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"On the Eighth Day: A Catholic Theology of Sport" is a book that explores the intersection of religion and sports from a Catholic perspective. The authors discuss the historical transformations and insights of the Catholic tradition on sport, the spirit of play, the sacramental perspective in viewing sport, and the ethical issues related to sport. The book aims to provide a contemporary theological framework for understanding the meaning of sport, and while it focuses on Catholicism, it does not distinguish itself significantly from other Christian approaches. The authors also touch on topics such as gender, injury, and the paschal mystery in relation to sports. Overall, the book offers interesting and thought-provoking insights for both theology and the philosophy of sport. [Extracted from the article]

In everyday life, one encounters many experiences of affliction that, for whatever reason, nature (ours or others') cannot resolve. Yet, when nature's finite resources are exhausted and hope seems in vain, humans often experience extra-ordinary moments of renewal and resolution—breakthroughs, remissions, insights, and conversions. We experience these moments in our natural existence; yet, we feel they cannot originate, cannot be attributed to nature alone. Rather, these experiences, called "graces" in Christianity, are attributed to a divine power acting in us. How do we come to describe these experiences in this way? Is it possible to formulate a general theory of these experiences as "graces"? Is there an "experience" of grace in general, a "state of grace", which serves as ground and unifying experience for the "graces" we receive? Working from the Catholic theological point of view, this paper examines such experiences of affliction and renewal, as well as the basic Catholic framework schematizing them as found in the Bible and Catholic religious writings. In doing so, this paper highlights the theme of impossibility (absolutely or in context) underlying each experience, and broadly categorizes them as happening within three regions of human life: the external, ethical sphere, the interior self-relationship, and the vertical relationship to the Divine. In dialogue with theologians and phenomenological thinkers, general formulations of the experiences are placed within their respective spheres, and certain problems in the identification or interpretation of these experiences are identified. The paper then explores how the experience of a "New Creation" can serve not only as a label for the totality of these experiences, but also as a totalizing and overarching ground-experience of "grace" and an interpretive hermeneutic for graces in general. As a result, a graced moment of total personal "rebirth" or "recreation", prevenient with respect to any personal co-operation or experiences of grace as grace, is identified as a potential ground for all other graces considered. Finally, this paper considers some potential implications of this account of grace for both Catholic thought and Phenomenology more generally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article considers understandings of nonviolence within the Catholic Worker movement and their embodiment. The aim is to make the Worker's position theologically understandable, demonstrating how this drives their methods for action. The article argues that a particular ethic of nonviolence can be found within the movement, grounded within the aims of its founders and the current practices of the movement today, drawing on the example of the Jubilee Ploughshares 2000 from which the London Catholic Worker was founded to illustrate this. By exploring the movement's theological foundations for the practice of grassroots, active nonviolence, it will seek to present an important example of Catholic nonviolent practice questioning how this may challenge contemporary Catholic thinking on war and peace. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Church is called to be a sign, an instrument, and an embodiment of God's love and justice for the world. One of the church's important vocations is to serve the vulnerable and marginalized, including those with disabilities. The Church needs to reflect on God's heart and mission that is full of mercy, equality, and justice for all without exception. This article will explore how the church can live out this divine calling by actively involving congregational members who have disabilities in ecclesiastical life and ministry. So far, church service is still in the concept of charitable diaconia rather than diaconia of community initiative development or also transformative diaconia. The research method used to solve this problem is qualitative. The expected outcome of this study is to ensure the full involvement and participation of everyone with disabilities in church service, as well as an appreciation for their dignity and uniqueness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The French Catholic theology of the beginning of twentieth century turned to the experience of the masses of working people and had a creative political angle. This invites a closer look as this experience and its condition changes, and new concerns emerge. My inquiry will look at the theological rationale and nature of this engagement with the industrial world with an eye to its contemporary significance. I will begin from the pervading influence the industrial situation had on two theological developments that explicitly refer to it. The appropriation of this sensitivity will help to ask what is unique in their particular theological approach towards the political world. I will identify a notion of spirit, spirituality, and explicitly the Spirit, and will argue that this implicit pneumatological aspect is key. To show its significance, I will focus on this spiritual impulse in a developing trajectory of pneumatology to show its continuing relevance. Once affirmed and distinguished, it will point to a creative theological stance which is even more relevant to contemporary experience and engagement. Such an explicit pneumatological emphasis, then, is key for a creative approach towards the political, which seeks human and cosmic flourishing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On 2 August 2023, Prof. Dr. Winfried Haunerland passed away at the age of 67 after a serious illness and was buried on 11 August 2023 at the Waldfriedhof in Munich - in the grave of Joseph Pascher (1893-1979), who was one of his most influential predecessors there as professor of liturgical studies and director of the supradiocesan seminary Herzogliches Georgianum, and played a key role in the liturgical renewal of the church in the 20th century. On 24 October 2023, the Faculty of Catholic Theology at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität commemorated its deceased professor in a separate requiem. The subsequent eulogy by his successor contained the essential biographical data of this article. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Suppose Molinism is true and God placed Adam in the garden because God knew Adam would freely eat of the fruit. Suppose further that, had it not been true that Adam would freely eat of the fruit, were he placed in the garden, God would have placed someone else there instead. When Adam freely eats of the fruit, is he free to do otherwise? This paper argues that there is a strong case for both a positive and a negative answer. Assuming such cases are possible under Molinism, we are left with a puzzling question: if Molinism is true, what can you do? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dispensationalism is a significant theological movement in the United States, especially within Evangelical Christianity. Dispensations refer to the periods that adherents of this belief separate in explaining world history. These periods are generally designated as seven eras in which the relationship between God and humanity was established in varying ways. The idea of dispensationalism was developed by John Nelson Darby. His literal and futuristic interpretation led him to distinguish the roles of Israel and the Church in the Bible prophecies. After Darby, C. I. Scofield played a crucial role in popularizing Darby's ideas in the United States with the publication of his Scofield Reference Bible. This article examines the historical process of dispensationalism and focuses on its founder, John Nelson Darby, and his views on dispensationalism from a historical perspective. The article concludes that Darby's dispensationalism is widely accepted by Evangelicals, that the rapture and the separation of the Church and Israel in the God's divine plan have provided the theological basis for Evangelical Christians' sup- port for Israel and have had various effects on American popular culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents information about the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) and its functions. The CDF was founded in 1542 and its main mission is to combat heresy and promote the doctrine of the Catholic Church. It is structured with a Cardinal Prefect at the head and has members who are Cardinals, Bishops, priests, deacons, religious, and laypeople. The CDF issues general decrees and its doctrinal documents are part of the pontifical magisterium. Additionally, the article mentions the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, which was instituted by Pope Francis and has the task of protecting minors and vulnerable people from sexual abuse. [Extracted from the article]

The neo-conservative Catholic movement, led by prominent figures like Richard John Neuhaus and Michael Novak, played a significant role in shaping Jewish–Christian relations in the United States following the Second Vatican Council. This article analyzes their theological understanding of Jews and Judaism, which combined an adoption of the Council's conciliatory rhetoric with a relatively narrow interpretation of its teachings. By examining their views on key concepts such as "fulfillment", salvation, and mission, the article highlights the complexities and tensions within the neo-conservative Catholic approach to interfaith dialogue and its relation to their broader goal of promoting religion in the American public sphere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Con-textos Kantianos: International Journal of Philosophy is the property of Con-Textos Kantianos (CTK) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This article explores whether and how research into biological influences on gender identity can and should inform Christian ethical reflection on gender diversity and gender nonconformity. First, the current state of genetic and neuroscientific research on gender identity is surveyed. While the scientific findings are as yet preliminary, tentative, and sometimes contradictory, researchers argue that they already give grounds for thinking that many biological factors have some influence on gender identity through complex interactions with many social and environmental factors. Next, the article offers some general remarks about how natural scientific findings should—and should not—inform Christian theological and ethical reflection. Finally, three specific proposals are developed for how scientific research can and should inform Christian ethical reflection on gender identity. The article offers both a contribution to this Christian ethical reflection and a case study of how the natural sciences may be used in Christian ethics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research on the conversation of Jesus with the Samaritan woman at Jacob's Well has recently been carried out by many scholars. This article therefore discussed the interpersonal dialogue between Jesus and the Samaritan woman, which enabled the Samaritan woman to change her attitude and welcome Jesus as the Messiah and Savior. The purpose of this research was to conduct a theological analysis of the change in the attitude of the Samaritan woman's hostility that was seen in her conversation with Jesus. Through the interpersonal dialogue between Jesus and the Samaritan woman, there was a change in attitude towards Jesus with the outcome that Jesus was welcomed and recognized as the Messiah and Savior of the world. The research method used in writing this article was qualitative where the data was collected from books and articles for analysis. The result of the research is that the friendly and empathetic interpersonal dialogue between Jesus and the Samaritan woman changed her attitude toward Jesus. Jesus was no longer considered the enemy but the Messiah and Savior. This article seeks to challenge churches in Indonesia, especially churches in East Nusa Tenggara, to play a role in intensifying interpersonal dialogue as a form of dialogue to resolve ethnic problems that arise in society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The question of the origin of humans has been fiercely contested for a long period. One perspective is the creation model, which asserts that the Universe and all its components emerged through the deliberate actions of God, driven by design and purpose. Conversely, the evolution model posits that the Universe's formation occurred solely through mechanistic processes, devoid of any supernatural intervention. Narrowing the scope to humanity, the evolution model contends for the gradual evolution of the human species through a process of descent with modification from an ancestor shared with apes, while the creation model proposes the direct creation of humankind by God in his image. Certainly, the implications either model has on human dignity are very important for human existence. Whether God created humankind directly or through evolution from an ape-like ancestor has a bearing on human dignity. It raises, for example, the question as to whose image humanity bears: God’s or apes’? The way one answers this question will definitely affect his or her human-divine and human-human relationships. A literary research approach was used to gather data from books, articles, and dissertations. The data were critically examined to consider the arguments for either side of the debate. It was found out that both biblical and scientific data may allow for variations within a particular species (microevolution) but not the production of one species from another (macroevolution). The findings suggest that the creation model must be accepted with its attendant implications for human dignity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Chaplaincy Ministry is practised in most closed communities, such as uniformed forces, medical institutions, funeral homes, educational institutions and orphan and vulnerable communities. Its relevance in Zimbabwe has been critiqued as it has not been able to demonstrate itself as God’s presence during disasters such as cyclones. The displacement of people in Chimanimani and Chipinge communities in the Eastern side of Zimbabwe, the death of their relatives and the destruction of their properties brought some traumatic experiences that the Church was not able to deal with. Churches in Zimbabwe joined the government and civic organisations to provide humanitarian aid to the distressed communities but unfortunately missed the primary aim of the church journeying along with the distressed. This qualitative research paper argued that, unlike the government and civic organisations that give humanitarian aid and leave the devasted areas, the role of chaplaincy ministry was for the church to commit itself to the daily struggles of the traumatised populace. The paper challenged the churches in Zimbabwe to be like a Christwoven nest that protects, provides, and prays for communities grappling with the omnipotence of God in times of disaster. The paper concluded by proffering a challenge to the church in Zimbabwe to either function as a centre of God’s presence in the shattered communities or be like a charity organisation in humanitarian aid alongside the non-governmental organisations and the government which is not her call. This paper contributes significantly to scholarship as there is limited literature on chaplaincy from an African genre and more importantly resources that define the role of the church in troubled communities. This paper provides a solution for churches struggling with the approach to take when disasters loom and people are questioning the omnipotence of God during a crisis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

"The Abuse of Conscience: A Century of Catholic Moral Theology" by Matthew Levering is a sourcebook that explores the thoughts of twentieth-century thinkers on the topic of conscience in Catholic moral theology. Levering responds to three starting points: the Pinckaers-Dominican tradition, the failure of thinkers outside of that tradition to revitalize moral theology, and Brian Besong's challenge to denigrate moral manuals. The book consists of four chapters that cover various perspectives on conscience, including its relationship to the Bible, moral manuals, Thomism, and German thought. Levering concludes by presenting two contrasting visions of morality: one emphasizing conscience and the other emphasizing an integrative theology of morals and Christological-Trinitarian mystery. [Extracted from the article]

References to the divine have been frequent in the history of Christian art. As examples, this article surveys the symbolism of light and gold, the rhetoric of gesture, and the theatricality of the pictorial space. Sacred art is closely linked to biblical, liturgical and theological texts which are full of metaphorical expressions of transcendent realities. Since artists, patrons and viewers considered these texts authoritative, they must be consulted to interpret artworks correctly. This study argues that Catholic theology and the magisterium have constantly called for references to the divine. As a theoretical framework, this image theology helps to interpret the art-historical data with new questions that tourists and communicators today usually do not ask. This is because Christian art mediates the meaning of divine revelation, which is not self-explanatory. It needs to be decoded with a method interested in both images and texts. Erwin Panofsky has presented such a method. His 'iconology' consists of three steps for describing, analyzing and interpreting images. This article claims that the interpretation of Christian art is a prime example of the ongoing applicability of Panofsky's method as a tool for decoding iconography in pastoral, academic and social media communications, and examines a selection of best practices in such communications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is a slightly modified version of the keynote lecture given at the 2023 annual conference of the Catholic Theological Association of Great Britain. The theme of the conference was the role of law in the Christian life. The paper opened the conference by following the theological lead of the Common Doctor, St Thomas Aquinas, who treats theology as about God and all things, including law, in relation to God. In particular the paper looks at Aquinas's understanding in the Summa Theologiae of God as the eternal law. It examines how the eternal law meets Aquinas's criteria for what counts as a law, and links eternal law to other law, such as natural law, as well as to the doctrines of the Trinity, providence, the beatific vision, and Christology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It would superficial to identify merely the resurrection of Jesus as the content of the Christian celebration of Easter; nor is Easter only about the resurrection or just about the fate of Jesus. Instead the celebration and the theology of Easter present an overview of God's saving activity: human beings, created good but fallen, are saved through Christ's taking on human nature, descending into the kingdom of the dead through his sufferings and death, and raising human beings with him to God in heaven. The liturgy has various ways of bringing this even home to us: succinct texts, sacramental celebrations, including dramatic rites; but the resurrection itself eludes a detailed portrayal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 1264 in the town of Orvieto, St. Thomas Aquinas composed the Lauda Sion as the Mass sequence for Pope Urban IV's new universal solemnity of the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, the feast of Corpus Christi. The present paper will consider this text of St. Thomas's liturgical sequence in relation to the eucharistic theology that he teaches in the Summa Theologiae. Just as, according to the Dionysian Aquinas, the Psalms contain all the doctrines revealed in the rest of scripture but transposed into the highest literary genre of praise, so the Lauda Sion contains all the essential eucharistic doctrines of the Summa Theologiae , now set in that same laudatory genre as the Psalter. The paper is divided into ten sections, corresponding to the questions in St. Thomas's treatment of the Holy Eucharist in the Tertia Pars. Proceeding one topic at a time, this paper will show how the Lauda Sion serves as a doxological compendium of St. Thomas Aquinas's whole eucharistic theology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The doctrine of transubstantiation (as understood by Aquinas and much subsequent Roman Catholic theology) involves the counter-intuitive claim that accidents can come to exist independently of any substance. In particular, the spatial dimensions of bread and wine can come to exist independently. I point out that a key idea that motivated this claim was an aspect of mediaeval philosophy of nature: namely, relationism about space. I argue that if relationism is dropped in favour of substantivalism, then room is made for a model of transubstantiation which needn't involve an implausible commitment to independently existing accidents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Regarding the relation between theology and science, it seems to me that Catholic theology provides a remarkable case given its distinctive notion of Catholic magisterial infallibility (under certain conditions) and its doctrine of transubstantiation. Here I argue that, in a very real sense, the current legal and doctrinal state-of-affairs linked to transubstantiation has quite substantial implications. These very implications articulately illustrate how challenging the situation is for Catholic scientists, especially for those who are working and, thereby, are contributing to research at Catholic Universities as defined and established by the magisterium and the competent authorities of the Catholic Church. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article is a review of the book "Benedict XVI: A Life. Volume 2, Professor and Prefect to Pope and Pope Emeritus 1966-The Present" by Peter Seewald. The reviewer praises the book for its thorough research, engaging writing style, and revealing new information about Pope Benedict XVI's life. It also discusses the media's portrayal of Benedict XVI, acknowledging both positive and negative perspectives. The review concludes by highlighting the strong friendship between Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis and discouraging criticism of the latter. Additionally, Stephen L. Brock's book, "The Light that Binds: A Study in Thomas Aquinas's Metaphysics of Natural Law," is recommended for those interested in exploring the topic of natural law and its philosophical foundations from a Thomistic perspective. [Extracted from the article]

In the Pentecostal/Catholic dialogues so far, the experience of the Holy Spirit has been noted as a common ground for exchange between Pentecostals and Catholics, but the question of sacraments and sacramentality is mainly seen as a distinctive marker. On the other hand, Pentecostal theology is increasingly showing approaches in which Pentecostal practices of faith are being interpreted as sacramental. These might include speaking in tongues, the altar call, praise and worship music, a Pentecostal worldview in general or even the sacraments in the narrow sense. This article aims to outline the main characteristics of such a Pentecostal theology of sacramentality and to identify possible learning effects for Catholic theology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to achieve ecumenical unity, the church catholic must settle the question of authority. In this essay, I propose the concept of Sola Apostolica. I argue that the sole infallible norm and source of doctrine for the church catholic is the apostolic teaching—the joint teaching of the prophets and apostles in their integral unity. First, I sketch the history and theology of the Word of God. Next, I define and defend Sola Apostolica by situating it within the theology and domain of the Word. Then, I argue that Prima Scriptura follows as a logical consequence alongside a robust view of the evidential weight of tradition. By coordinating Prima Scriptura and the evidential weight of tradition with Sola Apostolica as their foundation, I hope to move the dialogue forward. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main objective of this paper is to underline the theological feature of Isaiah's initial call (Is 6). In the first part the author presents some isagogic directions regarding The Book of Isaiah and its initial vision. In the second part of the paper, the sixth chapter of Isaiah is analyzed in a theological manner, covering topics such as: angelology, eschatology, divine glory and the prophet's ministry. The study concludes by highlighting the perennial character of Isaiah's revealed words. All the four gospels of New Testament are connecting Jesus saying by referring at least once to Is 6, 9 (Mt 13, 14; Mk 4, 12; Lk 8, 10; Jn 12, 40). This particular verse is used also by Paul the Apostle regarding the Jews from Rome (Acts 28, 25-26). Having studied both Romanian and Western literature, the author's interpretation is characterized by historical, literary and symbolic perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article analyzes the evolution of the social doctrine of the Catholic Church over time, highlighting the importance of finding a just social order based on the relationship between religion and reason. It mentions the need to integrate ethical values into the economy and criticizes the limited focus on the quantitative aspect. In addition, it studies the treatment of the "social question" in the encyclicals prior to Pius XI and addresses the theme of authority and freedom in Christian social action. The concept of solidarity and subsidiarity in social doctrine is also analyzed. It is mentioned that during the dictatorships of Mussolini and Hitler, Catholics were not respected and were excluded from government decisions. The encyclicals Quadragesimo anno and Mater et Magistra introduce concepts such as subsidiarity and solidarity, and criticize the class society. The importance of integral anthropology in understanding the social question is emphasized. The author concludes that it is necessary to continue working on issues such as ownership of the company, the relationship between the political community and the State, and the integral development of the individual. [Extracted from the article]

It is commonly acknowledged that blindness and seeing play an important role in the theology of the Gospel of Mark. Typically, readers interpret "spiritual blindness" as the moral thrust of the discipleship discourse in Mark 8:22–10:52. While the disciples fail to see their teacher as the Christ, blind Bartimaeus appears to identify Jesus as the "Son of David" (10:46–52). However, centering blindness-as-vice not only plays on an unfortunate ableist binary but also renders Mark's more marginal characters as insignificant. Research on blindness in antiquity demonstrates how socioeconomic status was a leading factor in determining social perceptions of the blind. This article contends that Mark's Bartimaeus pericope should be read accordingly. Instead of serving as a metaphor for "spiritual blindness," physically blind characters are raised to the status of insider as a condemnation of mistreatment of the poor—a motif found within the broader terrain of Mark's moral landscape (6:30–44; 8:1–10; 12:38–44; 14:1–11). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tyconius' Liber regularum is a late fourth century treatise, often dubbed as "the first (extant) Latin treatise on hermeneutics." This article investigates the following issue: What does Liber regularum as an introductio to hermeneutics amount to in the context of the other introductiones mentioned in Cassiodorus, Inst. 1.10? What has been presupposed by the author, what exactly is contended, and why has his treatise been called "the first Latin treatise on hermeneutics" when it is not limited to interpretative matters and discusses only a few selected hermeneutical issues? Indeed, the topic Tyconius almost exclusively focuses on is the unannounced change of reference within a sentence. He advises to recognize the seven compositional regulae mysticae in-built in scripture and, with the help of these, to determine the ever-changing references. In fact, this is what justifies calling his treatise a hermeneutical introductio. The compositional rules become hermeneutical rules and are immensely helpful for eliminating seeming contradictions in scripture. Particular attention is given to Augustine's critical reception of Tyconius' rules which mattered so much, in turn, for the reception of Tyconius. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among the various forms of scientific texts, lexicographic and encyclopedic studies as well as the entries and articles published in them deserve attention. They are created by researchers with extensive scientific experience. They contribute to general and special encyclopedias, terminological and linguistic dictionaries, including translation dictionaries, lexicons, etc. Patrists also have achievements in the field of information publications. An example is Rev. Wincenty Myszor, for years associated with the Academy of Catholic Theology in Warsaw (then the Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University) and the Faculty of Theology of the University of Silesia in Katowice. During his scientific career, he initiated or co-created seventeen encyclopedias, dictionaries and lexicons. Based on the analysis of sources and materials stored in the Archdiocesan Archives in Katowice, the work of the patrolologist was characterized, who from the 1970s to the 21st century cooperated with outstanding representatives of Polish and German patrology, coptology, classical philology, theology and philosophy. He left entries and articles on issues close to his research interests in the publications they edited. He also became known as the author and co-author of translation dictionaries of the Coptic language that are still used today. This type of achievements prove the rank of a scientist who, through this type of activity, provides lasting evidence of knowledge and research competence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Teología y Vida is the property of Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile, Facultad de Teologia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Teología y Vida is the property of Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile, Facultad de Teologia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Interest in the role of Catholicism in European politics in the twentieth century has experienced a resurgence in recent years. The theologies studied in the book constitute an understanding of political theology alternative to the Schmittian conception of political theology often applied in contemporary political theory. A clear contribution is the general reflection of the role that theology plays in political matters, based on the articulation and development of French Catholic theology in the twentieth century. [Extracted from the article]

Since the acension of Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio to the office of the papacy as Pope Francis, unease to unrest and now to open conflict has suffused the Catholic Church, from lay to clerics to even the Vatican. Various Catholics wonder, suggest and even argue that a paradigm shift (cf. Thomas Kuhn) in Catholic theology has taken place. Wherever a paradigm shift occurs, the relation between the pre-sifters and the post-shifters becomes one of incompatibility, of being incommensurate, such that a mutually excluding fissure takes places., the divided house will fall. Has that been happening to Catholicism? It has been suggested that the thinking of Bernard Lonergan SJ exhibits the same cognitive dynamics as that of Pope Francis. In order to attempt a judgment as to whether continuity or rupture structure the Catholic Church of today, focus is directed to Lonergan and his own view of what is transpiring in current Catholicism. One discovers quickly that Lonergan sees traditional Catholicism as classicist, conservative, normative and Aristotelian in orientation whereas the renewal theologians are modern, liberal, and distinctly historicist, a theme amply developed by Lonergan himself. The conclusion of this study is the traditionalists and modernizers do indeed constitute the incommensurable prongs of a paradigm shift such that currently Catholicism is a 2-in-one church, i.e., two validly baptized groups of believers between whom a irreconcilable conflict rages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mourning is the state of grieving the loss of a close relationship. It manifests itself in multi-sided suffering affecting the mourner's mental, physical and spiritual sphere. A particularly painful form of mourning is the family experience of grief. Although ways of expressing grief depend on the culture, era and intensity of the interpersonal relationships, it is a universal human experience. This paper aims to answer the question about the role of the mourner's faith in Jesus Christ in the bereaved family experience, as a work in the field of Roman Catholic dogmatic theology. The method used is the analysis of selected material from psychology and Catholic theology (Christology, anthropology, protology, eschatology), in order to synthetically present theological and practical conclusions. The author also quotes mourners' testimonies. First, the author shows the elements of the psychology of mourning. However, his emphasis is on the next step, i.e., discussing the relationship between the mourner's faith in Jesus and the family experience of grief. Furthermore, he deals with theories concerning the relationships between the living and the dead, which are contrary to the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church: annihilation, spiritism and reincarnation. Finally, the important role of the faith in Jesus in the mourning process is presented and completed by indicating possible directions for research on this issue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After the fall of Tenochtitlan in 1521, the first groups of friars arrived in Mexico to Christianize the native inhabitants of Mesoamerica. This task was anything but easy, as explaining Christian doctrine to the Indigenous people posed both a linguistic and a theological challenge. The need to learn Indigenous languages and to prepare doctrinal materials dedicated specifically to the Christianization of this land was a task that might have seemed almost impossible to conduct in a short period of time, yet by the 1540s, the first printed catechisms (doctrinas) in Nahuatl began to appear. One of the earliest and broadest of these works is the 1548 Dominican Doctrina Christiana en Lengua Española y Mexicana, in which the friars attempted to explain all of the principles of Catholic theology to the Indigenous people. This paper analyses how through highly detailed descriptions and a meticulous choice of vocabulary, the authors strove to impart the tenets of Christian doctrine to the Nahuas in such a way as to make it both fully understandable and as unlikely as possible to be misinterpreted. It points to the sources on which the friars relied while writing the text. The article formulates a theory that the creation of the Doctrina Christiana would not have been possible without the participation of the native speakers of Nahuatl in the project, even though their role in writing the catechism would have had to be hidden from the religious authorities. The Indigenous authors served as cross-cultural bridges in the process of preparing the doctrinal materials. On the one hand, they could therefore help to explain crucial parts of the doctrine to the Indigenous audience. On the other hand, allowing Indigenous concepts to permeate the Christian discourse often led to the creation of ambiguity and provided a space of contestation that could influence the understanding of the Catholic concepts by the Indigenous audience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences (FABC) has been working for over 50 years on contextual and inculturated theology in Asia. Its theological methodology seeks to be shaped by the experiences of everyday life in the multi-religious, multi-ethnic, multilingual, and pluricultural Asian context. The FABC has contributed to other Asian theologies and has been enriched by them, taking seriously the historical context and the real situation of women and men, especially the marginalized. The article focuses on the role of women in the Catholic Church and highlights the creation of the theological forum Ecclesia of Women in Asia (EWA) in 2002. The aim of EWA is to give voice to women and develop a feminine, Asian, and Catholic theology. Additionally, the pastoral branch of EWA in Myanmar (MEWA) is mentioned, which works on raising awareness and providing assistance to women in asserting their rights. The importance of interreligious and intercultural dialogue in Asian theologies is also emphasized, as well as the pursuit of harmony as an Asian value. In conclusion, the FABC's method of doing theology brings ideas regarding the relationship between the local and the universal, intercultural and interreligious dialogue, the balance of interests, and the integration of spirituality and morality in the faith-based community. [Extracted from the article]

The article "Catholic Theology and Catholic Higher Education in the United States" warns about the risk of Catholic theology in the United States losing its secular and ecumenical character. The author, Grant Kaplan, analyzes the situation of higher theological education in the country and highlights the Second Vatican Council as an important turning point in this history. There is a possibility that Catholic theology will return to the clerical model that existed before Vatican II. During the transition in Catholic theological education in the United States, the need for a broader and more diverse vision became evident. Some Catholics lamented the loss of Catholic identity in theological education, while others advocated for greater openness and diversification in theology departments. [Extracted from the article]

This article provides a summary of a collective volume titled "Perspectives on Origen and the History of his Reception," edited by Alfons Fürst. The volume consists of essays that explore various aspects of Origen's legacy and reception throughout history. It covers topics such as Origen's role as a philosopher, his impact on theology, his views on human freedom and dignity, and his interpretation of biblical texts. The volume also examines the reception of Origen's work by authors in late antiquity, the Middle Ages, and the modern era. It presents Origen as a systematic philosopher who emphasized individual freedom and human dignity. The author suggests that future research should focus on Origen's biblical exegesis, his relationship with his patron Ambrose, and the intersection of his work with pagan grammatical tradition. The volume is recommended as a valuable resource for those interested in studying Origen. [Extracted from the article]

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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Knowledge production is by no means neutral; it perpetuates existing presuppositions and exclusions. Within Catholic theology, this is accentuated by particular structures and institutions. In this article, I will show that exclusions are not changed by simply 'adding women'. I will proceed in four steps: First, I will examine the epistemic preconditions of knowledge production. Second, I will highlight concrete examples that show how several factors can change our reconstruction of theological history. This section will be organized around gender understandings in the premodern/Reformation era. Third, I argue for a specific understanding of theology which can be understood as a commentary on the respective context. Finally, I will summarize the conclusions with a concrete example. This article is situated in the context of the theological debates in the German-speaking world, which has a particular set of conditions for academic theology, such as the inclusion of theological faculties at state universities. However, it can certainly offer epistemic insights into postcolonial and gender-critical debates on theological contexts that are relevant beyond this specific context. Moreover, the article makes the current debate accessible to non-German-speaking audiences and in this way seeks to close 'data gaps' in international scholarship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]