Autor: Lonergan, Bernard J.F.

Buch: A Second Collection

Titel: A Second Collection

Stichwort: Geschichte: theologische Perspektive; Fortschritt, Niedergang, Erlösung; Blindheit der Faktizität; Sünde: Leid, Tod (Textstellen)

Kurzinhalt: Progress results from the natural development of human intelligence ... a flight from understanding results in a similarly cumulative process of decline

Textausschnitt: The People of God in the World of Today

7a I have been asked for "a theological perspective on how a community of love adapts and directs itself for effective mission and witness." Presumably the reason for the request lies in points I have made elsewhere. There is in my book Insight1 a general analysis of the dynamic structure of human history, and in my mimeographed text De Verbo Incarnato2 a thesis on the lex crucis that provides its strictly theological complement. (Fs)

The analysis distinguishes three components: progress, decline, and redemption. (Fs)

7b Progress results from the natural development of human intelligence: "... concrete situations give rise to insights which issue into policies and courses of action. Action transforms the existing situation to give rise to further insights, better policies, more effective courses of action. It follows that if insight occurs, it keeps recurring; and at each recurrence knowledge develops, action increases its scope, and situations improve" (Insight, p. xiv). (Fs)

7c Next, a flight from understanding results in a similarly cumulative process of decline. (Fs)

For the flight from understanding blocks the insights that concrete situations demand. There follow unintelligent policies and inept courses of action. The situation deteriorates to demand still further insights and, as they are blocked, policies become more unintelligent and action more inept. What is worse, the deteriorating situation seems to provide the uncritical, biased mind with factual evidence in which the bias is claimed to be verified. So in ever increasing measure intelligence comes to be regarded as irrelevant to practical living. Human activity settles down to a decadent routine, and initiative becomes the privilege of violence (Insight, p. xiv). (Fs)

8a If human historical process is such a compound of progress and decline, then its redemption would be effected by faith, hope, and charity. For the evils of the situation and the enmities they engender would only be perpetuated by an even-handed justice: charity alone can wipe the slate clean. The determinism and pressures of every kind, resulting from the cumulative surd of unintelligent policies and actions, can be withstood only through a hope that is transcendent and so does not depend on any human prop. Finally, only within the context of higher truths accepted on faith can human intelligence and reasonableness be liberated from the charge of irrelevance to the realities produced by human waywardness (Insight, chap. XX). (Fs)

8b This analysis fits in with scriptural doctrine, which understands suffering and death as the result of sin yet inculcates the transforming power of Christ, who in himself and in us changes suffering and death into the means for attaining resurrection and glory. (Fs) (notabene)