Fârâbî’nin Çokdilliliği ve Kopula

Author(s): Fatma Dore / Language(s): Turkish Issue: 54/2024

The copula is a linguistic unit that means bond, conjunction, relation, connector of the predicate to the subject in a proposition, and in logic expresssing judgement. In most Indo-European languages the main copula is a verb meaning to be such as to be in English or être in French. In ancient Greek, the language of Aristotle, the word είναι (einai), is the infinitive of the verb εἰμί (eimi), which has the third person singular ἐστί (esti) and is -dir in Turkish. Originally from what is now Kazakhstan, al-Fārābī drew on the work of Aristotle in his own work on logic, which he wrote in Arabic in accordance with the scientific understanding of the period. Although the Arabic, which belongs to the Semitic family of languages, is perfectly capable of combining words, it lacks an explicit copula. However, it was necessary to create one in order to translate Aristotle accurately, so earlier Arabic translators of his work had already proposed the terms هو (huwa) or الموجود (mawjūd) which were used in the form of يوجَد (yūjad), both derived from الوجود (wujūd), meaning “being, existing”, for an explicit copula. Similarly influenced by Aristotle to feel that to use of copula is necessary for the exposition of logic, there is a need for a use of a copula, al-Fārābī is clearly drawn to yūjad. What brings him to this position is his mutliligualism and his ethnicity. For in addition to his native Turkish language and the Arabic, his knowledge of the Indo-European languages of Sogdian and Fārsī gives him with an understanding of a verb meaning to be that is بودن (būdan) in Fārsī and which is cognate with Aristotle’s είναι (einai). The same sense is carried in Turkic languages, not through a verb as such, but rather through a predicate adjective, which in modern Turkish is var, but which also carries a meaning of to be present. With al-Fārābī’s ethnic Turkic background, as it is the similarities between “yujad” and the Turkic term “var” that make it so attractive to him.

Ewelina Szendzielorz: Twórczość mszalna Moritza Brosiga (1815–1887), Wydawnictwo SINDRUK-DIMK, Opole 2023, 498 s., ISBN 978-83-967882-7-6.

Author(s): Piotr Wiśniewski / Language(s): Polish Issue: 63/2024

Болничните параклиси като средоточие за извършване дела на милосърдието в здравните заведения

Author(s): Veselina Boteva / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 2/2024

Hospital Eastern Orthodox chapels, public state property, in the municipality and city of Plovdiv. Organization and provision through a hospital chaplaincy institution of social and charitable assistance, spiritual support to people in difficult life situations, as well as to provide comprehensive support aimed at medical, social, material, financial, spiritual and other assistance to people in need.

Phänomenologie und Offenbarung bei Jean-Luc Marion

Author(s): Josef Wohlmuth / Language(s): German Issue: 1/2024

The article explores the relationship between phenomenon and revelation, primarily on the basis of Being Given: Toward a Phenomenology of Givenness by Jean-Luc Marion. The focus is on Marion’s notion of givenness (inspired by Edmund Husserl), on which he bases his new type of phenomenology of givenness. In a critical discussion with Kant, it is shown that the so-called saturated phenomenon is neither constituted as an object nor can it be related back to an ego. The saturated phenomena show themselves of their own motion, they give themselves in their own non-reducibility. They can only be witnessed by the ego. Four types of such saturated phenomena are presented: event, idol, corporeity and icon. The highest degree of phenomenality is achieved in the phenomenon of revelation. Marion presents Jesus Christ as an example of a possible revelation. The manifestation of Jesus Christ stands for a phenomenon of revelation that unites all forms of saturation in itself, namely in the mode of paradox. The revelation in Jesus Christ is thus presented as a paradigm of a phenomenological revelation.

Der Begriff der Angst und die Theologie

Author(s): Jakub Sirovátka,Reinhold Esterbauer,René Dausner / Language(s): German Issue: 1/2024

Fears have increased in recent years, both individually and collectively. Such fears about one’s own existence can be interpreted in different ways: psychologically, sociologically or politically, but also philosophically or theologically. The article deals with the phenomenon of fear/anxiety from three perspectives on the border of philosophy and theology. In 20th century philosophy, Martin Heidegger defined anxiety as the basic human mood in which man is brought before the nothingness of his existence and thus before himself. This situation of anxiety gives rise to the question of one’s own authentic existence. Heidegger’s theory has become an essential theory of anxiety, not only within phenomenology, and has significantly influenced further discussion. Emmanuel Levinas reacted to Heidegger with frontal criticism. He placed anxiety in an ethical context and thus gave the term a new meaning. The article presents and contrasts both approaches by Heidegger and Levinas. This is followed by questions for theological thinking that arise from the two thinkers’ conceptions of anxiety. These are then discussed and explained theologically against the background of Rahner’s way of thinking and taken further. It can be seen that fear is not only a negative phenomenon that needs to be overcome, but that it can also be interpreted in a positive way. Anxiety is that which throws people back on themselves and thus poses the question of the meaning of their own lives with existential urgency. The need for meaning could therefore be seen as the source of the search for a personal God.

«Quale Europa cristiana e quale Lutero?» A proposito di un recente volume di F. Buzzi

Author(s): Ľubomír J. Žák,Nico de Mico / Language(s): Italian Issue: 1/2024

The article aims to draw attention to the book Quale Europa cristiana? La continuità di una presenza (Which Christian Europe? The Continuity of a Presence) by Franco Buzzi, a Milanese theologian and renowned scholar of the Lutheran Reformation. It particularly focuses on Buzzi’s intention to explore the relationship between Western Europe and Christianity, not only regarding the developments stemming from the birth and spread of Luther’s Reformation but also concerning the critique of Luther’s thought and reformist work, which continues to characterise certain strands of Catholic historiography and theology. At the core of this critique lies a twofold conviction: that Luther is the instigator of the division of Christianity and Europe, and that he is the primary cause of the decline of European Christendom. The article explains why Buzzi considers these convictions to be entirely unfounded and unjust. Moreover, it demonstrates that his interpretative stance offers important insights, enabling further progress in exploring the theme of ‘Europe and Christianity’ and examining the interconnection between the unity of Europe and the unity of Christianity.

"Philosophy Can Also Have Its Chiliasm.” Immanuel Kant’s Preparation for the Philosophical Project of Perpetual Peace

Author(s): Tomasz Kupś / Language(s): English Issue: 3/2024

In the following article I will discuss the context in which Kant used the theological concept of chiliasm. Kant introduced the concept of chiliasm to reflect the complexity of the feasibility of the idea of the highest good in the world. To achieve this, Kant made an effort to liberate chiliasm from an exclusively theological meaning and gave it a meaning consistent with his own philosophy. The introduction of the concept of “philosophical chiliasm” represents an alternative to the strategy of the realization of the idea of the highest good presented in Critique of Practical Reason. We need not think of the feasibility of the highest goals of morality as those guaranteed by God alone. Since at least 1784 Kant has made it clear that the feasibility of these goals is also conceivable on the basis of the guarantees of nature itself. Philosophical chiliasm is thus Kant’s original answer to the question of the feasibility of the idea of the highest good in the world. The final answer is given in Towards Perpetual Peace.

Religious Tolerance and Just War in the Writings of Stanisław of Skarbimierz and Paweł Włodkowic

Author(s): Juliusz Domański / Language(s): English Issue: 3/2024

God and Evil in Process Theism

Author(s): Petr Macek / Language(s): English Issue: 2/2024

If a good and almighty God exists, why do we register genuine evil? Whiteheadian process theology wants to assist Christian theology with philosophical theism that interprets God’s sovereignty and God’s creative and providential activity as being more in accord with both our everyday experience and God’s self-revelation in Jesus Christ than in the case of either traditional theism or “free will” theism.

PRINCIPATA E BALSHAJVE SI DHE ROLI I TYRE NË RIFORCIMIN E KISHËS KATOLIKE NË TROJET ARBËRORE

Author(s): Besim Morina / Language(s): Albanian Issue: 21-22/2024

The Balsha principality emerged as a state formation with significant political influence in the northern Arbëria territories in the early 1360s and became a weighty factor in economic, political, and military life. The Balsha’s possessions included a vast territory of Arbëria lands that stretched from the borders of Budva in the north to those of Himara in the south, from the Adriatic in the west to Kriva Rijeka and Kostur in the east. Their possessions also extended to the city of Peja, Prizren, and Kriva Rreka, near Novoberda. During the Balsha’s rule, religious objects were built in the areas around Lake Shkodra, in the region of Krajina, in Ulcinj, Tivar, and Budva. In present-day Kosovo, the influence of the Balsha principality also extended to the Christian organization. Thus, members of this family during the years 1375 to 1385 led the church councils in the Patriarchate of Peja. Also, during their time, the city of Prizren gained a Catholic bishop.

Propovăduirea mesajului evanghelic și comunicarea misionară în media digitală și mass-media religioasă

Author(s): Răzvan Brudiu,Cosmin Joițoiu / Language(s): Romanian Issue: 3/2023

Societal landscapes undergo a redefinition as individuals become consistently tethered to the virtual realm, reshaping communication norms. Beyond personal realms, the digital age permeates political spheres, influencing opinions and landscapes. Therefore, the widening digital divide underscores contrasting experiences, blurring collective norms as individuals oscillate between real and virtual realms, weaving a complex scheme of our contemporary existence. In exploring the intersection of the internet and happiness, studies identify happiness as a shared cornerstone, influencing social hierarchies and integration. Social media provides fleeting happiness, contributing to entertainment but also accumulating stress and negative aspects. While the general use of the internet is associated positively with happiness, excessive use, particularly among teenagers, correlates negatively. The European Union envisions digital competence encompassing technical skills, effective use of digital technologies, critical evaluation, and motivation for digital engagement. The shift towards a new knowledge society challenges individuals to attain digital fluency, creatively expressing themselves through digital channels. It is a fact that the distinction between online and offline behaviors shows greater digital communication openness, especially in spiritual communities. Governments aim to bridge the digital divide, ensuring equal access to media, the internet, and mobile communication. Certainly, paradigmatic structural changes reverberate across various layers of humanity, from communication to spirituality, that is why we are interested now in the analysis of the intersection between mass media and religion addresses challenges from both journalistic and theological perspectives. Specialists delve into this, outlining three patterns of interpenetration: the dilution of spiritual messages, deep symbiosis where mediatization is effective, and the emergence of metaphorical religions. Issues in journalistic coverage of religious themes faced by journalists include external constraints, the pursuit of sensationalism, and the temptation to compromise religious beliefs. For a better understanding of the phenomena, there is a need for contextual understanding and the recognition of cultural, social, national, and confessional peculiarities in journalistic practices. The communication strategies of the Romanian Orthodox Church are of great importance for accurate illustration of the discussed matter, with a focus on the Basilica Press Center's initiatives to adapt to the contemporary digital era. For this, it needs to be underscored the importance of visual and textual multimedia materials, the role of social networks, and the Church's openness to new research topics in the field. Not to be neglected is the actual trend of public trust in mass media, with a decrease in trust in the Romanian context. Overall, there is a requirement for a comprehensive exploration of the intricate relationship between mass media, journalism, and religion in the context of modern society. In this given context, the Church's mission involves also adapting its message to the challenges of the digital era, marked by information overload and technological stimuli. The timeless preaching of the Holy Scriptures persists as a vital aspect of the Church's missionary work, emphasizing the freedom of individuals to choose between good and evil in the eyes of God. The Apostles' glossolalia and Saint Apostle Paul's missionary efforts in Athens exemplify the early adaptation of the divine message to the specific needs of their times. But, in the contemporary context, digital communication introduces a complex interplay of masks and personas, the online self-presentation becoming a conscious act, maintaining consistency across various contexts. We see that the digital environment, once text-centric, now incorporates non-verbal elements, influencing the formation of online identity. The devaluation of printed words in favor of images aligns with the evolving nature of online communities, so the dynamics of online communication highlight the need for critical discernment and an awareness of the evolving nature of identity formation in the digital realm. The Romanian Orthodox Church addressed with discernment the implications of communication digitalization, emphasizing the extended mission in the cultural and informational environment. In the context of a world characterized by consumerism and the loss of Christian values, we must concentrate our efforts on catechesis and religious education, with a particular focus now on young people.

Sf. Efrem Sirul despre femei din Vechiul Testament: Eva, Sara, Tamara și soția lui Putifar

Author(s): Sebastian Brock / Language(s): Romanian Issue: 3/2023

Radio Free Europe’s Polish Broadcasting Service vis-à-vis the Millennium and Church - State Relations (1965-1966)

Author(s): Evelina Kristanova / Language(s): English Issue: 2/2024

This article presents an analysis of selected broadcasts by Radio Free Europe’s Polish Broadcasting Service on the 1966 celebration of the Millennium of the Christianisation of Poland, against the background of the relationship between the Church and state. The source material consists of programmes available online on the Radio Liberty website and articles published in the monthly magazine Na Antenie/On Air from 1965 to 1966. The author's intention is to show the role and meaning of radio broadcasts vis-à-vis the Millennium Poloniae celebrations, which were of a religious and political nature. The radio station, under the direction of Jan Nowak-Jeziorański, defended the authority of Primate Stefan Wyszyński against communist propaganda, while serving as the only source of information for audiences in the country with respect to the Novena initiated in 1956, which culminated in the Millennium. Aside from RFE’s political objectives, the broadcasts served to counter the propaganda and the campaign against the Church and to break the media monopoly in the People’s Republic of Poland. Having a formative and integrative character, they also contributed to the preservation of the listeners’ religious identity.

Katolickie ujęcie problematyki małżeństwa i rodziny w pracach pedagogicznych Janusza Homplewicza (1931–2006)

Author(s): Jolanta Lenart / Language(s): Polish Issue: 67/2024

CEL NAUKOWY: Celem artykułu jest zaprezentowanie koncepcji katolickiego ujęcia problematyki małżeństwa i rodziny w dorobku naukowym profesora Janusza Homplewicza.PROBLEMY I METODY BADAWCZE: Autorka poszukuje odpowiedzi na pytanie, jaki model małżeństwa i rodziny jest obecny w przekazie pedagogicznym Janusza Homplewicza oraz jak opisuje role męża i żony/ojca i matki w przeobrażającej się rodzinie. Wykorzystano metodę analizy dorobku publikacyjnego Janusza Homplewicza w obszarze pedagogiki rodziny.PROCES WYWODU: Przedstawiono model rodziny katolickiej jako środowiska życia i wychowania. Główną uwagę skupiono na wartościach wyznaczających funkcjonowanie rodziny, wzajemnych relacjach jej członków oraz procesie wychowania dzieci. Dopełnieniem wywodu uczyniono kwestie dojrzewania do odpowiedzialnego życia rodzinnego i społecznego, w tym dojrzewanie do starości.WYNIKI ANALIZY NAUKOWEJ: Edukacja prezentująca modele życia rodzinnego i wzorcowe relacje małżeńskie pozwala młodym ludziom kształtować model swojej przyszłej rodziny i pożycia małżeńskiego oraz dokonywać właściwych wyborów w tym zakresie.WNIOSKI, REKOMENDACJE I APLIKACYJNE ZNACZENIE WPŁYWU BADAŃ: Istnieje potrzeba rozwijania u młodych ludzi emocjonalnej i duchowej dojrzałości do małżeństwa i wychowania dzieci poprzez dostarczanie i propagowanie właściwych wzorców życia w rodzinie, kształtowanie właściwych postaw małżeńskich i rodzicielskich, ugruntowanych wiedzą na temat odmienności psychiki kobiety i mężczyzny.

Pedagogika rodziny w badaniach ks. prof. Józefa Wilka

Author(s): Marek Jeziorański / Language(s): Polish Issue: 67/2024

CEL NAUKOWY: Celem naukowym artykułu jest zaprezentowanie specyfiki pedagogiki rodziny uprawianej przez ks. prof. Józefa Wilka (1937–2003), wieloletniego kierownika Katedry Pedagogiki Rodziny KUL.PROBLEM I METODY BADAWCZE: Problem główny tekstu sprowadza się do pytania, jakie są podstawowe zagadnienia tematyczne podejmowane w pracy naukowej Józefa Wilka, a metodą do jego rozwiązania jest hermetyczna analiza tekstów źródłowych.PROCES WYWODU: Spośród dorobku publikacyjnego Wilka wyodrębniono te teksty, które podejmują zagadnienie pedagogiki rodziny. Następnie uporządkowano je w ten sposób, by wyodrębnić podstawowe zagadnienia, charakteryzujące jego specyfikę prowadzenia badań naukowych. Starano się następnie ukazać podobne ujęcia obecne w literaturze naukowej.WYNIKI ANALIZY NAUKOWEJ: Przeprowadzone badania pozwalają wyodrębnić trzy podstawowe obszary zainteresowań Wilka, które składają się na uprawnianą przez niego pedagogikę rodziny. Są to: człowiek jako istota rodzinna, cechy wychowania rodzinnego oraz rodzina w kontekście społecznym.WNIOSKI, REKOMENDACJE I APLIKACYJNE ZNACZENIE WPŁYWU BADAŃ: Wyniki analizy naukowej pozwalają wnioskować o ciągłej aktualności podejmowanych przez ks. Wilka badań, szczególnie tych w obszarze antropologii („homo familiaris”). Należy również zwrócić uwagę na doniosłość aplikacyjną prezentowanych treści, o którą zabiegał sam profesor KUL. Wiele z proponowanych przez niego rozwiązań może służyć i dziś za pomoc w pracy wychowawczej, co również zaprezentowane zostało w artykule.

GCOD PRACTICE OF TIBETAN BUDDHISM TRANSMITTED BY THE MONGOLIAN MASTER DANZAN RAVJAA (1803–1856)

Author(s): Szymon Sztengiel / Language(s): Polish Issue: 3-4/2023

The renowned 19th-century monk and yogi Danzan Ravjaa is one of the main figures in Mongolia’s cultural and religious history. In this article, the translation of the Tantric ritual Chöd (Tib. gcod) carried out according to the meditational liturgy (Tib. sgrub thabs) composed by Danzanravjaa shall be presented. The tradition is still alive and practised regularly by both ordained and lay members of the Buddhist community in Mongolia. Two versions of the ritual text, one from a monastery and the other from a lay practitioner were obtained in 2021–22 and compared for the present work. Finally, the translation of the text based on the version obtained from Ulaanbaatar’s Urgyen Shedrub Ling (Tib. U rgyan bshad sgrub gling) monastery is presented.

IMAGE OF MARY OF BETHANY AN INSPIRATION FOR MYSTICISM

Author(s): Aleksandra Nalewaj / Language(s): English Issue: 25/2024

The purpose of this article is to attempt to interpret Mary's gesture at the feast in Bethany, that is, anointing Jesus' feet with precious nard and rubbing them with her hair (Jn 12:3). The act of Martha's sister and Lazarus is logically incomprehensible; moreover, it breaks the conventions of the time. In the following steps, we will discuss the closer and further context of the pericope Jn 12:1-11, followed by the ritual of anointing in the ancient world. Analysing the Johannine text from an exegetical and theological angle will allow us to reveal Mary's role in the narrative as servant and disciple. Recognising the bridal metaphor in Jn 12:1-11 brings out the meaningful depth of the text. The image of the contemplative and generous Mary, symbolising the Church as the bride of Christ, is an inspiration for mysticism.

ŚWIĘTA MARIA EGIPCJANKA – PROSTYTUTKA, PUSTELNICA, MISTYCZKA

Author(s): Bazyli Degórski / Language(s): Polish Issue: 25/2024

The Life of Saint Mary of Egypt was written between 354 and 431 and initially attribu­ted to Sophronius of Jerusalem. From the 6th century onwards, Eastern monks presented the story of the saint. In the West, it became known through Paul the Deacon’s translation of the Vita S. Mariae Aegyptiacae into Latin.Initially, Mary of Egypt led a lustful life, indulging in pleasures. Thanks to the help of grace and a determination to change, she embraced the severely austere life of a hermit, mourning her former sinful conduct for 47 years. The Mother of God for the penitent was a great help in this life and fi­ghting carnal temptations. Mary became a model for St. Zosimus, who witnessed her holiness in the desert and the mystical states granted to her by God, including the gift of prophecy and levitation.The story of Mary of Egypt can be classified as one of the lives of the desert mothers, for this saint reflects the testimony of an ascetic path, that is, the total abandonment of the world in favour of seclusion in the desert. Some scholars believe that the Vita S. Mariae Aegyptiacae was written on the model of Jerome’s Vita S. Pauli monachi Thebaei.Mary of Egypt was a prominent figure in the female monastic tradition, but it appears from exi­sting manuscripts that she was more celebrated in male monasteries. The figure of the hermit saint emphasises the woman’s independence: she is a teacher, a prophetess, a mystic who instructs the monk-priest, and who surpasses the man in Christian perfection.

WIZJE ŚW. PERPETUY W ŚWIETLE WCZESNOCHRZEŚCIJAŃSKIEGO TEKSTU PASSIO SANCTARUM PERPETUAE ET FELICITATIS. PRZYCZYNEK DO BADAŃ HAGIOLOGICZNYCH

Author(s): Maria Piechocka-Kłos / Language(s): Polish Issue: 25/2024

The purpose of this publication is to present the vision of St Perpetua of Carthage as a contribution to further hagiological research into the experience of Christian faith, especially in the form of mystical experiences. Perpetua, together with Felicitas, is remembered, in the liturgical calendar of the Catholic Church, on 7 March. The first part of the publication explains the understanding of the term ‘vision’ and the life of St Perpetua based on the contents of the work Passio Sanctarum Perpetuae et Felicitatis. In the following sections, four visions of the Saint, experienced before her martyrdom, are discussed. Vision one describes Perpetua’s journey up a ladder symbolising martyrdom, at the end of which, in a heavenly garden, she encounters a man dressed in shepherd’s clothing, saying to her “You are welcome here, child”. In the second and third visions, Perpetua sees her dead brother Dinocrates, while in the last she fights a victorious battle in the arena against Satan in the form of an Egyptian. The story of Saint Perpetua described in the work is one of the most moving models of martyrdom from the reign of Septimius Severus. Unique in Christian literature, this work presents valuable information for modern hagiologists about the religious experiences of the martyrs themselves. St Perpetua’s visions appear as a scion of mysticism, which can be seen as a form of communication about the Christian value of human life.

Празникът като духовно-музикално събитие при българите католици от двата обряда (с посвещение на Петър Динев по повод 135 години от рождението му)

Author(s): Maya Raykova-Hildegard / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 1/2024

The Holy Liturgy is the expression of religious celebration within the Church. With regard to it, this article provides concise notes on the liturgical order used by Western and Eastern Catholics – specifically, the Roman rite for Western Catholics and the Byzantine rite for Eastern Catholics. It also discusses the types of celebrations in the history of the Church as to outline, though briefly, the origins of the modern peculiarities of the music that accompanies the two rituals.The Bulgarian Catholics have a distinctive culture and partly, aspects of everyday life that set them apart from their Eastern Orthodox countrymen. What is more, each Catholic community has unique ethno-cultural characteristics that have been shaped by the community’s interactions with West European Catholicism as well as it creation and development within the borders of Bulgaria.At the end of this article, on the occasion of the 135th anniversary of his birth, I have examined the theoretical and musical works of Petar Dinev, the great Bulgarian musicologist and theorist of Eastern Church music.