The article takes the issue of the image of God in the perspective of the relationships between faith and science. The structure of the article determines the three kinds of relationships between them. The first two are relations of conflict resulting on the one hand from the supremacy of faith over science, on the other - the reduction of faith by science. The third group of relations is the positions of dialogue and integration. Each relationship casts on the image of God. The consequence of the supremacy of faith over the science is the understanding of God as a distant, unknownable, inaccessible to man, and on the other as a tyrant who does not respect the autonomy, freedom and dignity of his creation. In the reduction of faith by science the image of God is twofold. On the one hand, God is reduced to the role of physics premise and assumption of the mechanics of the universe or to the Newtonian Watchmaker, and on the other is by science rejected as an unnecessary assumption. These claims of science are, however, included in the materialistic and atheistical position and going beyond their competences. The positions of dialogue and integration show that not only is no conflict between faith and science, but also that the results of science are the basis for a credible understanding of God’s image, which is consistent with his biblical image.
This article based on Avery Cardinal Dulles S.J. ecclesiological thought shows temporal dimension of catholicity of the Church. It is one of the lines of argumentation for the structural credibility of the Church, which demonstrates that the Church as a structure and in its structure preserves Divine Revelation and communicates it in time and space to everyone. Article shows catholicity of the Church in time, that means identity and continuity of the Church from creation to the end of time (fullness of Kingdom of God). According to Dulles the Church has different stages. In a visible form it finally emerged in Jesus’ live, death and resurrection and sending of Holly Spirit. Thanks to its sacramental structure Church is dynamical and in time it changes forms of its life to be a sign of salvation for all. Therefore the Church is one and simultaneously diverse, it has to fit to all times to realize mission to preach Jesus Christ. To the structure of the Church in this time dimension pertain elements pointing to the unity in diversity of the Church: Tradition (as a not only static but also dynamic communication of Divine Revelation), reform (as a verification of the Church’s mission and the elimination of distortions of its function), doctrine of the Church (constantly interpreted preserves contents of Divine Revelation in a changing historical and cultural contexts), authority in the Church (hierarchical, theological and charismatic; they preserve purity of the Church’s teaching and fidelity of Divine Revelation). These elements participate in the Church’s transmission of Divine Revelation and salvation in time, and are premises of an structural argument of credibility of the Church.
JavaScript is turned off in your web browser. Turn it on to take full advantage of this site, then refresh the page.