Hansa Waldenfelsa koncepcja teologii fundamentalnej kontekstualnej

Abstract

The German Jesuit Hans Waldenfels is considered to be the originator of the conception of fundamental contextual theology that he sees as a borderland discipline. He compares it to standing at the threshold of a house, as “the perspective of the threshold” allows ‒ in his opinion ‒ to assess properly what is going on inside the house, that is in Christianity, in the Church, as well as outside it. The threshold of a house should be the place where Christians (mainly Catholics) meet representatives of other religions and non-believers, and listening to the voices coming from both sides should become the basis for formulating an objective opinion. The perspective of borderland gives fundamental theology a tool for efficient communicating the Christian Revelation, which in the context of the modern world is made difficult by opposition (atheism, divisions inside Christianity, salutary offers from other religions), improper understanding (different horizons in the sender and the recipient of the message of the Gospel) and not overlooking Christ’s message (because of subjective disturbances in the speaking and listening subjects). The postulated efficiency of the promise of salvation “in the context” requires ‒ in the Bonn theologian’s opinion ‒ undertaking definite tasks, that is theological reflection in the apologetic, hermeneutic and dialogical aspects.