Autor: Lonergan, Bernard J.F.

Buch: The Trinune God: Systematics

Titel: The Triune God: Systematics

Stichwort: Objekt der Theologie; in sich - in Relation zu anderen Wissenschaften

Kurzinhalt: ... since acts are known through objects and movements are known through their terms, we shall have to discuss briefly (1) the twofold aspect of theology, (2) the object as the goal of theology, (3) ...

Textausschnitt: 9 The Object of Theology

101c Now that we have considered the goal, the act by which the goal is attained, and the movement toward that act, it is time to draw all these considerations together, so that they can be grasped from the unity of a single viewpoint. Therefore, since acts are known through objects and movements are known through their terms, we shall have to discuss briefly (1) the twofold aspect of theology, (2) the object as the goal of theology, (3) the object as an immanently produced term, (4) the object as moving, (5) the process from the object as moving to the object as a term, and (6) the process from the object as a term to the object as the goal. (Fs)

101d First, then, theology can be considered either in itself or in relation to other sciences. The consideration of theology in itself regards objects and processes. But the consideration of theology in relation to other sciences calls for a distinction between what is common and what is specific. It is common to all the sciences that, while they must be distinguished from one another, they must not be separated from one another; there is only one universe to be understood, and each human being has only one intellect - an intellect that submits to every mere multiplicity only reluctantly. Moreover, it is common to many sciences that one uses another to move to its own proper perfection; this is increasingly the case as the sciences treat the concrete reality of a more perfect object. Thus, more sciences collaborate in knowing plants than in knowing minerals, more in knowing animals than in knowing plants, more in knowing human beings than in knowing other animals. Finally, there is a need that wisdom (whose role it is to judge and order everything) exercise her specific office and function, in order to determine the proper ends and adapt the proper methods of the individual sciences so that all of them may proceed more effectively to a unified and coherent understanding of the one universe. (Fs)

103a From this it is clear both that theology must make use of the other sciences, and especially the human sciences, and also that the other sciences, and again especially the human sciences, should learn from theology. For in this life every human being is infected with original sin and helped by God's supernatural grace and the magisterium of the church. In that mutual assistance (DB 1799, DS 3019, ND 135), theology performs the function of wisdom, both because theology is guided by the superior light of faith and because only theology can resolve into causes the situation of humankind1 as in fact it exists in this state of fallen and redeemed nature. And so, although theology in the exercise of its sapiential function uses and should use other sciences such as logic, methodology, and philosophy, nevertheless it is up to theology to determine the proper ends of each of these other sciences (DB 1799, DS 3019, ND 135).2 (Fs)

103b As for theology considered in itself as one particular science, it treats objects that become known by the supernatural light of faith, namely, the triune God, the incarnate Word, and other objects that pertain to the economy of salvation. Yet faith and theology differ from one another - not because they intend different objects but because they consider the same objects in different ways. What the believer believes, the theologian to some extent understands; what the believer affirms as true, the theologian intends as an intelligible truth. Just as science is not just any certain knowledge but certain knowledge of things through causes, so theology adds something to simple faith in that it proceeds from a truth that is believed to a truth that is both believed and to some extent understood. (Fs)