Hans Hamers - Stichting Edward Schillebeeckx

Schillebeeckx says that the constant of a utopian element in man’s consciousness seems
fundamental and is embraced by man to make sense of contingency or finitude, suffering
etc. and to overcome this. Schillebeeckx sees this as a specific form of the hermeneutical
process in everyday life which “looks for another social system and another future against
the existing attribution of ‘meaning’. These are comprehensive approaches which teach us
to experience human life and society, now or in the future, as good , meaningful and happy
totality of man – a vision and a way of life which seek to give meaning and context to human
existence in this world (even if only in a distant future).” 3 All embracing views as religions
and non-religious world views, general theories of life, functioning as cognitive models of
reality interpreting nature, history of mankind and making it to be experienced as
meaningful, and ‘yet to be realized’.
In religions the living God is the all overarching principle, beyond the personal realm of life.
It is the ground for hope, which is an anthropological constant throughout human history:
“That implies that faith and hope – whatever their content – are part of the health and
integrity, the worthwhileness and ‘wholeness’ of our humanity.” 4 Religion makes no sense
when human salvation, redemption and true liberation are impossible. Religious redemption
is a condition sine qua non for total liberation of man.
Above the central theological notions are mentioned which are relevant within the scope of
this paper. The line of this paper will be: firstly, the ground base of mankind, humanity,
human existence, will be shown through the anthropological constants. Secondly, the
concepts of suffering and negative contrast experience are discussed.
Thirdly I will try to draw some conclusion on the relation between Schillebeeckx’ theology
and the practice of spiritual care.
2 Humanity
The theology of Schillebeeckx is heavily based on the humanum, the experiences of man in
this world. The conversation partner of the theologian is not the non-believer, but the fellow
man that is despised, oppressed and marginalized, suffering not for a good cause, but simply
suffering from something. Grace and salvation comes into play when it is said that God is
there for all men, and cares for all men. Therefore I start with an overview of the theological
anthropology of Schillebeeckx, more particular the so called anthropological constants as
presented in the Christ-book. Schillebeeckx considers these constants as universal for
mankind, a system of coordinates to think about man and his salvation, his status, and about
humanity as a whole. 5
3 Ibid. p. 740
4 Ibid. p. 741
5 Ibid. pp. 650, 652
3