Vatican: Cardinal Kasper warns against naïve dialogue
Cathcon translation of
Vatikan: Kasper warnt vor naivem Dialog
Christianity has to deal with Islam. Other religions in Europe are no longer just guests, said the German Curial Cardinal, Cardinal Walter Kasper, this Tuesday in Rome. The basis for interfaith dialogue is a good knowledge of one's own theology and the maintenance of one’s own identity, stated Kasper.
"There are now other religions in Europe and they will remain there. Islam in the first instance is present. That makes many people very afraid. But we must actively be concerned entering a constructive and critical discussion, not a naive discussion which only speaks of one and the same God. But next we must begin to understand who we are. "
The Professor of Systematic Theology who earlier taught at Tübingen University criticized a wave of atheism in Europe, which Christians should not face passively. As an example, Kasper cited the atheistic ethics in the Richard Dawkins book "The God Delusion".
"We now have a whole wave of books, all bestsellers, representing a very aggressive missionary atheism. We must not think that atheism is a matter of the 19th Century, and that we would overcome it. No, we still need to face it. "
Missionary atheism or the newly emerging diffuse religiosity - both need to be confronted with the Christian understanding of God said Kasper.
"There is a return of religious consciousness, the religious yearning. Religion has also returned to public debate, and the loving God has basically become again a topic of dinner parties. But it is often a very vague understanding of God, a God of the Whole World, often a purely emotional issue. "
This is the reason according to Kasper, President of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, in theology and in social as well as interreligious dialogue, the question of God should be at the centre: "In this area, is found the whole problem of faith and knowledge: This is a problem that the current Pope has very close to his heart: not only an emotional faith, but a faith that is formed in the light of reason, and wants to think about God. I can think of nothing more fascinating than to think about God. God is that to which all thought returns. And to whom all thinking returns, once again raises fresh thought, which is the great challenge. "
Walter Kasper spoke at a press conference on the occasion of the new release of his foundational work "The God of Jesus Christ" and the presentation of a commemorative book for his 75th Birthday which the Cardinal celebrates on Wednesday. In a foreword, Pope Benedict XVI thanked Kasper his engagement in theology and for the church.
"There are now other religions in Europe and they will remain there. Islam in the first instance is present. That makes many people very afraid. But we must actively be concerned entering a constructive and critical discussion, not a naive discussion which only speaks of one and the same God. But next we must begin to understand who we are. "
The Professor of Systematic Theology who earlier taught at Tübingen University criticized a wave of atheism in Europe, which Christians should not face passively. As an example, Kasper cited the atheistic ethics in the Richard Dawkins book "The God Delusion".
"We now have a whole wave of books, all bestsellers, representing a very aggressive missionary atheism. We must not think that atheism is a matter of the 19th Century, and that we would overcome it. No, we still need to face it. "
Missionary atheism or the newly emerging diffuse religiosity - both need to be confronted with the Christian understanding of God said Kasper.
"There is a return of religious consciousness, the religious yearning. Religion has also returned to public debate, and the loving God has basically become again a topic of dinner parties. But it is often a very vague understanding of God, a God of the Whole World, often a purely emotional issue. "
This is the reason according to Kasper, President of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, in theology and in social as well as interreligious dialogue, the question of God should be at the centre: "In this area, is found the whole problem of faith and knowledge: This is a problem that the current Pope has very close to his heart: not only an emotional faith, but a faith that is formed in the light of reason, and wants to think about God. I can think of nothing more fascinating than to think about God. God is that to which all thought returns. And to whom all thinking returns, once again raises fresh thought, which is the great challenge. "
Walter Kasper spoke at a press conference on the occasion of the new release of his foundational work "The God of Jesus Christ" and the presentation of a commemorative book for his 75th Birthday which the Cardinal celebrates on Wednesday. In a foreword, Pope Benedict XVI thanked Kasper his engagement in theology and for the church.
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