Bogoslovska smotra, Vol. 69 No. 1, 1999.
Stručni rad
The Church and Churchism Today
Dušan Moro
; Katolički bogoslovni fakultet Sveučilišta u Splitu, Split, Hrvatska
Sažetak
Many have called the 20th century, the »century of the Church«. R. Guardini wrote: »The Church is awakening in the soul.« However, in spite of optimistic expectations, and aside from the II Vatican Council which was »the convention of the Church about the Church«, the last decade of this century has not fulfilled these hopes and predictions. On the contrary, quite the opposite is occurring.
There has been large-scale alienation from the Church, especially in rich western countries. Indifference, secularism, individualism, and subjectivism are becoming more and more prominent, and many are already speaking of »the death of the Church in the soul!«
What has caused and is causing this?
This article in brief quick steps, attempts to catch a glimpse of the essence of the problem in the large ideological and world view movements which mark the beginning of the 20th century, and which will continue until the end of the century, that is to say, of the transformation from modernism to a postmodern society and postmodernist mentality and world view.
Phenomena such as modernism, secularism, laicism, indifferentism, as well as extreme subjectivism and individualism, will mark this time and condense all its terms of reference in the contemporary moment which is called the post-modern era.
This is a very complex phenomenon which opposes Christianity and the Christian view of the world — its approach to and evaluation of the past, present and future. Modernism rejects the past and sees everything in terms of the future which is the measure of all things. Post-modernism rejects and invalidates the future itself. Neither the past nor the future offer any security, nor do they fill life with meaning or aim it in the right direction.
Along with these world perspectives, one must include great social, technical, technological and biotechnical changes and possibilities, such as the determination of living conditions, and even free choice in one's own life. It is a question of beginning and ending of life and living. Genetic and biotechnical procedures and progress in these areas must be in coordination and harmony with the fundamental message of the Gospel and the teachings of Jesus Christ and his church.
In fact according to these conditions and points of view, Christianity and the Catholic Church become more necessary, and its prophetical-critical attitude and mission emerge as, maybe, the one and only chance. The Christian proclamation which, objectively, is lodged in the historical past event-the event of Jesus Christ, his incarnation, life, death and resurrection - is the proclamation of God's Kingdom, which is coming, and which will, to the full, be realised in Eshaton, is and became a fundamental point of reference and support.
This is the continual »present«; it is the »here and now«, which touches every person and which joins and intertwines all historical threads and terms of reference and pasts which in the present open and necessarily orient and influence the future—God's final »now and forever« - which we hopefully look forward to.
The prophetical-critical proclamation of the Church is its fundamental mission and continuation and constant presence and eternalization of the service of Christ's priests, kings and prophets.
Ključne riječi
The Church; society; pluralism; postmodern; prophetic function of the Church
Hrčak ID:
31527
URI
Datum izdavanja:
29.9.1999.
Posjeta: 1.905 *