Father Dumitru Stăniloae, or the Theology of Naturalness
Father Dumitru Stăniloae, or the Theology of Naturalness

Summary/Abstract: This study argues that understanding Father Dumitru Stăniloae’s theology requires first exploring God’s work in his daily life. The central theme of this work revolves around “naturalness,” suggesting that Stăniloae’s theology is deeply embedded in the immediate, everyday human experience. His theology narrates the story of God’s entry into the “normal” aspects of human existence - a love story between man and God, unfolding simply, orderly, and naturally. This path of embracing the “naturalness” of God’s work becomes, as Stăniloae emphasizes, the way to elevate human life from its natural limitations to the boundlessness of God. The study follows the Apostle Paul’s counsel to “remember our leaders, those who spoke the word of God to you; consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith” (Hebrew 13:7), using Father Stăniloae’s life as a lens to approach his theology. The work is structured into four parts: 1. Dumitru Stăniloae as a person, 2. Theology brought closer to people, 3. Knowing God through life’s concrete circumstances, and 4. From person and communion to attention as closeness and the celebration of love. Through numerous quotations - both testimonies from those who knew him and excerpts from his theological writings - the study seeks to highlight the authenticity of his thought and invites readers to reinterpret his theology through the lens of the “naturalness” he proposed as the foundation of truth.

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