Theology of religion
The theology of religion or theology of religions addresses the self-understanding of Christianity in relation to non-Christian religions.
In classical Catholic fundamental theology , it forms the second tract, namely the "Tract on Revelation" ( demonstratio christiana ), in which the Christian religion as a religion of revelation is to be rationally justified (traditionally differentiated from other religions). Today the theology of religion deals with the determination of the relationship between Christianity and other religions and forms a theological concept of one's own Christian self-understanding in view of other religious self-understanding. In particular, the universal claim to truth , the possibility of attaining or mediating salvation and the mission are negotiated here. In a broader sense, the (applied) theology of religion also deals with the practical implementation of interreligious dialogue and the development of a (personal, dialogue-capable) attitude towards followers of other religious communities.
Formally, there is also the theology of Israel , the determination of the relationship between Christianity and Judaism or the people of Israel, and the Judeo-Christian dialogue on theology of religion.
In classical theology of religion, three models are distinguished for determining the relationship between Christianity and other religions:
- of exclusivism , therefore Christianity is the only access to the truth and is to salvation; all other religions are unbelief from which their followers should turn. This position was represented in modern times by the Protestant theologian Karl Barth ; For a long time the Catholic Church understood the sentence Extra ecclesiam nulla salus (Outside the Church there is no salvation) in this way.
- of inclusiveness , thus the fullness of truth and the cure is to be found in Christianity, but in other religions, especially the monotheistic religions Judaism and Islam , traces of the truth can be found, but they are ordered to the fullness of Christian truth. The Catholic Church takes this approach in the Council document Nostra aetate .
- the religion theoretical pluralism , at least thus some religions as basically possibly equivalent ways to the truth and to accept salvation, and so Christianity can claim no a priori superiority. A current representative of this direction is Paul F. Knitter .
Comparative theology and open theism are modern alternatives . Pluralism can also be justified by the fact that God as such cannot be recognized or captured in a religion, but religions only represent different ways or projections of addressing the "inexpressible mystery of God" approximate (cf. Negative Theology ). Another approach is offered by a theology of interreligious relationships , which, on the basis of New Testament patterns of ultimate justification, asks about the potential for constructive appreciation of the religious other.
Hans Kung's Project Global Ethic seeks a common in all major religions ethical to find core.
literature
- Statements of the Catholic Magisterium
- Nostra aetate . Declaration on the relationship of the church to non-Christian religions. (1965)
- Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue / Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples : Dialogue and Proclamation. Considerations and orientations VAS 102, Bonn 1991.
- Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith : Dominus Iesus . Declaration on the Uniqueness and the Universality of Salvation of Jesus Christ and the Church (2000)
- Representations
- Christian Danz, Friedrich Hermanni (ed.): Truth claims of the world religions. Contours of contemporary theology of religion. Neukirchen-Vluyn 2006.
- Reinhold Bernhardt: Inter-Religio Das Christianentum in relation to other religions (Contributions to a Theology of Religions 16), Zurich 2019.
- Henning Wrogemann : Theology of interreligious relationships. Religious theological ways of thinking, cultural studies inquiries and a new methodological approach , Gütersloh 2015.
