Czy to już jest koniec świata? Próba odpowiedzi na pytanie w świetle eschatologii Hansa Ursa von Balthasara

Abstract

It seems that the recent events of the war in Ukraine, the worldwide economic crisis, climate change, and Covid 19 pandemic lead people to see in them the signs of the end of the world. This article is the attempt to consider current events in light of the faith in Christ and analyze the validity of the claim that we are nearing the end of the world. Instrumental in this endeavor will be the eschatology of Hans Urs von Balthasar – after the initial presentation of his view, the author presents Balthasar’s understanding of the end of the world and juxtaposes it with a view of an Italian theologian, Antonio Nitrola, who founds his view on eschatology on Parousia, the second coming of Christ. The article highlights the need of Christian understanding of preparation for death, and describes death as a personal end of the world, inevitable and necessary to be prepared for.