Joseph Ratzinger's "Kierkegaardian option" in "Introduction to Christianity"
Although scholars increasingly recognize the debts of twentieth-century Roman Catholic theologians to Søren Kierkegaard, no one has yet traced this influence to Joseph Ratzinger (Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI). As is frequently observed, Ratzinger's most famous book, Introduction to Christianity,...
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Contributors: | |
Format: | Electronic Article |
Language: | English |
Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
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Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
Published: |
[2019]
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In: |
International journal of philosophy and theology
Year: 2019, Volume: 80, Issue: 4/5, Pages: 390-407 |
Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains: | B
Kierkegaard, Søren 1813-1855
/ Reception
/ Benedikt, XVI., Pope 1927-2022, Einführung in das Christentum
/ God
/ Jesus Christus
/ Faith
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IxTheo Classification: | CB Christian life; spirituality KAH Church history 1648-1913; modern history KAJ Church history 1914-; recent history KDB Roman Catholic Church KDD Protestant Church NBC Doctrine of God NBF Christology VA Philosophy |
Further subjects: | B
Introduction to Christianity
B Contemporary Theology B Liberation Theology B Joseph Ratzinger B Christology B Modernity B Søren Kierkegaard B G.W.F. Hegel B Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI B Nihilism |
Online Access: |
Volltext (Resolving-System) |
Summary: | Although scholars increasingly recognize the debts of twentieth-century Roman Catholic theologians to Søren Kierkegaard, no one has yet traced this influence to Joseph Ratzinger (Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI). As is frequently observed, Ratzinger's most famous book, Introduction to Christianity, opens with a meditation on a Kierkegaardian parable from Either/Or. We argue that Ratzinger's use of Kierkegaard extends well beyond this opening image, to some central moments in his articulation of the idea of God, Christology, and theological anthropology. Upon closer inspection, we argue, Ratzinger's use of these arguments is owing to the fact that his diagnosis of the ills of contemporary society and the orientation of contemporary Christian theology is the same as that of Kierkegaard, despite their seemingly different contexts. Identifying the Kierkegaardian influence on Introduction to Christianity helps draw our attention to the necessarily ‘introductory' character of Christianity, which otherwise risks being lost. |
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ISSN: | 2169-2335 |
Contains: | Enthalten in: International journal of philosophy and theology
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Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1080/21692327.2018.1542612 |