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Volume 4, Issue 1, February 1991
Editorial
Mark Coleridge, John Honner S.J., Francis J. Moloney S.D.B., pp.iii-iii
AT THE VERY DEPTHS AND CENTRE of Australia's new Parliament House in Canberra, at the bottom of a light-well and atrium around which visitors, elected representatives, staffers and journalists all pass each day, there is a massive black quare of stone covered by a shimmering patina of water. An icon of the via negativa of apophatic mysticism, it both invites a sense of transcendence and declares nothing. It is precisely the sort of monument a perceptive architect might offer to a secular society with an untamed soul. If theologians are commissioned to give an account of our faith, then part of their task in Australia is to examine the reflections thrown up by the shining yet featureless surface of this parliamentary monolith. Is it merely an elaborate grave-stone promising death? Or is it a window to the world beyond material boundaries, a stone that can be taken away? Parliament has been the scene of rare theological rehetoric lately, with the Prime Minister (son of a different kind of minister) defending himself against church critics of government welfare policies. The Prime Minister found qualified support among his more theologically versed colleagues, Senator Michael Tate (Minister for Justice) and Mr Brian Howe (Minister for Health). Yet it is the case that students and teachers of theology receive minimal government support. "Divinity" has been excluded by charter from most universities in Australia and theoloogy students are ineligible for government assistance. The initiative of newer universities and the pressure of federal policies is bringing about changes in such situations. While some measure of financial support will assist students and teachers of theologoy, and be a service to our community , one fears that the introduction of career paths and tenure tracks may mute the prophetic voices among us. For if theology is about accounting for our faith theologians are all the more obliged to stand close to that constitutive element of proclaiming the faith, the struggle for justice. On the other hand, if 23% of Australians attend church at least once a year and 75% describe themselves as Christian, perhaps it is time that leaders of both church and parliament sought greater interplay and co-operation, rather than the entrenched church-state division, and consequent mutual suspician, which has characterised our culture for the past ninety years. Perhaps, then, the black stone may have some life etched into it.
Articles
The Relationship between the Risen Christ and the Material Universe
Denis Edwards, pp.1-14
How are we to understand the relationship between the risen Christ and the cosmos? In attempting some theological response to this question it will be helpful to outline a brief synopsis of what contemporary science tells us about the universe, and then to offer a comment on what theology can say about the promise of a “new Earth”.
A New Ontology: Incarnation, Eucharist, Resurrection, and Physics
John Honner, pp.15-50
The classical Christian theologies of incarnation and eucharist evolved from an ancient metaphysics and a view of the natural world which is of no relevance to the empiricism of Newtonian science. Modern quantum mechanics suggests a metaphysics which may be helpful in imagining God’s presence in the world. This study has four parts: first, a discussion of the connections between doctrinal formulations and physical worldview; then a survey of classical theological accounts of incarnation and eucharist and resurrection; thirdly, some comments on quantum theory and metaphysics; and, finally, suggestions about the deployment of quantum metaphysics in giving an account of God’s presence in the world.
Once More Paul among Jews and Gentiles
William Dalton, pp.51-61
Kirster Stendahl was one of the pioneers in a more adequate understanding of Paul’s mission, which had been distorted in the acrimony of Reformation controversies. Reflections on the implications for Christian theology of the Jewish holocaust make it even more imperative to see Paul in his historical setting as Apostle ot the Gentiles. It is a matter of major ecumenical concern to situate Paul and Israel correctly in the world of their time and thus gain a better understanding of the relationship between Paul and his people.
Catholics and Jews: Face to Face
Eugene J. Fisher, pp.62-75
This article offers a discussion of the nature of interreligious dialogue, a survey of recent official statements of the Roman Catholic Church on Catholic-Jewish dialogue, and some reflections on the future steps that must be taken to further such dialogue. In particular, there is need for acknowledgement of sins committed in the past, a correction of past misrepresentations of Judaism, and a shared anticipation of the future promised by God.
Conquest and Dispossession: Justice, Joshua, and Land Rights
Norman Habel, pp.76-92
This study compares four contemporary theories of justice (desert, contract, rights, and empowerment) with four motifs from the Book of Joshua (the land as entitlement, the dispossession of the Canaanites, the covenants with Israel, and the dilemma of empowerment). These comparisons raise questions about the justification of the conquest of indigenous peoples, like the Australian Aboriginals, and the ideology of Joshua in a post-New Testament context.
Book Reviews
Sign and Promise: A Theology of the Church for a Changing World
John Thornhill
Michael Putney pp.93-96
The Challenge of the Scriptures: the Bible and the Qur'an
Muslim-Christian Research Group
Dan Madigan pp.96-98
Towards a World Theology: Faith and the Comparative History of Religion
Wilfred Cantwell Smith
Paul Rule pp.98-99
We Dare to Dream: Doing Theology as Asian Women
Virginia Fabella and Sun Ai Lee Park (eds.)
Maryanne Confoy pp.100-102
Theological Essays
Eberhard Jüngel
Michael Owen pp.102-105
The Trespass of the Sign: Deconstruction, Theology and Philosophy
Kevin Hart
John Honner pp.105-108
The Christology of the Fourth Gospel: Structure and Issues
William Loader
Francis J. Moloney pp.108-110
Landmarks: A Spiritual Search in a Southern Land
Eugene D. Stockton
Denis Edwards pp.111-112
God is Green: Christianity and the Environment
Ian Bradley
Tony Kelly pp.112-113
Liberation Theology: A Documentary History
Alfred T. Hennelly (ed.)
Andrew Hamilton pp.113-114
The Future of Liberation Theology: Essays in Honour of Gustavo Gutierrez
M. Ellis and O. Maduro (eds.)
Andrew Hamilton pp.114-115
Theology, Politics, and Peace
Theodore Runyon (ed.)
Ian S. Williams pp.115-116
Contributors
Denis Edwards, M.A., S.T.D., is a consultant theologian to the Archbishop of Adelaide. He teaches theology at St Francis Xavier's Seminary, and through the Catholic Adult Education Service. He has written Human Experience of God; What are they saying about Salvation?; Called to be Church in Australia; and the forthcoming Jesus and the Cosmos. John Honner teaches theology and philosophy at the United Faculty of Theology in Melbourne. He studied science at the Australian National University, theology at the United Faculty of Theology, and did his doctoral thesis on a comparison of transcendental arguments used in Karl Rahner's foundations of theology and Neils Bohr's interpretation of quantum physics. William Dalton specialised in biblical studies at the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome, to which he returned as Professor of the New Testament. While his doctoral work was on 1 Peter (he is responsible for this book in The New Jerome Biblical Commentary), his interests have turned to Pauline studies. He was deeply influenced by his stay as Director of the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Jerusalem, and is at present working on a interpretation of Galatians which would do more justice to Paul and remove one of the major scandals which render Jewish-Christian reconcilliation so difficult. Eugene Fisher gained a Ph.D. in Hebrew Culture and Education from New York University, and has been adjunct Professor of Sacred Scripture at St. John's Seminary in Plymouth, Michigan and the Religious Studies Department of the University of Detroit. In 1977 he became the Executive Secretary for Catholic-Jewish Relations of the U.S. National Conference of Catholic Bishops. In 1981 he was appointed Consultor of the Vatican Commission for Religious Relations With the Jews, and in 1985 he became the Holy See's representative on the International Vatican-Jewish Liaison Committee. Norman Habel, a Lutheran from near Hamilton, Victoria, graduated from Concordia Seminary, Adelaide, in 1955 and pursued graduate studies in the U.S.A. From 1960-74 he was associate professor of Old Testament at Concordia Seminary, St Louis. Since 1974 he has headed the Religion Studies programmes at the now University of South Australia, except for a period from 1984-87 when he was principal of Kodaikanal International School, South India. His publications include works for children, laity, and scholars. His most significant work is perhaps his commentary on Job in the Old Testament Library Series.
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