The Ascension: Recollecting the Experience
Praying Together in the Dark
Given the richness of the New Testament perspectives on the ascension as an event (Luke), movement (John), state (Paul) and activity (Hebrews, Revelation), this article focuses on the ascension as an experienced phenomenon, the better to exclude mythological fantasies and to prepare for a critical theological exploration – even if by definition the ascension eludes any overly ambitious systematic treatment. As a phenomenon, the ascension saturates the consciousness of faith both negatively and positively: negatively, e.g., in terms of departure, ending, invisibility, beyond-ness and otherness; positively, e.g., in terms of presence, universal accessibility, and anticipation, novelty and hope.
The Debate Over Light in Darkness and the Catholicity of Hans Urs von Balthasar
The purpose of this paper is twofold. First, it explores the nature, forms and rationale for shared prayer within interreligious dialogue. Second, on the basis of this survey, the paper asks whether praying together, which is defined specifically as interreligious prayer, can be theologically justified. The paper argues that interreligious prayer is indeed possible, not because all theological differences between the gathered religious traditions can or should be smoothed over but, rather, because they paradoxically cannot. The paper suggests that authentic interreligious prayer can be anchored within an apophatic modality in which the praying members of each religious tradition are united in their collective failure to adequately name Ultimate Mystery - to 'praying together in the dark' as I term it. It should be noted that the paper is theoretical in nature; it does not propose norms for the practice of interreligious prayer.
Doing Theology Inter-religiously?
The publication of Alyssa Pitstick's Light in Darkness has raised questions about the status of von Balthasar's theology, in particular his theology of the descent of Jesus. The paper will consider her claims, and responses to her thesis, and those of others who have raised critical questions about his theology. It will not address the question as to the orthodoxy of his theology, but will ask how his theology can contain so many elements which stretch boundaries yet not attract official concern. It will consider his position on the descent into Hell, divine immutability, his Trinitarian thought and his position on the beatific vision of Jesus. It will compare his treatment with that given to the writing of Sobrino's Christology.
Porta Fidei: The Year of Faith: The Faith of Joseph Ratzinger
The visit of Professor Francis Clooney to Australia in the winter of 2012 generated a good deal of lively conversation within the Centre for Interreligious Dialogue at Australian Catholic University. Clooney, an American Jesuit, Professor of Comparative Theology and Parkman Professor of Divinity at Harvard University is a leading global exponent of comparative theology. In this essay, we seek to examine the historical development of the discipline, discuss its distinctive features and probe the reasons for its emergence in a revitalised form in the Anglo-American academy towards the close of the twentieth century. Sections 2 and 3 of the article elaborate specific forms of comparative theology – Buddhist-Christian and Christian-Hindu collaborative learning – and suggest potential areas for future research. We conclude that the rejuvenated discipline represents a creative and fruitful way of doing theology in our pluralistic and globalised world.
Pacem In Terris In a Digital Age
The resignation of Benedict XVI was a surprise, but not unanticipated. The legacy of his Pontificate is now under scrutiny. This article examines the faith of Benedict XVI and reconnects it with his Apostolic letter Porta Fidei, issued on October 11th, 2011 to announce the Year of Faith. This essay claims that Porta Fidei can be seen as the spiritual testament of Ratzinger's understanding of faith.
Being Attentive to Silence
This paper argues that Pacem in Terris continues to be relevant in the digital era. After discussing its basic themes on peace and peacebuilding, the essay focuses on new sources of conflicts spawned in the information era and the significance and challenges of the following themes: its positive engagement with the world; the principles of truth, justice, freedom and solidarity which Pacem stressed should characterize relationships at all levels; the centrality of respect for human rights for the peace agenda; the recognition of the role of media to build bridges; and the need for transnational authority to regulate issues that go beyond territorial boundaries.
Churches With a Vision for the Future: a Profile of the Baptist Union of Victoria
This paper posits silence as a transcendental reality, present wherever beauty, truth and goodness are found. We can fear the presence of silence while at the same time suffering from its absence. Yet
learning to be attentive to the bodily felt-sense of silence means that we are better able to bridge authentically the gap between our interior world and the demands of the exterior world. This paper draws on the work of psychologist and henomenologist, Robert Sardello, to support its argument, as well as that of Ignatian-formed theologians, Hans Urs von Balthasar, Bernard Lonergan and Brian O'Leary.
It's My Church and I Love it!
Having a vision for the future is an important barometer of church health and vitality. Drawing from analysis of the Australian National Church Life Survey (NCLS) 2011 data of Victorian Baptists (8330 adult attenders across 79 churches) and a small set of follow-up interviews it is clear that while there are high levels of commitment to the idea of vision, at both a leadership and membership level, it can be hard to help attenders capture and own a vision. The data has demonstrated a strong association between churches with a clear vision for the future and numerical growth, a strong sense of belonging and innovation. Church leaders reinforce this, stating that a well-defined vision gives a clear sense of direction and facilitates decision-making and resource allocation. To be most effective a church's vision should be mission focused, engage the skills and gifts of the membership and be accessible to the whole group. A vision should be discerned in a context of trust, acceptance, humility and patience. The ongoing examination and evaluation of the outworkings of a church's vision enables churches to move forward with confidence and purpose. Finding the balance between innovation and realism, planning and action can be challenging but ultimately very powerful.
Bending the King's Ear: Intercession to an Immutable God
The Young Catholic Women´s Interfaith Fellowship was initiated in 2006, under the auspices of the then Commission for Australian Catholic Women (CACW) and the Australian Catholic Bishops´ Conference (ACBC). It was advertised as aiming ´to enhance the participation of young women in the Catholic Church, fostering both academic and faith formation for future female Church leaders´ In 2011 a research report on the post-course experience of the Fellowship graduates was commissioned which found that, while participation in the Fellowship had changed the lives of a group of young Catholic women, at the same time it raised questions about how well prepared the Church is to receive a new generation of theologically-educated Catholic lay faithful.
This paper seeks to reconcile the concept of an immutable God, as formulated by Thomas Aquinas, with the practice of intercessory prayer. It argues that though God is indeed immutable, and prayer cannot in any sense 'change God's mind', intercession does accomplish God's work in the world. Prayer is a secondary cause like any other, and Christians have a duty to pray for others in the same way they have a duty to feed the hungry and spread the Gospel. They key is to change the way in which we intercede - we ought not to demand specific results, but rather, lift up our petitions to the care of a loving, acting God.