Original scientific paper

Christian Faith and Childlike Spirit

Ivica Raguž orcid.org/0000-0002-0083-0325 ; Catholic Faculty of Theology in Đakovo, University of Osijek

Abstract

The aim of the article is to discuss Christian faith and childlike spirit. The first part of the article analyzes the childlike spirit from the theological point of view. The characteristics of a childlike spi- rit are dependence, togetherness, talent, different understanding of time, confidence in goodness, love. In the second part it is pointed out that Jesus Christ accomplishes these dimensions of childlike spirit. Moreover, in Jesus God reveals himself as a child, as God in whom eternally the child, the Son, exist. Jesus Christ is the child of God, the Son of God who encourages man to conversion, and that conversion implies a childlike, filial relationship with God. The third, concluding part of the article speaks about the faithful as about the children of God, as about the ones who achieve their maturity just through the childlike spirit, childlike, filial relationship with God the Father. In the time of crisis of the childlike spirit, the role of Chri- stianity is to keep rediscovering and spreading the childlike spirit, the spirit of Jesus Christ.

Keywords

child; childlike spirit; Hans Urs von Balthasar; maturity; kingdom of God

Hrčak ID:

161300

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/161300

Publication date:

6.7.2016.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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