A Historical Perspective on Inclusivism as the Prevailing Paradigm in the Christian Theology of Religions

• Authors: Grzelak Krzysztof

Title variants

PL

Historyczne spojrzenie na inkluzywizm jako dominujący paradygmat w chrześcijańskiej teologii religii

• Languages of publication: EN

Abstracts

EN

The article first explains various perspectives on the world religions. Its main focus is on the inclusivist perspective as the most common approach in the debate on religions. Here special attention is given to the development of the Christocentric model in the Catholic Church referring first to the early Church Fathers and afterwards to Logos theology. The analysis shows that the theology of the Logos was always present in Catholic attitudes towards other believers throughout history alongside the exclusivist axiom extra ecclesiam nulla salus (outside the Church no salvation). Later, this inclusivist theology was echoed in the „fulfilment theory” of Jean Danielou, „anonymous Christianity” of Karl Rahner, the Second Vatican Council’s stand on other faiths, and in the post-conciliar official Church teaching. The article ends with evaluation of the complexity, challenges and unavoidable shortcomings of the Christocentric approach to other religions.

PL

Artykuł wyjaśnia różne spojrzenia na religie świata. Jego głównym celem jest analiza inkluzywizmu religijnego jako najbardziej powszechnego podejścia do innych religii we współczesnej debacie teologicznej nad religiami. Artykuł zwraca szczególną uwagę na rozwój modelu chrystocentrycznego w Kościele katolickim, odnosząc się najpierw do wczesnych ojców Kościoła, a następnie do teologii Logosu. Analiza pokazuje, że teologia Logosu w historii była zawsze obecna w katolickim podejściu do wierzących inaczej obok ekskluzywistycznego aksjomatu extra ecclesiam nulla salus (poza Kościołem nie ma zbawienia). Później ta inkluzywistyczna teologia znalazła swoje zastosowanie w „teorii wypełnienia” Jeana Danielou, w idei „anonimowego chrześcijaństwa” Karla Rahnera, w stanowisku II Soboru Watykańskiego w sprawie innych tradycji religijnych oraz w posoborowym oficjalnym nauczaniu Kościoła. Artykuł kończy się oceną złożoności, wyzwań i nieuniknionych słabych punktów chrystocentrycznego podejścia do innych religii.

Keywords

EN

world religions; interreligious dialogue; ecclesiocentrism; religious exclusivism; inclusivism; Christocentrism; „fulfillment” theory; „anonymous Christianity”; theocentrism; religious pluralism

PL

religie świata; dialog międzyreligijny; eklezjocentryzm; ekskluzywizm religijny; inkluzywizm; chrystocentryzm; teoria „wypełnienia”; „anonimowe chrześcijaństwo”; teocentryzm; pluralizm religijny

• Publisher: Wyższe Seminarium Misyjne Księży Sercanów
• Journal: Sympozjum
• Year: 2018
• Issue: 1(34)
• Pages: 161-192

Dates

published

2018-05-31

Contributors

author

Grzelak Krzysztof

• St. Joseph’s Theological Institute, Cedara – RSA

References

• Barth K., Church dogmatics, vol. 1, 2, Edinburgh 1965.
• Bronk A., Pluralizm religijny i prawdziwość religii, in H. Zimoń (ed), Religia w świecie współczesnym: Zarys problematyki religiologicznej, Lublin 2000, p. 605-631.
• Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Declaration Dominus Iesus, Rome 2000.
• D’Costa G., Christ, the Trinity, and religious plurality, in G. D’Costa (ed), Christian Uniqueness reconsidered: The Myth of a pluralistic theology of religions, New York 1990, p. 16-29.
• D’Costa G., The Meeting of religions and the Trinity, New York 2000.
• Danielou J., The Lord of history: Reflections on the inner meaning of history, London 1958.
• DiNoia J. A., The Diversity of religions: A Christian perspective, Washington 1992.
• Dulles A., World religions and the new Millennium: A Catholic perspective, in D. Kendall, G. O’Collins (eds), In many and diverse ways: In honor of Jacques Dupuis, New York 2003, p. 8-11.
• Dupuis J., Christianity and the religions: From confrontation to dialogue, New York 2002.
• Dupuis J., From religious confrontation to encounter, „Theology Digest 49 (2002), p. 103-108.
• Dupuis J., Toward a Christian theology of religious pluralism, New York 1997.
• Egan H. D., Karl Rahner: The mystic of everyday life, New York 1998.
• Geffré C., From the theology of religious pluralism to an interreligious theology, in D. Kendall, G. O’Collins (eds), In many and diverse ways: In honor of Jacques Dupuis, New York 2003, p. 45-59.
• Haight R., Review symposium on Paul Knitter’s Jesus and the other names: Christian mission and global responsibility, „Horizons” 24 (1997), p. 267-274.
• Hellwig M. K., Christology in the wider ecumenism, in G. D’Costa (ed), Christian Uniqueness reconsidered: The Myth of pluralistic theology of religions, New York 1990, pp. 107-116.
• Huang D. P., Christ, the one Saviour of the world: Reflections on our emerging Christological Question, „East Asian Pastoral Review” 34 (1997), p. 187-209.
• John Paul II, Encyclical Dominum et vivificantem, Rome 1986.
• John Paul II, Encyclical Redemptor hominis, Rome 1979.
• John Paul II, Encyclical Redemptoris missio, Rome 1990.
• Knitter P., Introducing theologies of religions, New York 2002.
• König F., Let the Spirit breathe, in D. Kendall, G. O’Collins (eds), In many and diverse ways: In honor of Jacques Dupuis, New York 2003, p. 14-17.
• KRAEMER H., Why Christianity of all religions?, London 1962.
• Küng H., On being a Christian, London 1977.
• Lane D., Vatican II. Christology and the world religions, „Louvain Studies” 24 (1999), p. 147-170.
• Lehmann K., Raffelt, A. (eds), Karl Rahner – The concept of faith: The best of Karl Rahner’s theological writings, New York 1993.
• Letter of the Holy Office to Archbishop Cushing of Boston, Rome 1949, in The Church Teaches: Documents of the Church, Kansas 1955, 274-275.
• Lubac de H., The Church: Paradox and mystery, New York 1969.
• Merrigan T., Exploring the frontiers: Jacques Dupuis and the movement „Toward a Christian theology of religious pluralism”, „Louvain Studies” 23 (1998), p. 338-359.
• Paul VI, Apostolic exhortation Evangelii nuntiandi, Rome 1975.
• Paul VI, Encyclical letter Ecclesiam suam, Rome 1964.
• Piryns E. D., Current Roman Catholic views of other religions, „Missionalia” 13 (1985), p. 55-61.
• Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, Reflection and orientations on interreligious dialogue and the proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ Dialogue and proclamation, Rome 1991.
• Rahner K., Christianity and the non-Christian religions, in Theological investigations, vol. 5, Later writings, London 1966, p. 115-134.
• Rahner K., Concerning the relationship between nature and grace, in Theological investigations, vol. 1, God, Christ, Mary and grace, London 1961, p. 297-317.
• Rahner K., Foundations of Christian faith: An introduction to the idea of Christianity, London 1978.
• Rahner K., Grace in freedom, London 1969.
• Rahner K., Nature and grace: Dilemmas in the Modern Church, London 1964.
• Rahner K., Observations on the problem of the „anonymous Christian”, in Theological investigations, vol. 14, Ecclesiology, questions in the Church, the Church in the world. London 1976, p. 280-294.
• Rahner K., On the importance of the non-Christian religions for salvation, in Theological investigations, vol. 18, God and revelation, London 1984, p. 288-295.
• Sullivan F., Salvation outside the Church? Tracing the history of the Catholic response, New York 1992.
• Tilley T.W., Christianity and the world religions: A recent Vatican document, „Theological Studies” 60 (1999), p. 318-337.
• Urban J., Dialog chrześcijaństwa z religiami pozachrześcijańskimi, in H. Zimoń (ed), Religia w świecie współczesnym: Zarys problematyki religiologicznej, Lublin 2000, p. 583-603.
• Vatican Council II, Constitution Gaudium et spes, Rome 1965.
• Vatican Council II, Constitution Lumen gentium, Rome 1964.
• Vatican Council II, Declaration Nostra aetate, Rome 1965.
• Vatican Council II, Decree Ad gentes divinitus, Rome 1965.
• Vatican Council II, Decree Unitatis redintegratio, Rome 1964.

Identifiers

DOI

10.4467/25443283SYM.18.008.9689