May 14, 20 one of those involved in this council was a theologian named hans kung. The well being of the church and of ecumenism is at stake. Since kungs work on being a christian is religious, the focus in this writing is on the religious use of the word salvation. Kung, hans, christianity and the world religions, p112 hasan ibn aiyfib wrote a long letter to his brother to explain why he, who had once been a christian, after twenty years of doubts, especially about the trinity and the incarnation, had finally become a muslim kung, hans, christianity and the world religions, p112. None of the replies really deal with one of the key issues raised by hans kung. He described what is common among the various christian communities and discussed the reasons a person would choose to believe in christianity. Hans kung is emeritus professor of ecumenical theology at the university of tubingen and president of the global ethic foundation. A theological controversy with political consequences 220. For, as a human being, a christian and a theologian, in the light of the churchs nature, i cannot permit myself so i think such an independent. Hans kung obtained a doctorate in theology from the sorbonne in 1957. Hans kung may be most widely known as a critic of papal leadership.
His ideas have been warmly received and appreciated by people throughout the world and have stirred the imaginations of christians and nonchristians. To be sure the whole of part 1, background, in treating of feelings, values, beliefs, the human good, meaning, religious experience and the question of god and the discussion of conversion, as well as the discussion of the theoretical, systematic and transcendent exigencies of differentiated polymorphic consciousness in part 2. On being a christian by kung, hans, 1928publication date 1984. The realization that the foundations established by the council of trent in the 16 th century were no longer adequate prompted one of the most important reformulations of the ecclesiology of the roman catholic church in history. For a long time many people have encouraged me to read on being a christian. Hans kung here assesses the impact of other world religions, humanism, science, technology, and political revolutions. On being a christian hans kung pdf on being a christian hans kung on. There are striking parallels between marian devotion and the worship of pagan goddesses in the ancient world. This book makes clear that he deserves to be known as a.
Hans kungs on being a christian was destined for the once more. At the time, i found the sentences laborious to read being translated from the german into english. How far might it be true to say that hans kung treats all. I have had only a chance to browse through it a couple of times, but today, while studying the way in which the prophet isaiah uses the word justice hb tsadiq or tsadiqa, i opened it to see if he had any comments on it and came across this paragraph near the end of the book.
Hans kung, renowned dissident theologian, considering suicide. Congar said he spoke like a revolutionary and not a reformer ii. Although my summers reading up on god project may become more. This is an apologetic work which reexamines what it means to be a christian today. It seeks to bring to light for this present time the original christian message and. We may consider the work of hans kung, comprised in thousands of pages. An international bestseller ogunde varere pdf score by one of this centurys most prominent.
Since kung s work on being a christian is religious, the focus in this writing is on the religious use of the word salvation. On being a christian is 1974 work of christian theology by hans kung. Reports that father hans kung s university colleagues have asked church officials to reinstate him as a catholic theologian, making it a gift for his retirement. In an age of confusion about spirituality and the meaning of. He is the author of numerous best selling books including on being a christian harper collins. In this paper, kungs concept of salvation as stated in the book on being a christian is presented and this has been compared with very few prominent positions as to limit the length of this outing. Hans kung on being christian as being radically human life. He also sifts through christian controversiesall to affirm the vitality and uniqueness of christianity in the reality of the historical christ.
An international bestseller by one of this centurys most prominent theologians, on being a christian is a work of exhaustive scholarship, born of the authors passionate belief in jesus christ as the center of existence. Originally published in 1974 and translated from kung s native german, on being a christian is definitely a product of its. Hans kung has himself said of the book, which he regards as his magnum opus, that it intends to clarify and challenge christian faith and life at a time when the churches have. Kung studied at gregorian university in rome and obtained a doctorate in theology from the catholic institute at the sorbonne in 1957. Hans kung on church reform sylvania franciscan village. Hans kung, swiss roman catholic theologian whose controversial liberal views led to his censorship by the vatican in 1979.
Archdiocese of new orleans files chapter 11 reorganization. Hans kung relates his information through a three part presentation. His text has been revised by yves congar, karl rahner and edward schillebeecks and then signed by 1. Kelber describes hans kungs major work, on being a christian 1976 as a presentation summarising christian history, faith, and life in the light of modern culture. Although kung is not officially allowed to teach catholic theology, his priestly faculties have not been revoked. What links here related changes upload file special pages permanent link page information. He has committed himself to a christian church full of life and freedom and humanity. Athena, the goddess of wisdom and warfare was the patron of athens, as the citys name suggests. Books are not made to be believed but to be subjected to inquiry. In his magnificent book, the church, he gives an outline of what it means to be the church kung 19. Hans kung on devotion to mary page 2 christian forums.
Victory is always available, but if we do fall, we have an advocate with the father, jesus christ, the righteous one. Christian material avoids disjunctive tendencies e. In chapter 3 of on being a christian kung expounded his theory of religions. No peace among the religions without dialogue between the religions no dialogue between the religions without investigation of the foundation of the religions. The devil wants to discourage us to the point that we say.
Any consideration of hans kiings attitude towards world religions must begin with the. A theological controversy with political consequences 220 predestination by godtheologically disputed 222. Hans kung has himself said of the book, which he regards as his magnum opus, that it intends to clarify and challenge christian faith and life at a time when the churches have unfortunately lost rather than gained in credibility. He is notable for his rejection of the doctrine of papal infallibility. Can you imagine any other company training someone over a period of years at great expense, giving them a top job, free accommodation, paid travel to anywhere in the world they take a fancy to and then allowing them to sit all day writing fairy tales while their. Friends, a friend of mine gave me a copy of hans kungs on being a christian the other day. Since 1995 he has been president of the foundation for a global ethic stiftung weltethos. Jul 23, 2008 friends, a friend of mine gave me a copy of hans kungs on being a christian the other day. On being a christian is the second edition of what kung himself regarded as his magnum opus and its quite a tome at 602 pages. Mccann reed college hans kiings recent work, on being a christian, adds an important chapter to the history of modern catholic apologetics. Im not reading it in expectation of it being an introduction to islam. Holy cross 100 bookstexts the holy bible in umberto ecos medieval mystery, the name of the rose, an enlightened english franciscan monk, william of baskerville notes that. Hans kung on being christian as being radically human. Hans kung assesses the impact of world religions, humanism, science, technology, and political revolutions.
The survey format of the volume means that only the briefest sort of treatment can be. The book focuses on the life and teaching of jesus christ and the nature of. In this paper, kung s concept of salvation as stated in the book on being a christian is presented and this has been compared with very few prominent. Probably the best modern book on christianity, this classic from hans kung was written in 1974 and has been reissued in 2008 by continuum books. Hans kung says francis responded to request for free. May 02, 2014 ripples spread out from hans kungs work. In it he attempts to address serious seekers for some sort of ultimate truth and moral integrity by developing an attractive. On being a christian by hans kung paperback softback. Ripples spread out from hans kungs work national catholic. No peace among the nations without peace among the religions. In 1968 hans kueng has outlined the declaration for the freedom in theology. In fact, kung demonstrates from the opening section on the challenge of modern humanisms throughout the course of this book, that the christian as true humanist is the principle that underlies his concept of christianity.
Hans kung is pictured in his office in tubingen, germany, in a 2008 file. On being a christian is a vital and important statement about what it means to be a christian. However, while this work stresses the centrality of christ. What i believe isbn 9781441103161 pdf epub hans kung. Hans kung is one of the most celebrated theologians of the present day. May 01, 2014 i often wonder if people like hans kung ever find time to carry out their priestly duties or even to say a decade of the rosary. Hans kung 1928 is one of the most distinguished and widelyacclaimed theologians of the twentieth century. The appearance of on being a christian in english in 1976 brought a primarily academic theologian to wide public attention.
Thomas seminary, kenmore, washington one of the most successful religious books of our time has been hans kungs on being a christian. Reform for the sake of christian unity and interfaith dialogue g. His audience, which is strong within his own roman catholic church, is equally solid among christians of other denominations, among those outside the churches and indeed among those at the frontiers of organised religion. This essay will present and assess hans kungs theological ethics. This is one of his most effective weapons in his arsenal. If one or more works are by a distinct, homonymous authors, go ahead and split the author. It is rare indeed to find a book which is still cutting edge thirty years after being written, yet in the church kung makes relevant observations and challenges. However, his life goal was far from wanting to be an ivorytower academic. He described what is common among the various christian communities and discussed the.
A world empire comes into being 215 paradigm change in foreign and military policy 217 the second wave of conquest. A mammoth and important rendering of the christian faith, by one of the most prominent living roman catholic theologians. Hans kung says francis responded to request for free discussion on infallibility dogma. His questioning of traditional church doctrines led to a 1979 vatican. Beyond its historical and theological dimensions, however, on being a christian is a thorough reexamination of what it means to be a christian today.
I was able to plow thru the tedium due to research skills from my science background at auburn university. Hans kung, born in switzerland, is a catholic priest and a prolific author. Read it in late 1970s while onboard a us naval ship. Kung has continued to address new challenges in the church b. Kung, hans, christianity and the world religions, p112 hasan ibn aiyfib wrote a long letter to his brother to explain why he, who had once been a christian, after twenty years of doubts, especially about the trinity and the incarnation, had finally become a muslim kung, hans. Oct 03, 20 october 3, 20 german theology professor hans kung has written that he is considering committing suicide because of his age and his fears of illness. More recently, his on being christian 1977 has raised the question of whether his theology is not simply rational protestant theology of the turn of the century. Pdf christianity and world religions from the perspective of hans. Hans kung makers of the modern theological mind series, john j. Official inquiries were held, statements were exchanged between kung and the conference of german bishops, and the romebased congregation for the doctrine of the faith, but no. Reports that father hans kungs university colleagues have asked church officials to reinstate him as a catholic theologian, making it a gift for his retirement.
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