Człowiek jako byt społeczny. Zarys relacyjnej antropologii Christosa Yannarasa

Abstract

The mystery of human being has been always attracting attention of theologians, philosophers and thinkers. Christian theology, especially anthropology developing over last centuries, contributed a lot to the better understanding of what does mean to be a human being. We are aware today how dangerous might be any form of so-called „reductionistic” visions of man. Present day anthropology underlines very strongly that it is not possible to reduce man to one particular feature or aspect. Even Christian anthropology itself finds many different ways of describing the richness of the mystery of human being. Among some ways that are trying to look upon man from different angle, however without betraying biblical tradition, modern orthodox Greek anthropology is one of example worth to be examined closer. Author of the above article is trying to familiarise Polish theology with the main anthropological ideas of Christos Yannaras, one of the most popular contemporary Greek theologians. After exposing the importance of Christian anthropology in combating any „reductionistic” visions of man, the main Yannaras’ biographical details are given. In the third part of the article, the essential anthropological ideas are shown. Apophatic and relational way looking upon man created on the God’s image and likeness are the points of departure in our Author’s anthropology. In oppositions to the traditional Western anthropology, which in the accordance with Boetius’ insights seems to be too much centralised on individualism, he points out that it is Trinitology and Christology which should determine the ways of modern anthropology. God is the communion of living and loving persons. No true life can be found outside the event of communion. If God does exist as not self-centred being and man was created in His image, it means that true life is not reconcilable with any kind of individualism. Therefore, man in order to regain true life after fall has to renounce any sort of self-centred desires. It can be done only if he put his trust in God. The sincere and honest relation with God opens man to look upon himself as a gift to the others and vice-versa. Outside this relation with loving God man falls again in the trap of individualism, which can be seen as one of the main legacies of the original sin and the cancer of our modern society.