Humanity in the Mystery of God The Theological Anthropology of Edward Schillebeeckx

by Cooper, Jennifer

• ISBN13: 9780567036537
• ISBN10: 0567036537
• Edition: Reprint
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2011-04-28
• Publisher: Bloomsbury T & T Clark

Summary

Schillebeeckx's theology is a reflection on the nature of God who is both creator and redeemer: his theology is a 'treatise' on the God who is God for humanity. This means of course that his theology is always both a reflection on the nature of God and on the meaning of humanity; and hence there is a theological anthropology at the centre of his whole theological enterprise. The 'definition' of humanity is given in the relationship between the mystery of God - the God who is both transcendent and immanent - and the mystery of humanity. For Schillebeeckx, the meaning of humanity is revealed and established in the mystery of God as a vocation to intimacy with God. This intimacy is described both as a dependence upon God and as a situated freedom, and hence the description of humanity which emerges from Schillebeeckx's treatise on God holds together humanity's metaphysical and moral significance. At the heart of this theocentric anthropology is its christological structure. Schillebeeckx develops a sacramental christology in light of his interpretation of Christ's incarnation. The relation of incarnation to the death, resurrection and glorification of Christ establishes a sacramental theological anthropology. The meaning of humanity is given in its creative, salvific, sanctifying, participative and personal relation to the God who is God both of creation and of covenant. This book develops an interpretation of Schillebeeckx's theological anthropology by analysing his theology of revelation and grace, and by examining the christological structure of his theology.

Table of Contents

Introduction Chapter 1: Revelation and Human Being Theologian Anthropology: intention and condition Humanity and God: a distinctively Dominican theology Humanity created by God: God as cause, transcendence and difference Humanity addressed by God: God as personal and immanent Humanity revealed by God: God as meaning

Chapter 2: Grace and Human Being Grace and revelation Grace: the human vocation to intimacy with God Grace: incarnation as human intimacy with God

Chapter 3: Incarnation and Human Being Incarnation: christology as itinerarium mentis Incarnation: Christology as zijnsgrond Incarnation: Christology as sacramental

Chapter 4: Resurrection and Human Being Resurrection: incarnation and glorification Resurrection: mysterion and human action

Conclusion Bibliography