Transcendence as Objective Argument of the Existence of the Personal God

Author(s): Iacob Coman / Language(s): English Issue: 2/2016

In science, generally, the idea of research captures apriori the authority of the human being on the investigated reality. Researchers’ presumption of superiority in relation to what search is always clear and incontrovertible. Theological science and Theology researchers cannot benefit and cannot claim that presumption. If however they do, then we no longer talk about Theology, but about philosophical religion. In this study we will investigate the issue of God’s transcendence as objective argument of His existence. Given that we will not talk about chemical substances or about literary analysis, our research is enriched or impoverished not by the scientific competence that we have, but by the availability of God’s Being and our willingness to make of this study a scientific expression and a scientific experience of a dialogical meeting between us and God. When there are no common approaches to Theology and Philosophy, approaches based on our ability to intuit and determine the reality that surrounds us, we will evoke, as honest as possible, the reality of the scientific dialogue between us and God, a dialogue necessary in such a study. We hope that, based on the three chapters of this research, our thesis “Transcendence as Objective Argument of the Existence of the Personal God”, will convince both scientifically and in terms of the dialogue with God.

Roman Catholic-Anglican Mixed Marriages in Ecumenical Dialogue and Pastoral Practice

Author(s): Robert Samsel / Language(s): English Issue: 3/2015

The article entitled “Roman Catholic-Anglican Mixed Marriages in Ecumenical Dialogue and Pastoral Practice” presents the teachings of the Catholic Church with respect to marriage based on the encyclical of Pope Pius XI “Casti connubi” and apostolic exhortation by John Paul II “Familiaris consortio”. Presenting marriage with its fundamental features: unity, indissolubility, sacramentality, as being a natural union between a man and a woman, blessed by God and empowered to take on matrimonial and parental tasks, constitutes a basis for deliberations on mixed marriages between people baptized in various Christian confessions, in this case Roman Catholic and Anglican ones. The issue of the mixed marriage between people of those two confessions has become an element of works by the Anglican-Roman Catholic International Commission, ARCIC, which in 1975 published a document entitled “Theology of Marriage and Its Application to Mixed Marriage”. Its content became a basis for the presentation of the Anglican vision of marriage in the context of the ecumenical dialogue: points of contacts and differences. Because of schism, out of concern for spouses’ religious identity as well as the unity and stability of marriage, it is necessary to introduce the right rules of pastoral care and confession discipline, which constitute the final part of the presented material.

Die Rezeption der Matthäus-Passion von Johann Walter und die Passionstradition in Siebenbürgen

Author(s): Greta Konradt / Language(s): German Issue: _/2014

Seit der Entstehung der christlichen Kirche steht die biblische Geschichte des Leidensweges Jesu nicht nur im Mittelpunkt des christlichen Glaubens – sie ist über Jahrhunderte hinweg ein zentrales Motiv der religiösen Kunst gewesen. In früheren Zeiten diente die Leidensgeschichte nicht bloß als Thema der Kontemplation religiöser Frömmigkeit, sie verlangte geradezu danach, veranschaulicht zu werden. Ob in der Malerei, der Bildhauerei oder der Musik: die Dramatik des Verrats, der Verhöhnung und des abscheulichen Martyriums Hat unzählige Künstler gefesselt und sie künstlerisch inspiriert. Einige der wertvollsten Kunstwerke Europas stellen das Leiden und Sterben Jesu dar – Michelangelos Pieta ist zweifelsohne das berühmteste Beispiel dafür.

Rezeption der Wittenberger Theologie in Siebenbürgen: Die Formula Pii Consensus 1572

Author(s): Ulrich Andreas Wien / Language(s): German Issue: _/2015

Bereits 1519/1520 wurde die von Wittenberg ausgehende reformatorische Bewegung in Hermannstadt rezipiert. Dieser Ort war politisches und religiöses Zentrum der seit Mitte des zwölften Jahrhunderts dort als Gäste (hospites) angesiedelten Bevölkerung1. Diese zunächst als Flandrenses oder Teutonici benannte Gruppe stammte überwiegend aus der Rhein- Mosel-Maas-Gegend, mit moselfränkischem Dialekt. Sie sollte als Wehrbauerngesellschaft zum Schutz der Krone (ad retinendam coronam) die östliche Peripherie des mittelalterlichen Ungarn – Siebenbürgen/ Transsylvanien – besiedeln und schützen2. Dazu waren ihnen von Anfang an – auf dem Königsboden (fundus regius) – Privilegien verliehen worden, unter anderem die Wahl der Pfarrer3. Diese Sonderrechte der später sogenannten „Sachsen“ konkretisierten sich im Laufe des Spätmittelalters, als die blühenden Städte und deren selbstbewusstes Patriziat eigene Institutionen ausbildeten. Diese schufen Voraussetzungen für die Übernahme und Durchsetzung der deutschen Reformation in Siebenbürgen.

Kontrowersje wokół herezji XI wieku

Author(s): Piotr Czarnecki / Language(s): Polish Issue: 2/2016

The article presents one of the most controversial issues in the history of the medieval heresies – the issue of the eleventh-century heresies – those discovered in Aquitaine (1016–1018), Orléans (1022), Arras (1025), Monteforte (1028–1040), Châlons-sur-Marne (1043–1048) and Goslar (1051). Their origins and character have been highly controversial since the middle of the 20th century. The article presents the conceptions of scholars, adherents of the two main streams of interpretation. The first of them was started by the works of the French Dominican historian Antoine Dondaine, who claimed that these heresies were dualistic in nature and were seriously influenced by the eastern heresies of this kind, mainly Bogomilism. The second one was created by the Italian Medievalist Raffaello Morghen, who believed that eleventh-century heresies were a genuine invention of the Westerners, trying to revive early, pure Christianity, based on the testimony of the New Testament. He and his followers deny their dualistic character. Besides these two streams, the article also presents the conceptions of the scholars belonging to the deconstructionist school, which has recently become more and more popular. Its adherents completely deny the existence of the eleventh-century heresies, claiming that in fact they were invented by the Church authors, trying to discredit the innocent reformers. All the conceptions mentioned above are compared with the testimonies of the sources describing the eleventh-century heresies. Their information concerning heretical beliefs and practices are strikingly similar to the analogous eastern (Bulgarian and Byzantine) sources about the Bogomils, which is a strong argument for the traditional interpretation of Dondaine and his followers.

Nieinterwencjonistyczny model działania Boga w świecie przyrody

Author(s): Tadeusz Pabjan / Language(s): Polish Issue: 1/2016

Artykuł poświęcony jest problematyce działania Boga w świecie przyrody. Zaprezentowano w nim argumenty przemawiające za modelem nieinterwencjonistycznym, w którym zakłada się, że Bóg konsekwentnie respektuje porządek przyczyn i skutków wynikający z praw przyrody, i zamierzone przez siebie efekty uzyskuje bez naruszania tego porządku. Historia ewoluującego wszechświata, którą badają nauki empiryczne, jest w perspektywie teologicznej historią działania Boga, który stwarza świat i podtrzymuje go w istnieniu za pośrednictwem praw przyrody powodujących stopniowy rozwój wszechświata i ewolucję życia. W kolejnych częściach artykułu podjęta została problematyka praw przyrody, stwórczej obecności Boga w przyrodzie oraz działania Stwórcy dokonującego się za pośrednictwem przyczyn wtórnych (argument św. Tomasza). W zakończeniu wskazano na zalety modelu nieinterwencjonistycznego. This paper deals with the problem of God’s action in nature. It is argued that the divine action is always non-interventional, which means that God never violates the laws of nature. He creates the evolving universe, keeps it in existence and continously influences its history using these laws, and not breaking them. At first, the character of the laws of nature will be discussed – both in scientific and theological perspective. Later, the creative presence of God in the universe will be described. Special attention will be paid to St. Thomas Aquinas argument concerning the distinction between the first cause (which should be identified with God) and the secondary cause (which should be identified with all the physical causes explored by science). Finally, some advantages of the non-intervetnional model of the divine action in nature will be indicated.

La formazione liturgica nel movimento ecclesiale Luce-Vita in Polonia

Author(s): Przemysław Szot / Language(s): Italian Issue: 1/2016

Il Movimento Luce-Vita in Polonia e uno tra molti movimenti del rinnovamento della Chiesa di quali ha parlato il Concilio Vaticano II. Il suo obiettivo e pero la liturgia sulla quale si concentra per badare la sua rinascita. Lo scopo di questo movimento e condurre la gente alla maturità cristiana, attraverso la liturgia che e fonte e culmine della vita cristiana. Il movimento propone, dunque, un vasto programma formativo per i fedeli adatto, sia per i laici, sia per i preti che per le persone consacrate, rispettando anche le differenze dell’età. The Light-Life Movement is one of the movements of renewal of the Catholic Church according to the teaching of the Second Vatican Council. It is directed especially towards the renewal of the liturgy. The goal of the Light-Life Movement is to lead people to the maturity of Christian faith through liturgy, because the liturgy is the font and the summit of the Christian life. The Movement offers the formation programmes for the believers of different age and state – lay people, priests or religious.

Prezentari bibliografice

Author(s): Stelian Gomboş,Vasile Muntean,Cosmin Panțuru,Constantin Cilibia,Marius Florescu / Language(s): Romanian Issue: 01-03/2017

Естетична символіка сакрального в українському мистецтві X V n-X V m ст.

Author(s): Victoriia Mykolayivna Pishchanska / Language(s): Ukrainian Issue: 2/2017

The purpose of the research is to analyze the aesthetic symbolism of the sacral in the artistic and picturesque expression of the Cossack art, where the true essence of the spiritual world of the Ukrainian Cossacks is reproduced in full. The methodology of the research consists in the application of methods of analysis, synthesis, comparison, generalization, as well as in the use of ideological and content, terminological, historical and cultural approaches. This has made it possible to reveal the peculiarities of the spirituality of the Ukrainian Cossacks, which proved capable of conveying the main thing in its artistic creativity - its syncretic essence, the unity of religious and aesthetic, expressed in the Baroque art in the form of symbols. The scientific novelty lies in the fact that in the national cultural studies it is the first attempt of the new interpretation of the content of the symbols or artistic values created by the Ukrainian Cossacks. The principles of forming the syncretic essence, the unity of religious and aesthetic, expressed in the Baroque art in the form of symbols, that are a peculiar representation of the sacred in the spiritual culture of the Ukrainian Cossacks, are characterized. Conclusion. It is proved that, while honoring Ukrainian ethno cultural traditions, recognizing the dogmatic principles of Orthodox beliefs and experiencing the artistic tendencies of the Baroque, the Ukrainian Cossacks proved capable of conveying the main thing in its artistic creativity - its syncretic essence, the unity of religious and aesthetic, expressed in Baroque art in the form of symbols. It is substantiated that the spiritual principles of the culture of the Ukrainian Cossacks in the XVII-XVIII centuries had a significant influence not only on artistic education and further development of the Ukrainian art, but also on the confirmation of the aesthetic symbolism of the sacral through the iconography of symbolic images and signs. Above all they are reflected on the embodied in its spiritual essence the entire complex of religious and aesthetic principles of the Ukrainian people's culture, its moral and ethical, philosophical and value judgments and beliefs.

Misija i reformacija: Lekcije iz iskustva reformatora i anabaptista

Author(s): Melody J. Wachsmuth / Language(s): Croatian Issue: 2/2017

Scholarly interaction has ranged from arguing that the Reformers were indifferent toward mission to asserting that both Luther and Calvin had theologies of mission embedded in their understanding of the gospels and emphasis on preaching the word of God. On the other hand, during the same time period, the Anabaptists emerged as a movement with a radical and deliberate mission praxis. How can strains of a new and emerging Protestantism, in similar socio-political contexts, develop such different mission praxis? This paper explores this discrepancy between these two movements and then offers implications and questions for the 21st century church-in-mission.

Nedovršena reformacija: Što ujedinjuje i razdvaja katolike i protestante nakon 500 godina

Author(s): Miroslav Balint-Feudvarski / Language(s): Croatian Issue: 1/2018

Review of: Gregg Allison i Chris Castaldo "Nedovršena reformacija: Što ujedinjuje i razdvaja katolike i protestante nakon 500 godina"; Dallas, Texas USA, Eastern European Mission, 2017, 148. by: Miroslav Balint-Feudvarski

Apologetic approach on the dialogue between faith and rationality by the Oriental Fathers

Author(s): Ioniţă Apostolache / Language(s): English,Polish Issue: 1/2018

Only our Lord, Jesus Christ, the incarnated Word of the Father, made us, due to his quality as Pantocrator, to “overcome the autonomy of the natural world” and liberated us from the power of irrational forces. Therefore, the dialogue between theology and science is very important for our natural existence. Without science, modern man cannot exist within his earthly environment and without theology he is not given the possibility to enjoy eternal communion with God in the Kingdom of Heaven. This being the case, the Holy Scripture and the Holy Father also, unite the two elements; this unity being sheltered by faith, which is beyond reason and any type of autonomy.

Ekumeniczny liturgista z pogranicza polsko-czesko-słowackiego

Author(s): Stanisław Jan Rabiej / Language(s): Polish Issue: 51/2018

Gdzie jest nowoczesny projekt polskości? - Andrzej Leder w rozmowie z Sebastianem Dudą

Author(s): Andrzej Leder,Sebastian Duda / Language(s): Polish Issue: 673/2018

Dawniej siłą takich ruchów jak socjalizm czy liberalizm była stawka na przyszłość, to ona wyznaczała tożsamość. Tym różniły się od konserwatyzmu czy nacjonalizmu, które stawiały na przeszłość. Dziś przyszłość jest bardzo podejrzana. Wszyscy się jej boją.

"Gott hat sein Evangelium auch durch die Musik gepredigt". Martin Luther, die Musik und das Kirchenlied

Author(s): Wilhelm Hüffmeier / Language(s): German Issue: 10/2016

The article presents origins of the Evangelical church music in the XVI century. Pastor Dr Martin Luther is regarded as the father this music. The poet H. Heine described the hymn “A mighty fortress is our God” as Mar-seillaise of the Reformation. Luther was brought up in his school musical circle and recommended teaching music at schools of all levels. The Reformer, apart from prefaces to all kinds of songbooks, wrote four texts dedicated to the essence of Evangelical song where we find a thesis that music is a good deed of the God -Creator Himself what makes that music in its very nature is a good instrument to proclaim the Gospel. In one of his letters Luther wrote indeed that apart from theology music is the best art bringing consolation for the heart. His first song, Luther wrote not earlier than in 1523 in parallel to the undertaken efforts to reform Evangelical liturgy. Apart from the so-called propaganda songs of Reformation Luther’s favourite songs were paraphrases of psalms. In addition, another form of religious song created in the times of Reformation are catechism songs. The article also depicts the person of Elisabeth Cruciger, the first Reformation singer. Reformation triggered a mighty movement that intro-duced national languages to the liturgy and church services. This movement also transformed music giving it specific feature of piety emerging from the spirit of Evangelical church reformation in the XVI century.

Document „From Conflict to Communion”. Some Historical Approaches

Author(s): Andrzej Piotr Perzyński / Language(s): English Issue: 11/2017

In the year 2013 the International Lutheran-Roman Catholic Com-mission on Unity has produced its report, titled “From Conflict to Communion: Lutheran-Catholic Common Commemoration of the Refor-mation in 2017”. This is the first centenary commemoration of the Reformation marked by a real desire of the Catholics and Protestants as well to come together for its observance. The article describes the way to this very important common testimony. A very important sign of the Catholics’ recognition of Luther’s faith was the word of the second President of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, Cardinal Johannes Willebrands, in his keynote address at the 5th Assembly of the Lutheran World Federation at Evian-les-Bains. The culmination of the relationship was that Catholics and Lutherans gathered in Lund on 31th October 2016 to mark commemoration of the Reformation. The milestone on the way to this celebration was the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification signed in Augsburg 1999. The document From Conflict to Communion concludes the common way of Lutherans and Catholics in the last 50 years.

Erazm i Luter o wolnej woli

Author(s): Jacek Hołówka / Language(s): Polish Issue: 11/2017

The author discusses the controversy between Erasmus and Luther over free will. He recapitulates the position of Erasmus who identified three conceptions of free will attributing them to Pelagius, Duns Scotus and Martin Luther, respectively. Erasmus firmly rejected only the last one. The author also presents the Luther’s view that the exercise of free will would collide with the working of divine grace that forcesto reject the existence of free will. This controversy revitalizes a mediaeval problem, still highly inspirational. Is God at least partly responsible for our sins? Was He accountable for hardening the pharaoh’s heart (Ex 4: 21)? Was it approved by God that Judas would betray Jesus? Erasmus proposes an interesting solution to this problem that the author of this article finds bright and proper. It is based on the distinction between ‘the necessity of the consequence’ and the ‘necessity of the consequent’. The ‘necessity of the consequence’ is the acceptance of a logical implication together with its antecedent. In this case the consequent is entailed by logical inference (by ponendo ponens). Acceptance of this formula is equivalent to acting as an accomplice. The ‘necessity of the consequent’, however, is limited to the endorsing of the implication together with its consequent, but without accepting the antecedent. On these conditions the endorsement is no more than a concession for the occurrence of the fact implied, but it does not involve a volitional partnership in the act. To be more specific: God hardened the pharaoh’s heart and thereby He acted in collusion with the pharaoh. In the case of Judas, however, God only condescended that Judas would betray Jesus without cooperating in the act. Thus the will of pharaoh’s was weakened, or presumably deactivated, while Judas was free to act as he pleased, availing himself of his free will.

Recenzii

Author(s): Constantin Jinga,Marius Florescu,Daniel Lemeni,Cosmin Panţuru / Language(s): Romanian Issue: 24/2018

(Не)видљиви мигранти: миграције назарена у Северну Америку током комунизма у Југославији

Author(s): Aleksandra Đurić-Milovanović / Language(s): Serbian Issue: 3/2017

The migration of religious minorities from the region of Southeast Europe to North America was not in the focus of ethno-anthropological, sociological and historiographical research until recently. In the last two decades, the main focus in migration studies was on labor and economic migration, and only indirectly to the religious identity of migrants. This paper discusses the migration of one neo-Protestant religious minority – the Nazarenes, who emigrated massively from Yugoslavia to North America after the Second World War. The Nazarenes were pacifists, refusing to bear arms, take an oath, or to be members of political organizations. By adhering to their strict religious beliefs, the Nazarenes came into conflict with the state authorities. After the Second World War, the communist state considered Nazarenes as disloyal citizens and a threat to the government. From 1949, the Nazarenes were condemned to severe prison sentences in the worst prisons such as Goli оtok. In this period, the illegal emigration of Nazarenes to North America started. The material collected for the purposes of this paper came to be the result of empirical research, conducted in the United States (March-June 2015) with members of the Nazarene community who emigrated from Yugoslavia between 1950 and 1975. Emphasizing the role of religion in the process of migration, as well as the transformation of the community after several decades in their new setting, this paper analyzes the oral history of emigration of the Nazarenes during communism, where emigration is seen as 'survival strategy' for this religious minority.

PREZENTĂRI BIBLIOGRAFICE

Author(s): Vasile Muntean,Sorin Cosma,Marius Florescu,Aquilina Birăescu / Language(s): Romanian Issue: 10-12/2018