The Introspective Criticism in Maktubat of Imam Rabbani Ahmad Faroq Al-Sarhandi

Author(s): Ahmet Cahit Haksever / Language(s): English Issue: 2/2014

Criticism is important for the refinement and the maturation of any person or institution. Introspective criticism is more beneficial than outside criticism in the field of science. Islamic Mysticism has an extensive background of introspective criticism within Islamic science. These provide introspective critiques that are separated into two sections within Islamic mysticism. The first is the general introspective criticism which looks like a complaint. This kind of critique emerged from the third century (AH). The second type of introspective criticism is “deviation” and it is accepted as a tool for behavior and also for practices of criticism. Letters to the disciples of the Murshids contained questions from remote places which were answered. These letters are considered guides to introspective criticism.

Marx’ta Yanılsama ve İdeoloji Olarak Din

Author(s): Cevat Özyurt / Language(s): Turkish Issue: 2/2014

Marx has an important place among religion sociology theorists, although he did not directly write any papers that reported any analysis of religion. Instead, he expressed his thoughts on religion by criticizing the opinions by Hegel, Feuerbach, Bauer and English economy politicians. The main purpose of this study is to present a chronological compilation on religion concept, presented in his newspaper articles, papers and books. According to Marx, religion is both a kind of illusion and an ideology. This study reveals that the religion phenomenon keeps a broader place in his early papers, and that in a general sense, religion is understood as an illusion. In his later papers, religion analysis replaced with ideology analysis.

Buddyzm „teistyczny” czy „ateistyczny”? Polemika B. Alana Wallace’a ze Stephenem Batchelorem

Author(s): Jacek Sieradzan / Language(s): Polish Issue: XXX/2018

The article „Is Buddhism theistic or atheistic? Polemic of B. Alan Wallace with Stephen Batchelor” discuss polemic between two Western buddhologists B. Alan Wallace and Stephen Batchelor concerning question whether nature of Buddhism is „theistic” or „atheistic”. Both are critical towards Buddhism, but if Batchelor is sceptical of value of Buddhist doctrines, including doctrine of rebirth, Wallace try to remove his doubts by looking for paralels between Buddhism and science. Buddhism is middle way between extremities, in this case between theism and atheism. Many buddhists and buddhologists regards it to be nontheistic. In this polemic Buddha Śakyamuni would probably take medium position between „theism” and „atheism”. Both conceptions are creations of a mind, and Buddhism is way of contemplation which aims to find peace of mind beyond mind.

Quo vadis, iuvenis?

Author(s): Iko Skoko,Davorka Topić-Stipić / Language(s): Croatian Issue: 1/2019

The existential crisis, which always followed the age of maturation and development, has been deepened by nihilism which the Italian philosopher and psychologist Umberto Galimberti, following Nietzsche, calls “an unpleasant guest who penetrates their feelings, blurs their thoughts, wipes their perspectives and horizons, weakens the soul, deprives their passions making them bloodless”. Today, young people do not feel included, but excluded from reality. We live in a world of technics and technology which does not offer the truth, it merely functions. In the age of maturation, young people need recognition, and if they do not get it in the right place, it is offered to them in places where “drugs and sexuality” or “cruel rites” rule. We wanted to search an answer to the question “Quo vadis, iuvenis?” (Where are you going, young man?)

POST MODERNİST DÜŞÜNCENİN İSLAM’A BAKIŞ AÇISINDA ORYANTALİST İSLAM KURGUSUNUN İZLERİ: NEITZSCHE, FOUCAULT VE DERRİDA ÖRNEĞİ

Author(s): Caner Övsan Çakaş / Language(s): Turkish Issue: 3/2018

In this research study, it was aimed to reveal the traces of the Orientalist Islamic fiction in the thoughts of Nietzsche, Foucault and Derrida, which are considered important representatives of the postmodernist thinking that emerged as a reaction to the positivist epistemology with the idea of Enlightenment. In the course of the study, the opinions of postmodern thinkers about Islam in their works have been examined and analyzed by means of deconstruction method. Despite the fact that postmodernist thinkers have developed a critical perspective on the orientalist positivist epistemology and European-centered understanding of this process, it has been seen that their conception of Islam is largely based on the image of negative Islam, which is framed by orientalists. As a consequence of the work, the postmodernist thinkers have come to the conclusion that Islam has been negatively framed in European society, and that they have developed a critical view of why so-called negative Islamic fiction has been alienated in European society.

O SĄDZIE BOŻYM, NIEBIE I PIEKLE W PISMACH LESZKA KOŁAKOWSKIEGO

Author(s): Mariusz Chrostowski / Language(s): Polish Issue: 25/2018

The Catholic Church believes in the posthumous God’s judgment, heaven or hell. A man who is seeking God will sooner or later realize, that the question, about his existence is closely related to the question about the final destiny of man: death and what next? Leszek Kołakowski (1927−2009) repeatedly referred to the eschatological dimension of human existence, based mainly on the Christian tradition, which sees the purpose of the earthly pilgrimage of man in eternal bliss or eternal damnation. In his opinion, the man participates in the eternal struggle between God and the devil. It is not just a passive observer in it, but it is in the very centre of it, it is a victim of these struggles, although our fate also influences the course of this battle.

REALIZM CHRZEŚCIJAŃSKIEJ PRAWDY O CZŁOWIEKU

Author(s): Rafał Czupryk / Language(s): Polish Issue: 25/2018

The article discusses the Christian truth about man. Thomistic and personalist thought was invoked among the philosophical anthropological concepts. The considerations focus on the following issues: man as a rational being; man as a person who “becomes”; man as the image of God; man as the unity of body and spirit; man as an integral being. Any field of study cannot answer the question: What is a human being? The author emphasizes that man can find the true value of their humanity only in God, in the person of Jesus Christ.

EWOLUCJONISTYCZNA ANTROPOLOGIA ROBINA DUNBARA A OBJAWIENIOWA TEORIA GENEZY RELIGII

Author(s): Piotr Niewiadomski / Language(s): Polish Issue: 25/2018

This article deals with two concepts of the genesis of religion. The first came from evolutionary anthropology, the second from the theology of religion. The relations of these concepts are presented in the context of the relationship between science and faith, especially – the reception of the theory of evolution by Catholicism. One example is the work of Robin Dunbar, in which he closely links the rise of religion to the process of anthropogenesis, and on the other, the revelatory concept of the genesis of religion, emphasizing the revelation by creatures and creatures.

Konferencia Spoločnosti pre kresťansky orientovanú filozofi u na tému Výzvy naturalizmu Teologická fakulta, Univerzita Karlova, 9. september 2018, Praha

Author(s): Mária Spišiaková / Language(s): Slovak Issue: 4/2018

Słuchanie Słowa i Ducha w objawieniu kosmicznym (Przemówienie podczas audiencji generalnej, Watykan, 2 VIII 2000)

Author(s): Karol Józef (Pope John Paul II) Wojtyła / Language(s): Polish Issue: 1/2019

„Jakże godne ukochania są wszystkie Jego dzieła, i zaledwie iskierką są te, które poznajemy. [...] Wielu moglibyśmy mówić, ale do końca byśmy nie doszli, zakończeniem zaś mów niech będzie: «On jest wszystkim!» [...] Jest On bowiem większy niż wszystkie Jego dzieła” (Syr 42,22; 43,27-28). Te wspaniale słowa Syracha zawierają syntezę hymnu pochwalnego, który w każdej epoce i pod każdym niebem opiewa Stwórcę, objawiającego się w ogromie i blasku swego dzieła.

Hearing the Word and the Spirit in the Cosmic Revelation (Address during the General Audience, Vatican, 2 August 2000)

Author(s): Karol Józef (Pope John Paul II) Wojtyła / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2019

“How greatly to be desired are all his works, and how sparkling they are to see!... Though we speak much we cannot reach the end, and the sum of our words is: ‘He is the all’.... He is greater than all his works” (Sir 42:22; 43:27–28). These wonderful words of Sirach sum up the hymn of praise, sung in every age and under every sky, to the Creator who reveals himself through the immensity and splendor of his works.

Kategoria słuchania w teologii katolickiej – próba syntezy

Author(s): Grzegorz Strzelczyk / Language(s): Polish Issue: 1/2019

The article is an attempt at providing a synthetic presentation of the significance and role of the category of ‘hearing’ in Catholic theology. Firstly, the study depicts—from the perspective of the history of salvation—how the category in question was established in the life and reflection of the People of God. Then, areas of Catholic theology which emphasize the significance of the category of ‘hearing’ are discussed, among them the reception of the revelation by the Church and the concept of individual as well as communal search for the will of God. Finally, the conception of ‘hearing the word of God’ as developed by Karl Rahner is analyzed. To Rahner, the category of hearing–listening was the starting point not only of anthropological research, but also of a reinterpretation of the theological edifice. Apparently, Rahner’s contribution shows the potential of the category of hearing within the theological edifice regardless of how this potential is used at a given moment in history.

Grzech wiedzy i próba wolności. Pojęcie Upadku w religijno-filozoficznych koncepcjach Lwa Szestowa i Nikołaja Bierdiajewa

Author(s): Adam Sawicki / Language(s): Polish Issue: 4/2018

The article discusses two concepts of the Fall, conceived of as, firstly, the sin of knowledge and, secondly, as an attempt at freedom. The former may be found in Lev Shestov’s biblical philosophy, and the latter in Nicolai Berdyaev’s Christian gnosis. The author expounds the way in which the mentioned philosophers reconstructed the relationship between the fall, knowledge, and freedom, as well as the one between God, nothingness, and the human being. He also analyzes the problem of the consequences of the Fall of man Shestov and Berdyaev, respectively, scrutinize, as well as the ways of overcoming these consequences they propose. The paper emphasizes religious inspiration of their views and compares the conceptions they worked out, taking into account their debate on the original sin.

Trup nieistniejącego Boga

Author(s): Sebastian Duda / Language(s): Polish Issue: 676/2019

Religijność to wyraz umysłowej niedojrzałości; wiara w Boga niczym się nie różni od wiary w krasnoludki; Biblia to podszyte horrorem bajeczki o wiecznie obrażającym się na ludzi bóstwie – powiadają antyreligiancko nastawieni dziedzice oświecenia. Jak na to odpowiadać?

Ł – jak łzy

Author(s): Michał Zioło / Language(s): Polish Issue: 675/2019

Dużo ich u starca Arsena, który próbuje je tamować zawiązaną na piersiach chustą, żeby nie moczyły wyplatanych przez niego koszy ków. Mnich Sylwan traktuje swoje oczy jak solniczki i pozwala łzom skapywać do miski z jego nędznym posiłkiem. Są dla tych pustynnych chrześcijan pierwszych wieków znakiem pokuty i żalu za grzechy, choć ten ostatni jest ważny nawet wtedy, gdy łzy nie płyną, bo wystarczy go postanowić aktem woli.

Übel, Leid und Erlösung. Die existentielle Botschaft von Naturalismus und Theismus

Author(s): Krystian Kałuża / Language(s): German Issue: 2/2018

Naturalism is currently the greatest challenge for theism. As a metaphysical thesis it proclaims that everything that happens in the world can be explained by natural causes (the laws of nature) and ghosts, God, gods, or other supernatural powers or forces do not exist. Consequently, naturalism identifies with materialism and atheism. In the article a question about existential consequences of naturalist and theist worldviews was raised. From the methodological point of view it was decided to use the weaknesses of naturalism in favour of theism. The issue of evil and suffering was made a moot point. The analysis of both attitudes led to the conclusion that naturalism is bad news for humanity. If God does not exist, there is no final justice, reconciliation, redemption, or salvation. Death is the end of everything. Defeated by life, victims of evil and violence will remain defeated forever.

Die Relevanz trinitarisch verstandener Ewigkeit für die menschliche Zeiterfahrung

Author(s): Martin Grimm / Language(s): German Issue: 2/2018

The author takes into consideration the daily experience of steady acceleration to save time, by promoting a theological understanding of time. Time shall be understood from through the Trinitarian concept of eternity. The author notices the human longing for rest, for a “time to live”. This often leads to strong acceleration of life because of the thought that we just can “live” after all our duties are completed. Probably there is the desire for a new feeling of time. This shall be endorsed in a theological way. In difference to the metaphysical meaning of eternity three theological possibilities of an understanding of time through the concept of eternity are shown: 1. Time as created by God in creatio continua is a continual gift – a gift of every moment. 2. The belief and certainty of God given to the future, the eschatological hope, the sharing of God’s eternity in our actual presence.

Paul Tillich jako myśliciel (post)sekularny. Propozycja filozoficznej analizy religijnego wymiaru doświadczenia

Author(s): Marcin Napadło / Language(s): Polish Issue: 18/2018

The complex processes of transformations that underlie religion today provide an interesting area of research for many sciences. The phenomenon of postsecularisation, which to a certain degree describes the situation of religion, questions what role both philosophy and theology can play towards occuring changes and which tools they are to use in the description and assessment of these changes. In connection with this, the question also arises for those tools which can be useful in searching for answers for apparent problems. It seems that the spiritual situation of man at present is defined above all by the lack of the experience of God. The article determines an intellectual attempt of copying with some issues of the outline problems. The question arises if and how Paul Tillich – a superb and present philosopher and theologian signs in the schematic of postsecular thinking. The work presents above all an analysis of a hermeneutics of the religious dimension of experience and its use in Tillich’s philosophy and theology.

ROJKA, Ľuboš : Kto je Boh: Pojem Boha v analytickej filozofii.

Author(s): Mária Spišiaková / Language(s): Slovak Issue: 2/2018

Review of: ROJKA, Ľuboš : Kto je Boh: Pojem Boha v analytickej filozofii. Trnava : Dobrá kniha, 2018. 135 s. ISBN 978-80-8191-101-9

The Phenomenon of Beauty with a Small or a Capital Letter “B”? (The Aesthetics of Nature and its Theological Interpretation)

Author(s): Veronika Iňová / Language(s): English Issue: 2/2019

This paper introduces practical and theoretical appreciation of the phenomenon of beauty of nature in its theological and aesthetic dimension. It is partly based on a philosophical point of view involving the opinion of a number of experts and following a theological appreciation of this phenomenon. The topicality of theological approach is demonstrated by presentation of the conclusions of a qualitative research, which, by means of an empirical method, examines the ways of human perception of the beauty of nature. The aim of this empirical research was to evaluate whether and to what extent a contemporary man addresses the phenomenon of the beauty of nature, and whether this type of experience also contains the elements of numinosity. The outcomes of this research can be used in pastoral practice.