaching of the Gospel and the lived experience of humility, fostering a trajectory toward societal flourishing. However, as an obstacle, it is manifested in the tolerance of injustice, and conflicting with the current societal situation. Kenosis emerges as a profound concept in Christian theology, inviting believers to embody the humility exemplified by Christ. The theological journey traverses diverse interpretations, illuminating the richness and complexity of this motif. In the context of Madagascar, kenosis catalyzes positive shifts in daily life, national reconciliation, and ecclesiastical renewal. This paradigm offers a transformative pathway for countries in progress, transcending economic metrics to embrace societal flourishing. The compatibility of kenosis with Madagascar's development calls for a recalibration of societal values, blending true Gospel preaching and humility to counter contemporary challenges and embrace the profound meaning of kenosis.

Ecclesial Enculturation: John Westerhoff’s Appeal to Catechesis in Contemporary Theological Education

Ecclesial Enculturation: John Westerhoff’s Appeal to Catechesis in Contemporary Theological Education

Theology and Economy ‘after’ Barth

AbstractThe relation of theology and economy is a perennial theological challenge. Many contemporary theologians' understanding of this challenge is shaped by Karl Barth's attempt to resolve a set of tensions problematising this relation inherited from figures like Kant and Feuerbach. Barth ‘identified’ God's decision to be God with God's decision to be human. Further, he inconsistently but insistently claimed that the ‘form’ in which God reveals Godself in the person of Jesus somewhat isomorphically corresponds to God in Godself. The brilliance and yet instability of Barth's approach spawned a number of construals of theology and economy which depart from him in significant ways. I label these contemporary trajectories the post‐Barthian temptation, Barthian revisionism, Barthian Balthasarianism, and Barthian catholicism and critically evaluate them, suggesting that Barthian catholicism is the most promising.

Nouvelles Perspectives Dans L’etude De « Yom » Dans Genese 1: La Piste Aithiopienne

The source of the text of Genesis has been a core of the contemporary theology studies. One of the most important of these studies is the James E. Atwell’s (2000). He argues that Genesis 1 is directly inspired by Egyptian mythology. But, considering his arguments, the study of the typology of “Yom” shows a new paradigm that we can conclude the existence of a new source. This study gives proves that if Egypt constitutes an important step, the sources are far and deepest.

Theopsych: A Psychological Science Primer for Theologians

Theopsych: A Psychological Science Primer for Theologians

‘What Now?’: Genre of the Deuteronomic Code as a Model for Contemporary Theological Ethics

Typical hermeneutical approaches to the Deuteronomic Code, and to scriptural legal codes more generally, attend to genre either for the sake of historical-critical concerns as an end in themselves, or as a gateway to abstracted content. This article argues, conversely, that the genre of the code is not disconnected from its content, and that its form—imaginative, pragmatic propositions based on communal hope—can and should be imitated in the practice of theological ethics. As best seen in Deuteronomy 15, the communicative genius of the code is that it (1) imagines a specific, viable future, (2) empowers moral agency, (3) forges communal identity, and (4) addresses unique historical situations. Appropriating the genre, rather than the content, thus has unique potential to give traction to modern ethical scholarship through conscious, kerygmatic contingency.

Чи можлива «філософія після Бучі»: внесок війни в філософію

The article analyses the problem of the current state of philosophy in the context of Russian aggression against Ukraine. It is argued that contemporary philosophers are faced with the question: «How is philosophy possible after Bucha?». It is argued that, on the one hand, this questioning and situation is in many ways similar to similar discourses on «philosophy after Auschwitz» and «philosophy after the Gulag», and on the other hand, it shows a number of ideological and moral flaws in modern society and politics that made this question possible. Another consequence is the failure to learn the lessons of history, which leads to the emergence and growth of new totalitarian leaders who are ready to start wars to achieve their goals, which in the future threaten to escalate to the level of a new World War or the use of nuclear arsenals. Thus, there are grounds to state that not only international organisations such as the UN and the Red Cross are unable to resist authoritarianism and totalitarianism, but also that the worldview and value positions on which their activities are based are ineffective.
 Particular attention is paid to the theological aspects of this problem, the peculiarities of its formulation and solution by contemporary theologians. The authors analyse the criticism by Ukrainian intellectuals-philosophers of the prejudices of the Western philosophical establishment, touch upon the doctrine of the «Russian world» as a civil religion with its corresponding dogmas, and finally offer some philosophical conclusions that, in the authors’ opinion, formulate, if not new imperatives, as they somewhat pretentiously call them, then at least new significant accents that Ukraine brings to the world philosophical sphere. Thus, Ukrainian scholars of the social sciences and humanities face a crucial task, not just to reflect or comprehend the reality of life «under the bombs», but to formulate new imperatives that can become the basis for a new post-war philosophy, politics and culture.

Synodality in the Catholic Church: Toward a New Ecclesiology of Inclusion for LGBTQ+ Persons

Synod reports throughout the globe reflect calls for more inclusion of LGBTQ+ persons in the life of the Church. These calls are made more pressing given the alarming statistics facing LGBTQ+ persons and the increasing rates of dissafiliation in the Church due to its exclusive practices. Research also shows that Catholics throughout many parts of the world support same-sex marriage and an increasing number of them support transgender persons. In this article, I argue that LGBTQ+ inclusion in the Church can be made possible if synodality transcends beyond an initial consultative process and permeates into the Church’s ecclesiological structures. Such an ecclesiological model has been proposed by Pope Francis, who dreams of a Church that listens and is open to being transformed by the guidance of the Holy Spirit which is revealed through the lives of the faithful. Furthermore, the teachings of Vatican II, synthesized with contemporary theology on synodality, support this synodal ecclesiological model. If adopted, a synodal ecclesiology would enable the Church to enter into a collegial relationship with the lay faithful as it excercises its magisterial role while paying special attention to voices that are underrepresented. Applied to LGBTQ+ persons, a synodal ecclesiology should inspire Catholic leaders to create spaces within the Church for LGBTQ+ persons to live their lives in the context of Catholic community. This would then allow the Church to fully listen to their life witness as it journeys together with them.

Dogmatik som samtidsteologi

This essay develops a program for defining doctrinal studies as the descriptive and normative study of contemporary Christian thought. “Dogmatics” is contemporary theology in the two-fold sense of studying current varieties of Christian doctrine, worldview formation and ethos, and of constructing coherent and self-reflexive proposals for Christian teachings in contemporary contexts. History of doctrine remains an important sub-discipline which serves the purpose of clarifying basic grammars and continuing patterns of Christian thought. Likewise, the study of major theologians exemplifies how well-winnowed theological proposals of the past may continue to inspire and inform contemporary theology. The focal interest, however, lies in analyzing and re-articulating contemporary expressions of Christian faith, while evaluating the potentials of Christian semantics for future Christian communication practices. The regulative rules of Christian grammars, the fluid forms of Christian semantics, and the communicative potentials of Christian pragmatics thus make up the core subject-matter of contemporary theology. It is furthermore argued that contemporary theology is to be pursued in the interest of the society at large. Yet the field has a special function for the Church. For while contemporary theologians propose, communities of faith dispose when it comes to the fate and fortunes of the theological proposals.

‘One Baptism for the Remission of Sins’: Exploring the Harmony Between Christian Platonism, Reformed Soteriology, and Credobaptism

Abstract In recent years, Protestant theology—particularly of the Reformed and evangelical variety—has shown an increased interest in historical retrieval. Various theologians have engaged in the work of mining the Great Tradition of Christianity in order to resource contemporary theology with wisdom from the past. Presupposed in this work of retrieval is a claim that is by no means a foregone conclusion for Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox theologians: the notion that Protestants also lay claim to the Great Tradition of the ‘one, holy, catholic, and apostolic church.’ Protestant theologians working on retrieval believe they are drawing from their own heritage, not the heritage of another. While it may appear counterintuitive to do so, this paper seeks to defend this notion by drawing together three terms commonly considered disparate: Christian Platonism, Reformed soteriology, and Baptist sacramentalism. It disputes two popular insistences: first, that Reformed soteriology depends on a nominalism that contradicts the realism of the Christian-Platonic metaphysical tradition; and second, that the Baptist view of baptism amounts to mere symbolism (and thus depends on nominalism in another sense). This paper therefore argues not only that Reformed evangelicals, broadly speaking, lay rightful claim to the Great Tradition (and specifically, its metaphysics), but also that Baptists in particular share this heritage.

Confederate Theology: Robert Lewis Dabney and the Theological Afterlife of Slavery

AbstractIn the wake of social movements to remove Confederate monuments from public spaces and expose suppressed legacies of white supremacy in the United States, this article uncovers an influential and overtly white supremacist tradition of US Christian theology through a case study of the Reformed theologian Robert Lewis Dabney (1820‐1898). Regarded by his contemporaries as one of the most prolific theological teachers and scholars of his time, Dabney was also an unrepentant defender of racialized chattel slavery and white supremacy. He was also a leading contributor to Lost Cause revisionism after the Civil War. This reveals a troubling paradox: one of the leading theologians in the United States during the nineteenth century was also one of that century's most committed white supremacists. While Dabney's theological defense of a patriarchal, white supremacist society has too often been either conveniently forgotten or uncritically excused by later generations, this article offers a theological reckoning with Dabney's project in order to diagnose its ramifications for contemporary theology and articulate a constructive response.

The theological role of biography

This article explores the role of biography in Christian theology. For the greater part of Christian history, biography has played a key devotional and apologetic role by providing models of how the one life of Christ is at work in the saints. Following the Reformation, biographies of Protestant martyrs removed the miraculous element of hagiography, but the exemplary and apologetic functions of biography remained centrally important. From the twentieth century, I argue, there has been a loss of confidence in the role of biography in Christian devotional life and in theology. In conclusion, I suggest ways in which the role of biography might continue to be of value for contemporary theology.

The doctrine of participation in Augustine'stotus Christusecclesiology

AbstractAugustine's understanding of the church as part of thetotus Christus– the ‘whole Christ’ – has become an important resource in contemporary theology, offering a robust vision of the church's union with God. Yet a key critique maintains that it threatens to elide the distinction between the perfected Christ and the created church. This article addresses this issue by asking how thetotus Christusdoctrine relates to the doctrine of participation. For Augustine, participation is a metaphysical category that expresses the creature's dependent, non-divine status, its essential being out of nothing. Thetotus Christusdoctrine is most explicitly an exegetical, not metaphysical doctrine. Nevertheless, by putting these two facets of Augustine's thought together, we can see the way in which they mutually reinforce the view that the astonishing claims of unity in thetotus Christusare structured by a larger theological grammar that distinguishes God and creature.