Introductory notes for readers of this thesis - Theses - Flinders ...

But I think that the spirituality of Ignatius himself, which one learned through thepractice of prayer and religious formation, was more significant for me than alllearned philosophy and theology inside and outside the order 27 .Throughout his career, Rahner continued to write and speak in the language of everydayspirituality and in terms congruent with his role as a tertiary theological educator and‘professional’ academic as appropriate. Through his recorded sermons, meditations,interviews, prayers and other devotional writings, Rahner’s theology is accessible tomany who may find his more academic theological writings intimidating in theircomplexity28.Theological Context and ApproachBeyond the primary and pervading influence of his personal mystical experience,Rahner’s approach to theology is particularly influenced by three interconnecting factors:• the contemporary intellectual/social climate of the mid 20 th century• Rahner’s particular philosophical and theological education pathway• his vocational identity as a Jesuit priest and ambassador for Christ.I will explore these factors separately before drawing them together in dialogue for thepurpose of further developing this biographical sketch.In his seminal introduction to Rahner’s thought, Karl-Heinz Weger outlines Rahner’sperception of the ‘faith crisis’ confronting modern, western humanity 29 . Essentially,Rahner was concerned that ‘a gulf had opened up between Christian faith expressed infirm concepts (doctrine) and everyday reality’. In Rahner’s view this gulf was dueprimarily to the lack of dialogue between a scientifically influenced and intellectuallyenlightened culture, and an inflexible dogmatic ecclesia. Rahner wanted the church torecognise its calling to faithful, incarnate presence within the cultural sea of a pluralisticepoch. He wished to highlight the fact that modern humanity has access to increasing27 Karl Rahner, cited in, W. Dych, Karl Rahner (Collegeville, Minnesota: The Liturgical Press, 1992), 6.28 R. Masson, ‘Karl Rahner: A Brief Biography’. Retrieved June 7, 2004, fromhttp://www.krs.stjohnsem.edu/Karl Rahner.htm ; D. Marmion, ‘Theology, Spirituality, and the Role ofExperience in Karl Rahner’, The invitation to risk everything - a conference celebrating Karl Rahner’stheology on the centenary of his birth (Mary Immaculate College, University of Limerick: February, 2004).Retrieved June 7, 2004, from http://cctv.mic.ul.ie/confsched.html29 Weger, Karl Rahner – An introduction to his theology, 2-7.7