The central argument in this thesis is that religion, and in particular the Christian religion, has an essential cultural function to play in the first half of the twenty-first century as a cultural educator par excellence that offers proposals for the rediscovery and renewal of human dignity as an absolute value. Constructive dialogue, which is critical for mediating conflicting truth claims and value convictions, has largely broken down in contemporary society, and I contend that mainstream religious communities have something vital to contribute to repair this impasse; namely, to impart or re-inculcate a sense of transcendence within the public square. I use the word transcendence here to refer to the absolute mystery of God, who exceeds our human language and concepts, and thus one central task of this thesis is to reflect anew upon the questions posed to humanity over the centuries in light of this mystery as we contemplate it as Christians in the emerging horizon of the current century. To briefly prefigure the argument here, it is that a Trinitarian anthropology witnessed most clearly in the Incarnation, Passion, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, which as the Vatican II Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World argues, is the source of authentic human dignity. In one of the most quoted passages of the constitution, the Council fathers declare the “truth is that only in the mystery of the incarnate Word does the mystery of man take on light.... Christ, the final Adam, by the revelation of the mystery of the Father and His love, fully reveals man to man himself and makes his supreme calling clear.” In addressing this topic, I rely heavily upon the writings of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, whose analysis of the complex problems confronting the contemporary world are both perspicacious and accurate, so much so that I consider him to be a public intellectual par excellence. The methodological framework that will be used throughout the thesis is based on Hans-Georg Gadamer’s hermeneutics that he advanced in his renowned work Truth and Method.

The concept of human dignity has been stripped from its traditional context in Christian thought, becoming "a moral trump frayed by heavy use," but a compelling alternate vision has not yet emerged. "God and Human Dignity" offers a fresh restatement of the nature and scope of human dignity in Christian perspective. Theologians, ethicists, and biblical scholars from around the world here examine the dimensions of human worth in the light of sacred Scripture, doctrine, and ecclesial practice. In contrast to modernity's often monochromatic accounts of human dignity in terms of freedom or rationality, these essays argue that human dignity in Christian perspective is a "many-splendored thing" reflecting humanity's participation in the divine drama of creation, redemption, and new creation. Representing disciplines across the academic spectrum, the essays in "God and Human Dignity" offer systematic and scriptural perspectives on human dignity that connect to a host of pressing contemporary issues. Contributors: C. Clifton Black, Russell Botman, Don Browing, J. Kameron Carter, Elaine Graham, Robert W. Jensen, James L. Mays, M. Douglas Meeks, Esther Menn, Peter Ochs, John Polkinghorne, Hans Reinders, Gerhard Sauter, Christoph Schwvbel, R. Kendall Soulen, Fraser Watts, Michael Welker, and Linda Woodhead.D

The perfect gift! A specially priced, beautifully designed hardcover edition of The Joy of the Gospel with a foreword by Robert Barron and an afterword by James Martin, SJ. “The joy of the gospel fills the hearts and lives of all who encounter Jesus… In this Exhortation I wish to encourage the Christian faithful to embark upon a new chapter of evangelization marked by this joy, while pointing out new paths for the Church’s journey in years to come.” – Pope Francis This special edition of Pope Francis's popular message of hope explores themes that are important for believers in the 21st century. Examining the many obstacles to faith and what can be done to overcome those hurdles, he emphasizes the importance of service to God and all his creation. Advocating for “the homeless, the addicted, refugees, indigenous peoples, the elderly who are increasingly isolated and abandoned,” the Holy Father shows us how to respond to poverty and current economic challenges that affect us locally and globally. Ultimately, Pope Francis demonstrates how to develop a more personal relationship with Jesus Christ, “to recognize the traces of God’s Spirit in events great and small.” Profound in its insight, yet warm and accessible in its tone, The Joy of the Gospel is a call to action to live a life motivated by divine love and, in turn, to experience heaven on earth. Includes a foreword by Robert Barron, author of Catholicism: A Journey to the Heart of the Faith and James Martin, SJ, author of Jesus: A Pilgrimage

In this reappraisal of charity in the biblical tradition, Anderson argues that the poor constituted the privileged place where Jews and Christians met God. He shows how charity affirms the goodness of the created order; the world was created through charity and therefore rewards it.

A new series emerging from discussions within an interdisciplinary research group at the Free University of Amsterdam, CURRENTS OF ENCOUNTER will deal with specific concerns of theology of religion, philosophy of religion, and comparative religion. In addition, the series will explore the relation between the Christian faith and contemporary culture as well as the encounter between Asian, African, Latin American, and Western contextualizations of Christianity. The aim of CURRENTS OF ENCOUNTER is to stimulate discussion and reflection on its theme from various presuppositional and methodological points of view. The underlying assumption of this aim is that the interdisciplinary avenue—neither an exclusively positivist nor a purely normative theological approach—provides the best means of access to a better understanding of the problems and potentialities inherent in the encounter between Christianity and the world of which it is a part -- Book cover.