paraphrase to rahner
By Peter - Posted on November 13th, 2007
Folks, check out this "The Foundations of Karl Rahner" by Mark Fischer. It's a study guide for seminarians. Apparently, few people ever completely read Rahner's basic course "Foundations of Christian Faith" (which appears to be Catholic seminarians' 101 course). This was written as an answer to the problem, and a good answer it is. Very concise, very informational, also readable for evangelicals, i believe, as there is probably little difference at the foundation level.
highly recommended
pmm
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"This was written as an answer to the problem..."
PM - What problem are we talking about?
Thanks -- js
the problem is that Rahner's english translation, although presumably correct, is almost unreadable. sentences go on seemingly for pages, so that the average human almost has to draw a flow diagram for every sentence. i have at least twice tried to read it, but it's like driving a car into a snow drift: after initial progress, the wheels start spinning, and after a while you just bog down...
finally! someone has actually spent the time to read and analyze every sentence, and summarize it at a quarter of its original density, which brings it down to normal textbook complexity.
you should absolutely read it.
pmm
PM,
Can you give us a bit more on this book? Why do you like it? What's so good about it? What is Rahner's essential message/approach etc.?
Thanks,
js
the book is a shortened and explanatory version of a "101" theology textbook for seminarians. so, it covers everything that is central to the christian message. can't put it any better. like a mini summa theologiae of the 20th century...
PM,
Theology isn't something that I tend to dig into. I have the Short Summa of Aquinas. It is very nice but I have not felt compelled to read it - knowing that it exists if I need it seems to keep Aquinas on the shelf. (Also, I'm reading pre-Aquinas as I like to study cronologically).
You assent less to Christanity than I do, it seems that you are more of a buzzard who tends to want to pick away until every last piece of flesh has been eaten. It seems that you are very driven to verify that this all makes sense. I admire your tenacity and hunger for depth and truth.
You do seem to like the taste of God. Some people spit him out. Interesting that when some taste this honey they still turn away from it while others know that it is the only thing worth their time.
Could you do us a favor? List all the books you have read over the last two years on Christianity or faith etc. I am interested in what your journey has been.
js
(!) means of particular interest. (p) means partly read, sometimes because the work is encyclopaedic and i skipped sections that were not of particular interest.