Problem argumentacji w teologii moralnej – istota i potrzeba uwspółcześniania

Author(s): Tadeusz Zadykowicz / Language(s): Polish Issue: 03/2015

The exposition of moral theology devoid of adequate arguments for the presented theses will always be too superficial, cursory and not profound enough. This is why the task for theologians-moralists is to look for such ways of detailed arguments that would be adequate for the existing social and religious-moral situation. The traditional way of argumentation „from authority” today should be considered definitely insufficient, which, however, does not mean questioning its validity in general. Similarly, the strictly theological argument may not be rejected. However, faith and love should be treated in this argumentation not only as single duties, but as uniform principles integrating the whole morality. Justification of the theological type, because of the modern moral-social situation and the character of culture, however, has to be complemented with personalistic and pragmatic aspects, which may be aided by the adequate use of data coming from the so-called science of man. The „new” argumentation should also to a greater degree take into consideration the new meaning of some concepts and the specificity of the addressee's circles.

Realizm etyki protestanckiej według Reinholda Niebuhra

Author(s): Sławomir Nowosad / Language(s): Polish Issue: 03/2015

In the broader spectrum of Protestant ethics Reinhold0020Niebuhr’s Christian realism still appears to be an important and useful concept. This paper explains several major aspects of the concept which made Niebuhr a very influential figure in the Christian and political context of American life in his days. This would include acknowledging the sinfulness of human nature and its impact on society while stressing the responsibility both of the individual and of the nation, particularly of the US in the postwar world. Niebuhr himself was active in the public debates and political life. His ideas have been recently revived among some American presidents and politicians who claimed to have been influenced by them. Several parallels can also be drawn between Protestant Christian realism and Catholic social teaching.

Cnota jako kapitał społeczny

Author(s): Andrzej Derdziuk / Language(s): Polish Issue: 03/2015

The present article, describing the concept of virtue and its place in the formation of a person’s maturity, points to the social dimension of moral competences that have their repercussions in interpersonal relations. Virtue is a social capital thanks to the fact that it triggers definite mechanisms in a man, enabling him to get involved in the realization of the common good. It becomes a special cement of human relations when it ensures proper conditions for forming existential bonds with others and it shapes a personal way of experiencing the challenges that one encounters and of responding to them. The four cardinal virtues: prudence, justice, courage and temperance make up a cohesive quartet of attitudes that determine one’s ability to control himself and the possibility to help others in a responsible way. The supreme manifestation of the social capital is love, owing to which a man is prepared to give his life in the service of his neighbor.

Antropologiczne implikacje sztucznej prokreacji

Author(s): Józef Wróbel / Language(s): Polish Issue: 03/2015

The issue of artificial procreation may be analyzed from a variety of points of view. Analyses made from the legal and social points of view, from the point of view of the situation of the child in same-sex relations and from the point of view of the consequences for the health of the child and the mother are the dominant ones. The anthropological dimension is very important, since it takes into consideration artificial insemination and situations that are possible in the future if improved techniques make it possible to depart from the circumstances that may be objectable and from the consequences of their use. The anthropological dimension dominates in all the documents issued by the Magisterium in which the issue of artificial procreation is discussed. In this dimension two aspects may be distinguished. The first one assesses the technical interferences with procreation from the perspectives of human sexuality co-constituting the human person and of fertility as the fruit and the sign of marital love. The act of procreation that is adequate to the spouses’ dignity may not be limited to one dimension only: either exclusively the spiritual, or exclusively the carnal one; and hence it may not be separated from the personal, spiritual-carnal unification of the parents. However, in artificial procreation this „determination of unity and determination of parenthood” is broken off.The other aspect is concerned with the personalistic principle that forbids treating a person as an object or as a means to reach an aim; it orders treating it as a value in itself and an aim in itself. This principle also directs human procreation. At no moment of the existence of the child may the parents treat it as an „object”−„means” satisfying their desire or allowing them to achieve their aims. In the same way the specialists following the procedure of artificial insemination do not have the right to make decisions about the child’s life, for in this way they make themselves „lords” of the child; they usurp the right to make the decisions about the child, its birth, its life or death. This is especially well seen in the case of cryoconservation of human embryos. Such a relation is not permitted by the child's personal dignity.

Kara śmierci a bezpieczeństwo publiczne. Na marginesie współczesnego sporu o karę śmierci

Author(s): Krzysztof Butowski / Language(s): Polish Issue: 03/2015

The author of the article puts forward and attempts to justify the thesis according to which the death penalty – in the strict sense of the term – is identified only and exclusively with killing the criminal, the killing being the punishment for the most serious crimes, first of all murder. Killing a criminal in defense of the society (ultima ratio) is a shape of the action that is closer to actions carried out by the state as part of an ethically justified war. In the justification of this thesis the author refers both to the history of the debate on capital punishment (e.g. C. Beccaria) and to its modern stage (Evangelium vitae).

Wokół sporu o ubój rytualny. Między prawem do wolności religijnej a prawami zwierząt

Author(s): Krzysztof Smykowski / Language(s): Polish Issue: 03/2015

The aim of the article is to reflect on the issue of shechita slaughter and regulations by law concerning it. After a synthetic presentation of the right to freedom of religion and the animal rights in the analogous meaning (I.) the principles are discussed of shechita slaughter and its two forms are distinguished: traditional and industrial (II.). The article is concluded with a moral assessment of the law that is binding in the Republic of Poland (III.). It is stated that introducing a ban on slaughter on an industrial scale, with at the same time ensuring the possibility of getting meat for their own use for religious communities does not infringe the fundamental right to freedom of religion and satisfies the demands of protection of animals.

Maurizio Chiodi. Teologia morale fondamentale

Author(s): Jarosław Wojtkun / Language(s): Polish Issue: 03/2015

Note on Probabilistic Arguments for the Existence of God

Author(s): Lech Gruszecki / Language(s): English Issue: 09/2015

The article presents the theistic arguments for the existence of God that have been developed for the past 400 years and that use the concepts from probability theory. It focuses on: 1) the probabilistic version of the argument from design, and 2) Pascal's Wager. In order to present these two arguments rigorously, the so called probabilistic measures of rationality have been defined. The measures are based on the concepts of (classic) probability, conditional probability, and the expected value. These concepts have been applied to reconstruct the arguments in question. Additionally, the analytic form of the formulas defining rationality measures enables to discuss the substantive value of the arguments presented. Their weight of evidence depends to a great extent on the ontological, epistemological, and cultural assumptions that have been accepted either explicitly or implicitly. Pascal's Wager seems to be the most resistant to criticism. It also appeals to a wide range of people. Still, it is largely based on the accepted world view.

Ks. Marek Jagodziński, Antropologia komunijna

Author(s): Ignacy Bokwa / Language(s): Polish Issue: 02/2016

Ks. Jerzy Buczek, Teologia narodu w ujęciu wybranych polskich teologów

Author(s): Jerzy Szymik / Language(s): Polish Issue: 02/2016

Cheryl M. Peterson, Who Is the Church? An Ecclesiology for the Twenty-First Century

Author(s): Sławomir Nowosad / Language(s): Polish Issue: 02/2016

Előszó

Author(s): Tamás Juhász / Language(s): Hungarian Issue: 1/2014

A káték "fölöttébb szükséges voltáról"

Author(s): Elek Rezi / Language(s): Hungarian Issue: 1/2014

Betoldás vagy nem?

Author(s): Csaba Fekete / Language(s): Hungarian Issue: 1/2014

Guilt, Grace and Gratitude

Author(s): Wim Verboom / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2014

Can the Heidelberg Catechism be Neglected in the Life of the Reformed Church of Hungary?

Author(s): Szilveszter Füsti-Molnár / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2014

"Vera iustitia et sanctitate praeditum…"

Author(s): György Papp / Language(s): Hungarian Issue: 1/2014

A Stehelin-féle, 1752-es Catechismusi Házi-Kints

Author(s): János Hermán M. / Language(s): Hungarian Issue: 1/2014

Kéziratos kátémagyarázatok teológiai vizsgálata

Author(s): Zoltán Ballai / Language(s): Hungarian Issue: 1/2014

Schüler des Katechismus von Heidelberg unter die Predigt

Author(s): Jan van der Graaf / Language(s): German Issue: 1/2014