Autor: Lonergan, Bernard J.F.

Buch: The Trinune God: Systematics

Titel: The Triune God: Systematics

Stichwort: Theologisches Verstehen (Glaubensgeheimnisse ): vermittelt, unvollkommen, analog ... 10 Punkte

Kurzinhalt: theological understanding ... imperfect, analogical, obscure, gradually developing, synthetic, and highly fruitful

Textausschnitt: 15e First, then, the object that moves us to theological understanding is not some intelligibility embodied in corporeal matter, but the intelligibility of God, in whom the mysteries are hidden. This intelligibility moves us, not immediately as in the beatific vision, but mediately through the truth that God has revealed and that we have accepted in faith. (Fs)

15f Second, theological understanding is imperfect. It is a finite act, limited by a finite species. But a finite act is in no way proportionate to understanding perfectly the infinitely perfect God. Therefore, since its object is some mystery hidden in God, theological understanding cannot possibly ever be perfect in this life, this side of the beatific vision. (Fs)

17a Third, this imperfect understanding is analogical. For a finite act of understanding bears directly on something finite; but what bears directly on something finite can be extended only analogically to whatis infinite. (Fs)

17b Fourth, this imperfect and analogical understanding is obscure. For analogy is valid to the extent that there is a similarity between Creator and creature, and 'any similarity, however great, that is discovered between Creator and creature will always leave a still greater dissimilarity to be discovered' (DB 432, DS 806, ND 320). Thus, just as from the similarity comes some light, so from the dissimilarity comes a still greater darkness. (Fs)

17c Fifth, this imperfect, analogical, and obscure theological understanding develops over time. The human mind is such that it advances one step at a time through intermediate acts to acts that are more perfect. As in all else, so in theology, grace does not destroy nature but perfects it. This is clear from the history of theology. So it must be said that theological understanding develops in the course of time. (Fs)

17d Sixth, this imperfect, analogical, obscure, and gradually developing theological understanding is also synthetic. For the human mind is such that it does not wonder about things just individually but, understanding individual elements, goes on to ask how they are connected with one another. And so after the individual mysteries have been considered on their own, further questions arise about how they are connected with one another and with our last end. Answering these questions provides a synthetic understanding. (Fs)

17e Seventh, this synthesis is itself imperfect, analogical, obscure, and gradually developing. For a synthesis is no more than the understanding of many things together. The same reasons that prove that our understanding of individual matters is imperfect, analogical, obscure, and gradually developing also prove that the same will be true of understanding all those matters together. (Fs)

17f Eighth, although even synthetic theological understanding is imperfect, analogical, obscure, and gradually developing, still it is highly fruitful. The condition of one who understands is always better than the condition of one who does not, whether it be in apprehending truth or in teaching it to others or in moving one's inmost will or in counseling and directing others. The more theological understanding is extended to all that has been revealed, the more fully then are those revealed matters apprehended, the more effectively are they taught, and the more faithfully is the whole of human life in all its aspects directed to its final supernatural end. (Fs) (notabene)

19a Ninth, the benefit derived by someone who seriously strives for theological understanding but attains it only in small measure is neither slight nor to be disparaged. Whoever searches for theological understanding has to attend to everything that can lead to such understanding, and that means attending to what God has revealed to us and what the church of God proposes to be believed by all. But neither slight nor to be disparaged is the benefit that is derived from a serious, lengthy, careful, exact consideration of the truths that God has revealed and we are to believe, both in themselves and in all that follows from them. And so it is a mistake to conclude that, unless each one of us actually arrives at an understanding of the mysteries, time is being wasted. (Fs)

20a Tenth, does such theological understanding exist - imperfect, analogical, obscure, gradually developing, synthetic, and highly fruitful? Vatican I has answered that question authoritatively. (Fs)