Odricanje od znanja i teologije? Od Franje do Bonaventure
Renouncing Knowledge and Theology? From Francis to Bonaventure

Summary/Abstract: The question of what is more important – prayer or knowledge, piety or refl ection, spirituality or theology – continues to inspire altercations and even confl icts within Christianity and the Church, even in this day and age. The article discusses these relations, primarily in the context of the contemporary Church, from the reforms of theological disciplines instituted by Pope Pius X, and the views of theologian H. U. von Balthasar, who insisted on the so called “theology on one’s knees”, up to the present disputes as to differing views on the place and role of theology within the Franciscan movement, which is the main topic of this contribution. As the contemporary Franciscanism is also marked by a thousand-year old dilemma: prayer or knowledge, the article examines the reasons for practically astonishing distrust in, and even dismissal of books, science and university studies by Francis of Assisi, the founder of the Franciscan movement. Such attitude derives from his evangelical radicalism: total poverty and rejection of not only any material possession but of any kind of power, including the power emanating from knowledge, books, from the position of a teacher or a professor. Still in his lifetime, however, Francis would soften his rigid stance. Despite granting permission to Anthony of Padua to teach theology in one of his letters, Francis imposes the obligation of prayer on him. On the one hand, this clears the path for many Franciscans to acquire teaching positions and professorships even at the most prestigious universities of the day, however, on the other hand, since the permission is limited by the “spirit of prayer”, it also allows the Franciscan Rigorists (Spiritual Franciscans) to insist on rejection of books, science and any study, while fi nding their justifi cation in Francis’s original ideal. The entire fi rst century of Franciscanism, the century of institutionalization and clericalization, will be plagued by disputes and strife, persecution even condemnation over the issues of poverty including spirituality and theology studies. St. Bonaventure, a mystic and a scientist, Minister General of the Order of Friars Minor, a Parisian professor, will defi nitely introduce studies into the Franciscan order and make it a prerequisite for preaching and missions. This however will not forestall further disputes and confl icts.

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