Isabel Troconis
Pontifical University of the Holy Cross - Rome, Theology, Department Member
One of Joseph Ratzinger’s main theological questions concerns the role that history plays in salvation. The reason for this is because of the significant implications that this question has for theological methodology and for ecumenism.... more
One of Joseph Ratzinger’s main theological questions concerns the role that history plays in salvation. The reason for this is because of the significant implications that this question has for theological methodology and for ecumenism. His reflections on this matter are an answer to the issues raised by what he calls a “discontinuous Christianity,” which is a particular interpretation of the Christian faith that eliminates any permanent relationship between salvation and history.
According to Ratzinger, this interpretation originated from the Protestant Reformation’s fear that the acceptance of a historical or created mediation of salvation undermines God’s transcendence.
This paper seeks to show that by giving origin to a relational and open ontology, Ratzinger’s Imago Dei Anthropology can pave the way for the possibility of a created and historical salvific mediation that does not jeopardize God’s infinite transcendence and, because of that, makes possible a reconciliation of ontology with salvation history.
According to Ratzinger, this interpretation originated from the Protestant Reformation’s fear that the acceptance of a historical or created mediation of salvation undermines God’s transcendence.
This paper seeks to show that by giving origin to a relational and open ontology, Ratzinger’s Imago Dei Anthropology can pave the way for the possibility of a created and historical salvific mediation that does not jeopardize God’s infinite transcendence and, because of that, makes possible a reconciliation of ontology with salvation history.
Research Interests:
Con el objetivo de defender la universalidad de la Revelación cristiana, el historicismo teológico adquirió una gran importancia en Alemania durante el siglo XIX. Tras explicar a grandes rasgos en qué consistió esta corriente y tras... more
Con el objetivo de defender la universalidad de la Revelación cristiana, el historicismo teológico adquirió una gran importancia en Alemania durante el siglo XIX. Tras explicar a grandes rasgos en qué consistió esta corriente y tras señalar algunas tensiones difíciles de resolver al interno de su marco conceptual, en el presente artículo exploramos algunos elementos de la cosmovisión y de la antropología de Joseph Ratzinger que podrían resultar especialmente útiles para resolver dichas tensiones.
// During the nineteenth-century, Theological historicism appeared in Germany with the aim of defending the universal validity of Christian Revelation. After examining the principal traits and internal tensions of this theological movement, in this paper we will examine some elements of Joseph Ratzinger’s understanding of human being and Creation that could shed light on the problematic aspects of Theological historicism.
// During the nineteenth-century, Theological historicism appeared in Germany with the aim of defending the universal validity of Christian Revelation. After examining the principal traits and internal tensions of this theological movement, in this paper we will examine some elements of Joseph Ratzinger’s understanding of human being and Creation that could shed light on the problematic aspects of Theological historicism.
