Resilient religion: What good is religion for?

Good refers to the intrinsic value or telos (purpose) of religion. The author starts with the claim that religion keeps alive, in thinking, the awareness of ultimate meaning ("truth"); in actions, the focus on human dignity and the common good, and, in the heart of man, the longing for ful...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Hermans, C. A. M. 1955- (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
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Published: 2023
In: Acta theologica
Year: 2023, Volume: 43, Issue: 2, Pages: 54-71
Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains:B The Good / Telos (The Greek word) / Religion / Public good
IxTheo Classification:RA Practical theology
RJ Mission; missiology
Online Access: Presumably Free Access
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Summary:Good refers to the intrinsic value or telos (purpose) of religion. The author starts with the claim that religion keeps alive, in thinking, the awareness of ultimate meaning ("truth"); in actions, the focus on human dignity and the common good, and, in the heart of man, the longing for fulfilling happiness, peace of heart, and love. As spiritual beings, human beings transcend the given towards the telos or purpose of life. At the same time, human beings experience being thrown in the limits of time and space. When the synthesis between the self as open to the ultimate and the self as limited is not realised, human beings experience a heartbreaking adversity. The intrinsic value of religion is the promotion of this synthesis. The author analyses three mediating processes of resilience that promote the possibility of a synthesis: the recognition of contingency, the experience of fulfilling happiness, and the wonder of possibilisation (new beginnings). Finally, the author links resilience to the concept of God as creator.
ISSN:2309-9089
Contains:Enthalten in: Acta theologica
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.38140/at.v43i2.7788