Karl Rahner (Outstanding Christian Thinkers) [Paperback]

WIlliam V. Dych (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 27, 2000 | ISBN-10: 0826450776 | ISBN-13: 978-0826450777

Karl Rahner (1904-1984) has been called the most important and influential Roman Catholic thinker of the twentieth century. He was a major influence at the Second Vatican Council, and his extensive writings have inspired generations of modern students of theology. Dych provides a concise introduction to Rahner's theological interests and covers his thinking from his student days to the time of his death. Rahner's writings are numerous and complex, but this volume provides a sure and accessible guide to his legacy. In addition, Dych attempts to connect Rahner's main theological teachings with those of Vatican II and with the teachings found in the Exercises of St. Ignatius Loyola. In so doing, Dych places Rahner in the context of modern Catholic doctrine and the ongoing experience of Christians anxious to explore the mysteries of God and creation.

Product Details

• Paperback: 178 pages
• Publisher: Continuum (June 27, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0826450776
• ISBN-13: 978-0826450777
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #405,167 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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4.0 out of 5 stars Valuable summary of Karl Rahner's Theology, June 1, 2011

By 

J. Neill (Hockessin, DE) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Karl Rahner (Outstanding Christian Thinkers) (Paperback)

The late American Jesuit William Dych attempts what many have attempted -- to summarize and characterize Karl Rahner' contribution to theology in the 20th century. As a professor, the author, who taught theology at Fordham University, is appreciatively profiled in a May 2004 America magazine article by Kevin O'Brien entitled "Tuesdays with Rahner." Dych had the experience of being a student and a friend of his fellow Jesuit mentor and brings a familiarity with his life and work that makes many of Rahner's contributions more readily accessible to current readers who may not have been mature students of Catholic theology in mid to late 20th century.

Dych introduces his book by explaining how he experienced Rahner as a teacher and how Rahner valued his own teachers and mentors from his own time and from the Catholic tradition, especially Martin Heidegger and St. Thomas Aquinas. Rahner valued the "courage to question anew so much in the tradition considered self evident," not to tear down but to bolster a `faith seeking understanding.' He esteemed teachers who did not simply supply answers but teach us how to question and how to search. For Rahner, theology is always unfinished by its very nature, dealing as it does with the Mystery that lies beyond human speech.

In this book Dych presents a short biography of Rahner, linking it with his theological and philosophical work, giving many insights into his working relationships and associations through the years, including a collaboration with young theologian Josef Ratzinger in preparing an alternate schema to that first proposed at Vatican II for the document on Scripture and Tradition.

Dych's explanation of Rahner's contribution to the theology of grace and the church was especially interesting for me, as my initial exposure to these teaching lacked sufficient background for adequate understanding. It is difficult to imagine now that the phrase that "the Church is a Church of sinners" could have been a startling expression, but such terminology was not commonly used before Vatican II. Indeed Rahner stated clearly that the Church is a sinful Church, but nonetheless remains the body of Christ, not to be abandoned for some presumed yet illusive and in fact impossible sinless organization.

In addition to sections on grace and the church, Dych includes chapters on Jesus, Transcendental Christology, Gnosticism and Agnosticism, Christian Vocation, the Church in the World, the Trinity and Ethics and Eschatology. Readers might find some portions of the chapters a bit difficult if they are unfamiliar with basic Catholic theology and some of the issues that it wrestled with during the past century. However, anyone with a "faith seeking understanding" will profit immensely by reading this book which concisely describes how a giant of Catholic theology in the 20th century wrestled with and dealt with most of the major theological questions of the day.