Walter Kern (theologian)

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Walter Kern SJ (born January 10, 1922 in Haslach im Kinzigtal , † January 24, 2007 in Innsbruck ) was a German-Austrian fundamental theologian and religious.

As co-editor of the Handbuch der Fundamentaltheologie (1985–1988; 2nd edition 2000), founder of the Karl Rahner Archive Innsbruck and founder of Innsbruck theological studies , he has gained notoriety beyond his close academic work.

Life

Kern joined the Society of Jesus in 1945 and was ordained a priest in 1955 .

He studied philosophy at the Berchmanskolleg in Pullach and in Rome and received his doctorate in 1952. In 1956 he received his doctorate in theology at the Leopold-Franzens-University in Innsbruck . In Pullach he then taught the history of philosophy and the philosophical doctrine of God with the philosophy of religion and parallel to this from 1964 to 1968 systematic philosophy at the Philosophical-Theological University of Freising . From 1969 until his retirement in 1989 he was full professor for fundamental theology at the University of Innsbruck.

After his retirement he worked as a pastor and religion teacher and continued his editing and publication work. After his stroke in 1998, he spent the last years of his life in a sanatorium.

Appreciations

In various obituaries it was emphasized that Kern was a “passionate scientist” who “lectured the 'Introduction to Christianity' and 'Fundamental Theology' with the greatest energy” and thus inspired students for Christianity and science.

Walter Kern was convinced that the impulse for freedom of the Gospel of Jesus Christ was the origin of modernity. "He believed that knowing about these connections - the connections between Christianity and modernity - can protect people from dehumanizing idolatry: from barbarism." He was a fundamental theologian as an advocate of philanthropic modernity, and thus also as an advocatus of humanity.

Works

Monographs

  • History of European Philosophy in Modern Times. (2 volumes) Pullach 1969
  • Old Faith in New Freedom: Speeches and Lectures. Innsbruck u. a .: Tyrolia 1976 ISBN 3-7022-1238-8
  • Atheism, Marxism, Christianity: contributions to the discussion. Innsbruck u. a .: Tyrolia 1976 ISBN 3-7022-1253-1
  • Jesus, Center of the Church: Spiritual Essays. Innsbruck u. a .: Tyrolia 1979 ISBN 3-7022-1334-1
  • Dispute about Jesus and about the Church: aspects, reflections. Innsbruck u. a .: Tyrolia 1980 ISBN 3-7022-1389-9
  • together with Franz-Josef Niemann: Theological Knowledge. Düsseldorf: Patmos 1981 ISBN 3-491-77251-6
  • Spirit and Faith: Fundamental Theological Mediations between Man and Revelation. Innsbruck u. a .: Tyrolia 1992 ISBN 3-7022-1839-4

Editing

Magazine articles

  • Hegel divided by two , in: Voices of the Time , Volume 171, 1962, Issue 2, pp. 147–152.
  • Hegel seen theologically and differently , in: Voices of the Time, Volume 189, 1972, Issue 2, pp. 125-133.
  • Christianity and Christology. On books by H. Küng and W. Kasper , in: Voices of Time, Volume 193, 1975, Issue 8, pp. 516–528.
  • Karl Rahner's "Basic Course in Faith". A small introduction to a large introduction , in: Voices of the Time, Volume 195, 1977, Issue 5, pp. 326–336.
  • A hundred years of theology. On the anniversary of Innsbruck's " Journal for Catholic Theology " , in: Voices of the Time, Volume 196, 1978, Issue 10, pp. 651–664.
  • Enlightenment. On their prehistory and early history in England , in: Voices of the Time, Volume 207, 1989, Issue 8, pp. 566–569.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Obituary ( memento of September 28, 2007 in the Internet Archive ) of the Conference of Superiorities
  2. ↑ Parte (obituary) of the University of Innsbruck in the Tiroler Tageszeitung from January 30, 2007 (pdf !; 108 kB) p. 33
  3. ^ Advocate of the Humanum - In memoriam Walter Kern Paragraph 3.
personal data
SURNAME Kern, Walter
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Kern, Walter SJ
BRIEF DESCRIPTION German-Austrian fundamental theologian and religious
DATE OF BIRTH January 10, 1922
PLACE OF BIRTH Haslach in the Kinzigtal
DATE OF DEATH January 24, 2007
Place of death innsbruck