Redeemed in Christ The Power of the Christian Promise of Salvation
Just as the terms 'sin' and 'grace' have become problematic in contemporary theological discourse so too has the notion of redemption and salvation. How can we develop an understanding of redemption and salvation that is relevant today without obfuscating the meaning and importance of these terms within the Christian theological tradition?
The Rediscovery of a Spiritual Perspective on Humanity
When the magisterium and academic theology fails to present a credible view of humanity the gap is often filled by spiritual authors who forge social and (monastic-)theological discourses together to fill the void. A connecting thread running through bestsellers from authors such as Henri Nouwen, Anselm Grün OSB, Christopher Jamison OSB, amongst others, are the themes of human brokenness and guilt and how God’s mercy brings healing and wholeness. A thorough analysis of such underlying theological and anthropological aspects should allow the relationship between tradition and contemporary culture to be critically investigated. Within these books a question rises of whether or not this spiritual anthropology fits too seamlessly with the privatization of the religious – religion consumed as a means toward self-realization. On the other hand, this literature can be a source of empowerment, pointing to individual's responsibility when caught in bureaucratic systems that tend to undermine this empowerment. Therefore, this spirituality literature can create an opening for taking up responsibility.
Fulfillment in Christ? Towards a Theological-Anthropological Synthesis
The aforementioned spiritual literature can provide a pathway to develop a Christian image of humanity that should be able to deliver a crucial contribution to the question of ‘who/what is humanity?’ in current academic discussions. Even more: a potential for integration emanates from these publications, where not only the triptych ‘creation – sin/grace – redemption’ is brought to its inner unity, but also links are made with contemporary (human)scientific and philosophical ideas in original ways. Seen theologically, this comes down to a rediscovery of the thought that humanity finds its ultimate completion in Christ. This third research track, therefore, allows one to search for an anthropological cohesion that integrates all of the preceding perspectives and lends it an eschatological tension.
