Państwo Boże w relacji do Kościoła i świata w De civitate Dei św. Augustyna (księgi 11–22). Teologiczno-filozoficzne refleksje na gruncie chrześcijańskiej historiozofii

Author(s): Michał Płóciennik / Language(s): Polish Issue: 12/2015

The problem of philosophy of the history of mankind is in no way a clear and obvious perspective of reality interpretation, but rather an approach based on a certain definite ontology. One of the main categories of Christian ontology is the history of salvation, which constitutes strong foundation for the existence of the world and man as beings created through historical dialogue with the Creator. One of the first who made an attempt to express the Christian version of historic philosophy was St Augustine, according to whom the fundamental point of tension in the sense of history is the relation between the world and Church with respect to God State; it could be even more clearly seen in the eschatic reference of God State to the world and Church in their mutual perichoretic antinomy.

Stach from Warta Szukalski and the Tribe of the Horned Heart: though this be madness, yet is there method in it

Author(s): Agnieszka Gajda / Language(s): English Issue: 3/2012

The Sage of Concord: Weaving Transcendental Thoughts

Author(s): Saša Simović / Language(s): English Issue: 2/2021

Ralph Waldo Emerson, the proverbial sage of Concord, claimed that he was not “an original thinker” but only “clothed thoughts” that were “in the air.” Trying to explain the complex relation between humans and the outside world, he singled out man’s relation to his own self as the crux of the problem. His dualistic vision of the world, juxtaposing nature and the human soul and matter and spirit, is related to what he perceived as the human need to realize a connection to the “real” self. In the Emersonian vision of the world, nature is “omnipotent” insofar as through natural phenomena the human individual can give birth to brilliant ideas. The aim of this article is to highlight Emerson’s Transcendentalist vision of nature and the human relation to it.

Доротее Зьоле: Марта и/или Мария – живот в действие и/или живот в съзерцание

Author(s): Nina Dimitrova / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 2/2022

The text traces the ideas of the modern Protestant theologian Dorothee Sölle (𝑀𝑦𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑘 𝑢𝑛𝑑 𝑊𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑟𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑑) on the relationship between active and contemplative life (represented by the biblical characters Martha and Mary respectively) in relation to her conceptions of a socially oriented Christianity. A parallel is drawn with the famous ideas of Hannah Arendt (𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝐻𝑢𝑚𝑎𝑛 𝐶𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛). Commonalities are sought in the appreciation of the active, operative aspect of life (in unity with its contemplative aspect).

Review of Nonka Bogomilova's book The Balkans: Marked Roads (1991–2016)

Author(s): Dragolyub Dzhordzhevich / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2023

The review emphasizes the main topics and ideas in Nonka Bogomilova’s book, The Balkans: Marked Roads (1991-2016), and especially the humanist message of the book, which demolishes stereotypes and prejudices about our living space. Special attention is paid to the author’s contribution to Balkan Religious Studies as a personal, experience-based insight into the culture and characterology of the Balkans and the Balkan people.

Eschatologie a spása v bohemikálních sporech duše s tělem

Author(s): Věra Soukupová / Language(s): Czech Issue: 2/2023

The paper provides an analysis of eschatological themes in medieval debates between body and soul related to the Kingdom of Bohemia. The oldest poem (after 1320) emphasizes the particular judgment as the dominant eschatological horizon, probably under the influence of the Processus Sathanae. The old Czech translation of Visio Philiberti (ca. 1370) seems to avoid the description of physically conceived pain of a separated soul and stresses the absence of God as the worst punishment. The third old Czech debate (end of the 14th c.) underlines the loving bond between human composites, further accentuated in a contemporary Latin prose debate between body and soul by the archbishop of Prague John of Jenstein in his Liber dialogorum.

LA FEDE IN GESÙ, FONTE DI APOSTOLATO E MISSIONE NELLA COMUNITÀ ECCLESIALE

Author(s): Călin-Daniel Paţulea / Language(s): Italian Issue: 28/2022

We go to the encounter with Christ with disinterested, enlightened, unlimited faith. This is how the faith of a true Christian must be: it must have as its center not one's own self, but the infallible word of God. We believe because God is true and because He has spoken. We believe in faith, not because we can control its truth directly, but only relying on God, who in his sublime intelligence can neither deceive nor deceive us, and who in his great goodness wanted to reveal truths inaccessible to the human intellect alone. The individual and the community must strengthen their faith with a profound study of the revealed truths, adequate to their intelligence and responsibilities.

DRAMATISM AND DRAMATIZATION – A PERSUASIVE STRATEGY IN NICOLAE STEINHARDT'S SERMONS

Author(s): Maria Lupu / Language(s): Romanian Issue: 28/2022

N. Steinhardt proves in his homiletic discourse a real predisposition for dramatization. The Christian "tragedy" is staged and, at the same time, commented by an exceptional playwright and director. Argumentative discourse is a “mise en scene” and thus adheres to a determined social theatricality (of roles and actors). We identify the predilection for theatricality in the impeccable rhetoric, in the syntax of the sentence - the mixture of concise, elliptical sentences with astonishingly long utterances that presuppose a certain rhythm of utterance, the preference for interjection and exclamation, for the free indirect style. All this reveals a permanent concern of N. Steinhardt for the effect. Concentrated and unitary, Steinhardt's essay relies, sometimes, on the "shock" of the listener, on an aesthetic of the paradox and, apparently, of the sensational. Finally, we are witnessing, together with Steinhardt, a dramatic change in the homily paradigm. Sermons such as the ”Living Water”, the ”Hananian Woman”, the ”Tragedy of Judas”, the ”Holy Prophet Elijah”, ”Reflections on Death”, the ”Lord came to save and scandalize us”, the ”Holy Wrath” amply proves the directorial pleasure of the learned monk.

“Do I Believe?”: Three Aspects of “Belief” in Conspiracy Theories

Author(s): Matyáš Lednický,Tereza Malá,Abraham Maurer,Jan A. Kozák / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2021

The following text aims to offer and illustrate a new concept for grasping the phenomenon of conspiracy theories. Based on field research in the form of semi-structured interviews and previous research, it provides a triadic schema for navigating the conspiracy landscape and understanding the transformations and functions that conspiracy theories provide to their adherents. After introducing the topic, the first part of the text briefly summarises previous research relevant to the article and describes the theoretical position on which it is based. Subsequently, it uses H. S. Versnel’s schema to introduce the three levels of meaning of conspiracy narratives: substantivist, functionalist, and cosmological. It then concludes by reflecting on the possible applications of this framework and its relevance for future research.

UNIVERSAL HISTORY VIEWED THROUGH METAPHORICAL LENSES

Author(s): Nicolae Iuga / Language(s): Romanian Issue: 32/2023

When reaching the limits of rationality regarding explanation, Plato told myths. Instead, Hegel, when he wanted to make himself easier to understand, resorted to metaphorical expressions. The vast and grandiose spectacle of universal History can be more properly expressed by a metaphor than by abstract concepts or uncomprehending, arbitrary and chaotic erudition. Here we briefly present some metaphors related to the object: Heraclitus' River, the metaphor of the death and rebirth of vegetation in ancient myths, the metaphor of the Sea in Hegel or the metaphors of Henri Bergson and Pierre Teilhard de Chardin.

ASPEKTI ONTOLOGIJE ISLAMA: FERID MUHIĆ

Author(s): Orhan Bajraktarević / Language(s): Bosnian Issue: 94/2023

Muhić in his work Ontology in Islam analyses the phenomenon of Islam in a conjunction between philosophy and religion. Herein he discusses the culture and the history of religions, particularly Islam and Muslims in Europe, but also anti-Islamic conceptual tendencies and habits which have been systematically generated and bred in centres of political power in Europe and the United States. Discrimination against Muslims today, marking them as “defective Muslims” is an ideologically motivated trend and it is part of an organized project which in the Balkans instigated genocide committed against Bosniaks as well as a large-scale genocidal crime that was committed against Albanians. Thus Muslims in Europe are terminally disqualified whereas non-Muslims are permanently privileged. It is essential that the perpetrators of these crimes, whosoever they are as well as “the collective perpetrators”, are brought to justice. The radicalisation of Islam, and the Islamisation of radicalism, is an evident fact in Europe today. On the other hand, Muhić here stresses that speculation and philosophy are left out of the history of Islamic studies and tradition since the third century of Islam. Thus, he places before us the significant but forgotten questions of the general history of philosophy and religion, questions of the general history of Islam, and the Islamic revelation as a timeless and transcendent phenomenon. He offers some brave answers highlighting the fact that the God of Revelation and the God of religion is also the God of the intellect, the God of Science. This work demonstrates one exceptional new tendency in great religions as well as in philosophy, and that is the notion of secular thought taking the place of the old, traditional decayed theology and theological thought in religion.

Feminine Origin in the Cosmogonic Ideas of the Slavic and Eastern Philosophy: a Comparative Analysis

Author(s): Oksana Petinova,Violeta Svitlytska / Language(s): English Issue: 31/2023

The article is devoted to a comparative analysis of the role of the feminine principle in the cosmogonic ideas of the Slavic peoples and the philosophy of the Ancient East, in particular, India and China, to the establishment of common and distinctive features of female personification. The authors conclude that the ancient tribal culture, which was based on the logic of nature, the maintenance of the world in unity and the balance of opposites, was much more favorable to women than monotheistic religions, which affirmed the sinful nature of women. Ideas about the origin and development of the universe occupy a central place in the mythological heritage, in the cosmic processes and powerful forces of nature, the unbreakable harmony of male and female principles can be traced, where male energy consists in the idea of fertilization, and female energy – in birth and creation. In every mythological system, there is a character of the Mother Goddess, who acts as a co-creator of the world and living beings, but with the establishment of the patriarchal system, the mythological paradigm undergoes changes, and the female principle is gradually recognized as secondary, or it was completely leveled in the processes of world creation. The archetype of the Great Mother reflects the functioning of human values and runs through the entire history of philosophy and culture.

JEKA PASCALOVOG FRAGMENTA 210 IZ MISLI

Author(s): Nermin Sarajlić / Language(s): Bosnian Issue: 37-38/2023

It would be said that any scenography suits hell as soon as humanity completely disappears from the world. When the alienation reaches its peak, one breathes pure despair. Wasted lives are wasted time. It is futile to garnish human shells with religious metaphors. Like in the last scenes of Roy Andersen's film Songs from the Second Floor. If one climbs ten floors higher and a man burnt by habit mechanically steps into the open door into an elevator that, God knows why, did not arrive at the call, well, just such a shock causes one to step into nothingness. Enter the void! You can often survive a fall, and there is no one who has not experienced it at least once in their lifetime.

Постмодернизъм и невротеология. Някои актуални въпроси около феномена на религиозното преживяване

Author(s): Ivo A. Dochkov / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 1/2024

The human experience of consciousness and the divine has long been a source of fascination and curiosity. In recent decades, two seemingly disparate fields have emerged one after the other to rethink our experiences in new contexts: postmodernism and neurotheology. It was already obvious to Aristotle that logic is a reflection of language. This immanent coherence and the status of "truth" have been well-rethought by the neurosciences. Neurotheology offers a new field of research on key problems related to paralogisms, the aetiology of belief, and social beliefs in the direction of generating a new field of solutions. It attempts a kind of technical revision of why thinking suffers from deficiencies with a rather Cartesian approach. The other line of reasoning also provides interesting perspectives - the consideration of consciousness as a function of the universe. If successfully tested - this thesis would fundamentally change the perspective of psychology in the direction of a complete transformation and fusion with neuroscience. The big winner in the duel of positions is ethics - it would have to rethink its basic definitions, with all the social implications that entails. The advent of brain implants and large language models (which, driven by intellectual inertia, we call "artificial intelligence"), and advances in medicine and pharmacology certainly contribute to the possible realization of some, if not all, of these scenarios.

REDEMPTION AND SPIRITUAL SUFFERING IN THE “MARIE DOLENTE AU PIED DE LA CROIX” POEM

Author(s): Paul-Cristian Albu / Language(s): Romanian Issue: 36/2024

The purpose of the paper is to offer a panoramic view of the relation between religion and humanism in the French evangelical poem Marie Dolente au Pied de la Croix, written in sixteen century. I am interested in discussing how the Christian religion can be reflected in a humanist century, in a world where social vicissitudes are essential for understanding the universal message of Christianity. By this poem, God would like to invite us to reflect on the concepts of peace, freedom, love, and fraternal peace. I am also interested in observing how the universal message of Eternal Love can penetrate a secular society. I will consider using the technique of close reading the poem and diverse literary and religious books, to reflect in which way it is sought to express the idea of Christian Redemption in the literary world. The creative use of language will be regarded as a means to make visible the new paradigm of fraternity can be understood by the readers in contemporaneity.

Poza sprawiedliwością” – w postępowym świecie postprawdy. Wyzwania katolicyzmu wobec kultury Progresywnej

Author(s): Thomas Michaud / Language(s): Polish Issue: 33/2/2023

Z filozoficzną przenikliwością Dietrich von Hildebrandt kiedyś ostrzegał, że jedną z najbardziej złowieszczych cech obecnej epoki jest niewątpliwie detronizacja prawdy. Od czasów, w których żył w latach czterdziestych, poprzez kolejne dekady, dostrzegał, że pewne siły społeczne, polityczne i kulturowe podsycają negację obiektywnej prawdy. Hildebrandt zajmował się głównie nazizmem, socjalizmem i komunizmem, ale jego ostrzeżenia z pewnością mają zastosowanie do ruchów powstałych po jego śmierci w 1977 roku, takich jak postmodernizm, polityczna poprawność, kultura unieważniania i kultura świadomości, aktywności, uważności na ważne fakty i kwestie społeczne (zwłaszcza kwestie sprawiedliwości rasowej i społecznej) – tzw. „WOKE CULTURE”.

Understanding Religious Pluralism through Existential Phenomenology and Historical Contexts. Phenomenological Pluralism – an alternative to Hick and Eck’s theories

Author(s): Cosmin Tudor Ciocan / Language(s): English Issue: 2/2024

Phenomenological Pluralism (PP), grounded in the existential phenomenology of Maurice Merleau-Ponty, offers a novel approach to religious pluralism by emphasizing the unique and irreducible experiences individuals and communities have with the divine. Central to PP is the concept of "My (personal) God," which acknowledges that each person's encounter with the divine is uniquely personal and contextually grounded without a genuinely polytheistic implication. Unlike Universalist Pluralism (UP), which seeks common theological ground, and Particularist Pluralism (PaP), which focuses on cultural context, PP asserts that each religion operates within its own distinct reality. This approach fosters deeper interfaith dialogue by appreciating the diversity of spiritual narratives and promoting empathy and inclusivity. PP's practical implications extend to conflict resolution, social integration, and educational advancement, making it a robust framework for understanding and managing religious diversity. By validating the unique spiritual experiences of all participants, PP creates an inclusive environment conducive to genuine interfaith dialogue and societal cohesion.

HeartMath iBhubesi Tree Rhythm Project at Umhlanga Rocks South Africa

Author(s): Stephen David Edwards / Language(s): English Issue: 2/2024

"The HeartMath Tree Rhythm project is a citizen science interconnectivity initiative. Interconnectivity refers to the hypothesis that all life forms are interconnected via intersecting magnetic energy fields. HeartMath tree rhythm research complements the HeartMath Global Coherence Initiative (GCI) and Global Consciousness Project (GCI). Related websites are as follows: https://treerhythms.net/ https://www.heartmath.org/gci/gcms/live-data/ and https://gcp2.netThe present contribution employs a narrative methodology to introduce the iBhubesi Tree Rhythm project at Umhlanga Rocks South Africa. The isiZulu term “iBhubesi” denotes an African lion. Ubuntu connotes humanity. Its deeper meaning is that we only become human through others (umuntu umuntu ngabantu), especially, ancestors, family and friends. African dialogue is epitomized by respectful greeting and openness in human relationships. Umhlanga Rocks iBhubhesi Mango has a unique ecological ancestry and eco-spiritual story. Mango trees are originally indigenous to India, its people and continent. They are also connected to everything else - nature, people, continents, planets and cosmos. The following contribution intends to unpack some universal, differential and unique aspects of this interconnectedness. "

Potential of Immanuel Kant's Philosophy in the Context of The Encyclical Amoris Laetitia of Pope Francis

Author(s): Zdzisław Kieliszek / Language(s): English Issue: 117/2023

The new approaches to the topic of marriage, which were expressed by Pope Francis in the encyclical Amoris Laetitia, in many aspects are intertwined with the philosophical views of I. Kant, so it is necessary to study this issue to develop the interaction of these worldview systems. The purpose of this article is to determine the role of Kantianism in modern Catholic teaching expressed in Amoris Laetitia. During the research, several methods of scientific knowledge were used, including philosophical and historical analysis, comparison, synthesis, concretisation, and generalisation. As a result of the research, the following conclusions were reached: for a long time, Catholicism has been rejecting the ideas of I. Kant, but in the 20th century, steps were taken to get closer to this teaching; the main difference between the views of Catholicism and Kantianism in this context is that the latter does not consider marriage as a sacrament. Between these worldview systems, there are several common views on the issue of marriage, in particular, Catholicism and Kantianism understand marriage as a union in which spouses become a unique community of two people; the formation of marriage is the result of free choice; procreation is not the only purpose of marriage; marriage involves the right to own each other; spouses are equal; marriage is exclusively heterosexual and elimination of sexual contacts is not possible. In addition, I. Kant's philosophy has an important potential for modern Catholic teaching, which is preached by Pope Francis. This article will be useful for philosophers and Catholic priests.

Rituální studia a rané křesťanství

Author(s): Jiří Gebelt / Language(s): Czech Issue: 1/2024

In this paper, I focus on the emergence of ritual studies and subsequently formulate six characteristics that, in my opinion, establish their identity: a) an emphasis on being grounded in ritual theories; b) a plurality of ritual definitions; c) a wide area of application of ritual theories; d) a ritual understood as (performative) action; e) the plurality of methods; f) interdisciplinarity. Based on these characteristics of ritual studies, I deal with some aspects of their application to early Christianity. I demonstrate the benefit and innovation of this perspective on selected approaches: new viewpoints on rites of passage (DeMaris) and on the origin and development of the Eucharist (Taussig) and cognitive approaches (Uro). Finally, I address the problem of the researcher’s imagination (speculativeness) and the relationship between theories and exegesis of texts. I conclude by analysing the theory of ritual failure applied by P.­‑B. Smit.