Reseñas proporcionadas por Syndetics

CHOICE Review

In this immensely learned and provocative essay, Kung attempts to do for theology what Thomas S. Kuhn (The Structure of Scientific Revolution, 1962) has done for philosophy and science, namely, bring to explicit awareness the nature of the relationship between theology and the cultural matrix in which it is embedded. He argues that theology, like science and philosophy, does not enjoy an existence prior to cultures. Rather, theology develops along with cultures, not so much by gradual evolution as by quantum leaps into whole new paradigms, and its task is to enter into dialogue with cultures in the service of truth. The final question is what paradigm of theology will be appropriate for the dialogue with the emerging cultural paradigms of the third millenium. Kung sets up his answer to that question by first presenting an engaging historical synthesis of theology's journey in Western Christianity, particularly since the Reformation, and describing the agenda that the current stalemate in ecumenical theology has left unfinished. He then casts an eye toward future perspectives for theology in the light of the paradigm shift represented by Vatican II's embracing of historico-critical method. In his third and final part, Kung argues that the new paradigm will have to embrace a theology of world religions in which Christian churches, as partners in dialogue with other world religions, acknowledge "other true words alongside the one Word." A compelling contribution to a discussion that will become increasingly important. Kung's clarity of thought and style are exemplary, though his argument will be fully accessible only to the historico-theologically literate. Essential for university libraries. -D. G. Schultenover, Creighton University

Notas de autor provistas por Syndetics

Hans Kung is Swiss and was born into a middle-class family. He studied in Rome for seven years, obtaining his licentiate in philosophy and theology from the Gregorian University there, and then receiving his doctorate in theology from the Catholic Institute in Paris. Since 1960 he has been a professor at Tubingen University, where he taught dogmatic and ecumenical theology until his permission to teach Catholic theology was removed as a consequence of statements judged to be contrary to official doctrine. Since 1980 he has taught at the University of Chicago and the University of Michigan, and occasionally in Europe as well.

His difficulties with the church began with the publication The Church (1967) and became very hot with the publication of Infallible? An Inquiry (1971). More recently, his On Being Christian (1977) has raised the question of whether his theology is not simply rational Protestant theology of the turn of the century. Official inquiries were held, statements were exchanged between Kung and the Conference of German Bishops, and the Rome-based Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, but no agreement was to be had. Kung continues to declare himself a loyal member of the Roman Catholic church and seems unlikely to leave its priesthood or to be excommunicated.

(Bowker Author Biography)