Koncepcja cudu Johna Henry’ego Newmana na tle antytaumaturgicznego argumentu Davida Hume’a

Author(s): Piotr Cebula / Language(s): Polish Issue: 1/2016

W artykule podjęta została próba całościowego ujęcia koncepcji cudu w myśli Johna Henry’ego Newmana. W tym celu ukazano ją na tle głównej idei podważającej wiarygodność świadectw o cudach, a w konsekwencji prawdziwość cudów, którą sformułował David Hume. Kolejnym krokiem było przedstawienie ujęcia Newmana, które zawiera się w tradycji interpretacji natury tych zjawisk jako znaku. Oryginalny wkład Newmana w dyskusję na temat cudów przejawia się w podkreśleniu roli uprzednich prawdopodobieństw w ocenie wiarygodności tych świadectw. Inspirujące jest także powiązanie uprzednich prawdopodobieństw z dyspozycją religijno-moralną podmiotu poznającego. Wnioski Newmana podważają tezy Hume’a o bezzałożeniowej (neutralnej) ocenie zjawisk nadzwyczajnych. The following article is an attempt to outline the holistic vision of miracles as provided in John Henry Newman’s thought. The abovementioned concept was presented in relation to David Hume’s theory questioning the credibility of testimony on miraculous events that eventually led to prove the truth of miracles. Subsequently, Newman’s arguments concerning interpretation of the nature of miracles as signs. Here, Newman’s concept on the importance of antecedent probabilities in the assessment of testimony credibility could be seen as an original contribution to the dispute on miracles. Moreover, the relation between antecedent probabilities and personal disposition, both religious and moral one as such, is developed. The conclusions drawn by Newman serve to undermine the theory advocating the neutral assessment of supernatural facts as provided by Hume.

DR. BUZOGÁNY DEZSŐ EGYETEMI TANÁR KÖSZÖNTÉSE

Author(s): János Molnár / Language(s): Hungarian Issue: 1/2017

Nagytiszteletű Professzor úr, kedves Dezső, a címzetes tanárok között én vagyok a legidősebb. Rég volt, amikor sokáig én vol¬tam a legfiatalabb. Most már ez egészen másként van, s épp ezért nekem jutott az a meg¬tiszteltetés, hogy 60. születésnapod alkalmából köszöntselek Téged, mint aki korban köz¬vetlenül utánam következel. A személyiséglélektannal foglalkozók azt mondják, hogy a 60 év az idős kor kez-dete. Erről mondja a Prédikátor elég pesszimistán azt, hogy egy olyan időszaknak a kez¬dete, amikor a halmocskáktól is fél az ember, mert a sáska nehezen vonszolja magát, a mandulafa megvirágzik, és kipattan a kapor. Vajon így igaz ez?!

A MAROSI REFORMÁTUS EGYHÁZMEGYE 1927. ÉVI KETTÉOSZTÁSA (A BEKECSALJAI REFORMÁTUS EGYHÁZMEGYE LÉTREJÖTTE)

Author(s): Árpád Róbert Berekméri / Language(s): Hungarian Issue: 1/2017

The territory of the Reformed Diocese of Maros was modified in 1927, this being the second significant change in its history. In 1641, several parishes have left the diocese to form the Reformed Diocese of Görgény. The managing of a diocese, which by the first half of the 20th century represented 125 parishes, became a difficult task for the governing body. The idea of a territorial division came up in 1918, but only in 1922 was a decision made by the board of the Diocese. The lengthy splitting procedure, approved by the Board of Directors, ended on April 20, 1927, with the formation of the Reformed Diocese of Bekecsalja. Lajos Kolozsvári became the Dean of the new Church organization and Dr. László Dósa lawyer became the churchwarden. The Board of Directors rejected the appeal made against the election, and confirmed the new governing body of the Diocese on May 24, 1927. While the new diocese was not recognized by the Ministry of Culture and while neither the state nor the Board of Directors gave any aid for the settling in arrangements, the functioning of the diocese had to be managed through its own available budget.

AZ ERDÉLYI ORGONATÁJ FOTOGRÁFUSA –BUZOGÁNY DEZSŐ ORGONAKÉPEI (MOZAIKOK, NEM CSAK ZENÉRŐL)

Author(s): István Dávid / Language(s): English,Hungarian Issue: 1/2017

To take a photo inventory of the Transylvanian organs is not only a musical or artistic challenge. It is more important to have friendly relations between the organist – like researcher of the instrument – and the photographer of these marvellous artistic facades. In this article there are presented some pleasant mosaics, memories, remembrances from the past, about the beginning and getting stronger of such a professional collaboration with new and new experiences. In the book Organ-Monuments in Transylvania written by the organist István Dávid, there are more than 30 photos in the Picture Index, each made by prof. Dezső Buzogány. The number of offered photos was much more, some of them with historic value, as the situation changed ever since. This article included 6 Buzogány-photos from the Transylvanian Organ Landscape, made years ago, by the young pastor of Selye and Ádámos Reformed Congregations. And you will find here 6 organs, with a short history of each other as: Segesvár (Sighişoara), Ádámos (Adămuş), Agyagfalva (Lutiţa), Medgyes (Mediaş), Siménfalva (Şimoneşti), Kolozsvár (Cluj).

ILENCFALVI SZÁSZ GERŐ (1831–1904) KÉZIRATOS HAGYATÉKÁNAK FELDOLGOZÁSA

Author(s): Miklós Geréb / Language(s): Hungarian Issue: 1/2017

Szász Gerő was one of the most determining figures of the Transylvanian Re-formed Church during the last quarter of the 19th century. He was dean in Ko-lozsvár, editor of the Prédikátori Tár (an omnibus volume of 35 Transylvanian preachers) and also editor of Erdélyi Protestáns Közlöny (the main, official newspaper of Transylvanian Reformed Church at that time.) Later he was elected vice bishop, and he stood very close to becoming even bishop of the church. His career, unfortunately, was broken when he lost the reliance of bishop Szász Domokos. He also wrote many poems, however, by publishing them, he never scored full marks from critics. We can admire his portrait also looking to the statue of King Matthew in Kolozsvár, since one of the king’s captains was modelled by Szász Gerő. We can find his manuscripts at the Central Archives of Transylvanian Reformed Church under mark „F2”.This short essay aims to introduce how many and what kind of sermons we can find between Szász Gerő’s manuscripts and to show the circumstances of their formation, and the author’s attitude to bible-passages has used.

HOGYAN LEHETETLENÍTSÜNK EL ANYAGILAG EGY KOLLÉGIUMOT? – A NAGYENYEDI REFORMÁTUS KOLLÉGIUM CSŐDJÉNEK OKAI AZ 1870-ES ÉVEKBEN –

Author(s): Olga Lukács / Language(s): Hungarian Issue: 1/2017

In the time following the revolution, the Nagyenyed College (Main Study Institution) rose just like a phoenix and, because of good organization, in the 1860s it has gained fame once again. In 1868, however, another turn of events put an end to its good financial situation and recovery. This event had a great impact on the future development of pastors’ education. So much so that the turn of events itself brought into question the survival of the institution and its competence in theological education. To keep track of the presented events, a brief description of the economic situation, the supervision and the operation of the Main Study Institution is needed.In Transylvanian Reformed schools the supervision of the church district was carried out by the School Leadership Board made up of the curators and the school teachers. Within the limits of religious legislation, the Board had disposal of all school income. Each year, this body presented a report on the school’s financial situation to the Church District Administrative Council. Property sale or acquisition was only possible with the consent of this Council.From the revolution to 1868, a church district trustee – the so called inspector-curator –, Ferenc Fosztó handled the financial affairs of the college alone, the school leadership having little to say in the matter.After 1868, a teacher – the so called inspector-professor –, Dániel Kasza took over handling the financial situation of the school. Apart from the current affairs, Kasza handled all matters with the consent of the School Board, having to report to it. In the period of Dániel Kasza the financial situation of the college flourished. Without lessening the school’s capital, three new teachers’ homes were built, teachers’ salaries were raised, new departments were created, the best students could go abroad on scholarships, new properties and agricultural equipment was bought. However, following Kasza’s death, no teacher wanted to take on the work that he has done with great commitment, for free. In this period, wasting and selfishness has grown to such proportions that the college was on the brink of financial collapse.The study presents those events which lead to the near bankruptcy of the Nagyenyed College by 1879. It presents the debates and lawsuits, which were proven to be barren initiatives and in the end, no one could be held accountable.During the stormy debates on the financial situation of the Nagyenyed College, the Ferencz József University was established and solidified in Kolozsvár (Cluj). These two facts highly influenced the new dilemma of the next two decades, which, apart from the financial collapse of the Nagyenyed College, aimed at moving the education of Reformed pastors to Cluj. As a final closure of the debate, pastors’ education was finally moved to Cluj in 1895.

ZSARNAY LAJOS TEOLÓGIÁJA

Author(s): Marianna Bátoriné Misák / Language(s): Hungarian Issue: 1/2017

Zsarnay’s theological thinking was eclectic. Even though he considered supranaturalism the only valid direction, still the interpretations of several doctrines bear the theology and formulation of Schleiermacher. He made it obvious that the views of rationalism are far from his views, and still, according to some suppositions, its doctrines can be found also in his formulations. He was not familiar with the Hungarian line of the theological liberalism, but it doesn’t mean that the German liberal thinking did not reach him. But according to our convictions, these views were far from him. He was looking for his own path, while he was open, but also critical towards the theological thinking of his time.

„A MAGA KÉPÉRE...” – MISSZIONÁRIUSOK FOTOGRÁFIÁI MINT AZ EGYHÁZTÖRTÉNET FORRÁSAI

Author(s): Károly Zsolt Nagy / Language(s): Hungarian Issue: 1/2017

„The picture speaks for itself” – says the proverb, but how do we hear what it says and how do we understand its words? We are now in the age of visual information where visual content plays a role in every part of life. But we do not spend enough time looking at the pictures in detail. We spend a flash of time with them, and the pictures do not affect our consciousness, but our emotions. From this follows the question of how can we, as social scientists extract the contents of the photos? How can a photo be the source of the church history? This essay cannot, of course, give a perfect answer to the question, but it gives a brief introduction to the so-called „skills of visual literacy”, based on some photography relevant to Church history.

NÉHÁNY ADAT A TÖRTÉNELMI DÉSI, SZÉKI ÉS A GÖRGÉNYI REFORMÁTUS EGYHÁZMEGYÉK ORGONÁIRÓL

Author(s): Dávid Sipos / Language(s): Hungarian Issue: 1/2017

During our research between 2010-2015 in the above mentioned Reformed Dioceses we found a quite large number of curiosities about the history of the organs in the churches of these dioceses. In many cases we could set the mismatching data rights, we found information about organ builders, dates of construction etc. Although the most interesting part of this research is the repertoire of the organs, we would not recommend for every day reading: the reader can be put to sleep by the flow of the information. But it is worth for the reader to get acquainted with a few of these curiosities, interesting stories about a few organs in these three dioceses. In the following pages we will present a few interesting details about the organs in Dej (Dés), Ocna Dej (Désakna), Dămăcușeni (Domokos), Chiochiș (Kékes), Vaida Cămăraș (Vajdakamarás), Suseni - Filipișu Mic (Marosfelfalu - Kisfülpös), Brâncovenești (Marosvécs).

A KOLOZSVÁRI REFORMÁTUS TEOLÓGIAI FAKULTÁS KÖNYVTÁRÁNAK IRATGYŰJTEMÉNYÉRŐL

Author(s): Gábor Sipos / Language(s): Hungarian Issue: 1/2017

After 1895, documents of archival character got to the library of the Protestant Theological Faculty. Papers of pastors were filed here with the intention of maintenance, dioceses and parishes also transferred old documents. Writings taken away from the archive of Supremum Consistorium on purpose to carry on research work got here, too. A part of the Sombori family’s records was filed here in 1940. The collection comprising 449 papers dating from the 16th–20th centuries was docketed by Nagy Géza, professor of theology in 1951, who arranged the documents according to chronological order. In 1979 the collection rolled in The Archive of the Transylvanian Protestant Church District, in the course of its classification we have sorted the papers according to provenance, the writings loaned were put back to their original places.

AMIKOR (KOLLEKTÍV) BŰN VOLT MAGYARNAK LENNI A FELVIDÉKEN

Author(s): Alfréd Somogyi / Language(s): Hungarian Issue: 1/2017

After the second world war, the plan was to create a nation-state from the renewed Czechoslovakia. The head of the state, Edvard Beneš’s intention was, to make the Germans and Hungarians, living in the country, disappear. He blamed these two nations, and the German and Hungarian minorities living in Czechoslovakia for the collapse of the country in 1938. The creation of a nation-state was supported by the Great Powers. In 1945, the Red Army liberated the former territories of Czechoslovakia and in the absence of a central government, Edward Beneš started to rule by issuing presidential decrees. He issued 143 decrees, amongst them those proclaiming the collective war crime of Germans and Hungarians, loss of their citizenship, confiscation of their properties, and it sent them to forced labour. This started their expulsion from their homeland. Hungarians were deported to Czech territory, then expelled to Hungary, finally forcefully resettled to Hungary in exchange for Slovaks living in Hungary. The plan was to "shift" 400.000 Hungarians to Hungary. In the end, 90.000 people were deported, out of them 50.000 of reformed religion. This paper deals with the effects of the deportations, resettlements from the reformed church’s point of view.

KERESZTELŐ JÁNOS ÉS TANÍTVÁNYAI

Author(s): Lehel Lészai / Language(s): Hungarian Issue: 1/2017

John the Baptist and his disciples have an exceptional importance for our research, because chronologically and in other important ways, they are very close to Jesus and his disciples. Their chronological proximity is proven by their almost simultaneous conception, their activity, and finally their execution. John the Baptist prepared the way for Christ through his ministry. He gathered disciples and taught them to pray. He fasted together with his disciples. We have to leave open the question of his contact with Qumran and his relationship to the Essenes. In some respects there are similarities between him and Jesus, but there cannot be denied the differences, first of all regarding the ascetic way of life. Because of his uncompromising preaching and the upholding of the banner of truth he had to suffer a violent death. Through his death he becomes a part of the prophet’s fatal destiny.

NEVELÉSI MODELLEK A PÉLDABESZÉDEK KÖNYVÉBEN

Author(s): János Molnár / Language(s): Hungarian Issue: 1/2017

The study draws up, describes and presents education models demonstrating the book's pedagogical topicality in the present pedagogical activity. The study also treats issues of history of literature, authorship and genesis period as well as issues regarding the origin of the collection found in the book. It details the notion of Hebrew wisdom, the activity of the wise who teach, respectively the initial phases of the subsequently funded schools. The study specifies and presents five education models: nursing, guiding, ruling, supporting self-development and social sensitivity.The author emphasizes and illustrates the pedagogical topicality of the book.

VALLÁSOS NEVELÉS ÉS A GYERMEKKÉP ALAKULÁSA A REFORMÁCIÓ KORÁBAN – FELADATOK AKKOR ÉS MOST -

Author(s): Gabriella Márta Gorbai / Language(s): Hungarian Issue: 1/2017

The spread of Protestant reformation in Europe brought about a qualitative and quantitative change in schooling. At the same time, the various forms of religious revival changed the parent-child and adult-child relationships as well, which is referable to the fundamental importance attributed to the role of family in religious education. In this study we analyze the view of children in the age of reformation; we try to establish whether the increased attention given to children was indeed prompted by religion; we look for the explanation of the fact that protestant communities have shown a form of care that was different from what was customary before that time.As a conclusion we can draw comparison between then and now, since our problems, aims and tasks regarding the realization of religious education are in many ways similar to the challenges faced by our great ancestors in the age of reformation.

HAGYOMÁNYŐRZÉS ÉS ÚJÍTÁS ÖSSZJÁTÉKA AZ ERDÉLYI REFORMÁTUS EGYHÁZBAN AZ 1989-ES VÁLTOZÁSOKAT KÖVETŐEN

Author(s): Sarolta Püsök / Language(s): Hungarian Issue: 1/2017

We often encounter the conflict of innovation and tradition, but the churches cannot give up their own traditions, because it would contradict their self-definition. Paradoxically the reformed tradition is the innovation and constant renewal, but not in the sense of being trendy and being identic to the spirit of the age. Reformation means reforming the deviant ideas and way of life, it means going back to the center, to the Word (of God). After the changes in ‘89, major social changes occurred in Transylvania, the reformed community was also hit by the will of altering. It is important to see clearly the difference between the rightful and delusory expectation. The study seeks an answer to the question, how is it possible to transmit and renew our values in the reformed way (under the principle of Sola Scriptura). The present writing discusses only the following approaches of the question: liturgic reforms, sacred space, the relationship of form and content, sacral language, social engagement of the church and pastors etc.

BARTÓK GYÖRGY KÉZIRATA, MINT RAVASZ LÁSZLÓ FORRÁSA

Author(s): Szabolcs Szetey / Language(s): Hungarian Issue: 1/2017

The most influential homiletical book of the later reformed bishop, Ravasz László (The Theory of the Congregational Preaching Ministry – Homiletics, Pápa, 1915) had and has been respected and adapted by many scholars and ministers for more than one century since its publication. In the theological research, all sources of Ravasz’ book have not yet been clearly identified and clarified. A manuscript, mainly written in 1895/1896 by Bartók György (1845–1907), Ravasz’s later father in law and deputy professor of theology in Nagyenyed, coincides with more parts of Ravasz László’s book in several cases concerning the history of preaching in the Christian Church and in the Hungarian Reformed Church. The manuscript, described and analysed in this study, shows also the working method of the young professor Ravasz. The results of this paper contribute to the revaluation of the epochal work of Ravasz László and to the research of history of homiletics and preaching.

SANCTUARE ÎN LUMEA GERMANICĂ ŞI NORDICĂ ÎN EPOCA FIERULUI

Author(s): Alexander Rubel / Language(s): English,Romanian,German Issue: 1/2011

During the Iron Age Germanic tribes used mainly open air sanctuaries, such as holy groves or spring sanctuaries for sacrifice. This article describes such open air sanctuaries and their use by the worshippers according to the sources and reconstructed with the help of the archaeological evidence. Closer attention is paid to the complex practice of human sacrifice, which has attracted the attention of scholars since the 18th century.

THE PURIFYING FIRE IN THE ROMANIAN PREHISTORIC BURIALS

Author(s): Alexandra Comşa / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2011

Ако някога те забравя, Йерусалиме...

Author(s): Iskra Hristova Shomova / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 02/2017

Znamiona państwa wyznaniowego – uwagi na kanwie dorobku współczesnego konstytucjonalizmu

Author(s): Paweł Borecki / Language(s): Polish Issue: 20/2017

The analysis of contemporary constitutions indicates that the number of religious states is slowly decreasing. However, we are confronted with the opposite tendencies. The model of the religious state is characteristic primarily of Muslim countries of the Near and Middle East and of a number of Southeast Asian countries. In the last decades, the number of Christian states and secular ideological states has declined significantly. There is a stable group of states with Buddhism as a privileged religion. The religious constitutional norms of confessional states are generally characterized by a high degree of generality. Detailed provisions are rare. Denominational clauses are included primarily among the supreme principles of the constitution. Underlying the religious character of the state is the rejection of the neutrality of the worldview. It is not possible, on the basis of the constitution alone, to reconstruct a detailed, universal model of the religious state. In the light of fundamental laws, the most common characteristics of religious states are: the negation of the neutrality of the state in worldviews, the acceptance of a particular religion as the official religion, the rejection of the equality of religious associations, the requirement of a state religion or belief towards the head of the state, the state support for a given confession. The constitutions of the majority of religious states formally provide for religious freedom. In the fundamental laws of some Muslim states, the formal guarantees for this freedom are, however, absent. The organizational unity of the state and religious apparatus is not characteristic of the sphere of Western political culture. The socio-political reality of contemporary religious states indicates that this model of statehood can not be a priori regarded as contrary to the principles of democracy and human rights.