Die Transzendenz als bestimmendes Merkmal der Person in der Anthropologie und der Pädagogik Johannes Pauls II

Abstract

John Paul II in his magisterial writings and papal teaching many times referred to the human being, whom he presented in a personal category. At the same time insisted that the major problem of modern civilization is a the wrong anthropology, which denies the spiritual dimension of human being. This wrong approach brings in consequences an instrumental treatment and disgraced human dignity. The human being as a person has the special value that should be affi rmed for his own sake, not for any other reason. The human as a being made in the image and likeness of God has a dignity of the person. John Paul II insists that a capacity for relationship with God is of the very essence of human being. God’s invitation to a shared life is a gratuitous, unmerited gift to man who from the beginning was made capax Dei. In these refl ections, John Paul II offers many insights about the nature of human identity and dignity. The relationship between human being and God is a guarantee of his dignity. For this reason, anthropology cannot keep only on what is immanent in human being, but applies also to the transcendence. Anthropology disconnected from the transcendent becomes something deeply inhuman. Depriving humanity of its most important dimension also deprives it from its full personal dynamism. Therefore, it appears appropriate to take in this article the issue of transcendence of the person, which is the foundation of anthropology and pedagogy presented by Pope John Paul II. Firstly, the need for portraying the human person as physical and spiritual being will be argued for presented. Then the paper will study the genealogy of humans in communion with the family. In the last part, the marriage as a community of man and woman will be discussed.