Barthian Ethics and Public Theology: contributions to a Theology of Citizenship

Authors

  • Jefferson Zeferino PUCPR
  • Clodovis Boff PUCPR

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.23925/1677-1222.2017vol17i1a8

Keywords:

Karl Barth, The humanity of God’s Christology, Foundation of ethics, Public Theology, Citizenship Theology

Abstract

This article is motivated by ethics as it is lived by the Christian community, in which it is notable a considerable incoherence between life and Faith. This leads us to question the legitimacy and the foundation of Christian ethics. Regarding this issue, our enquiry objectives to identify the foundation of ethics on Karl Barth’s theological development and its implications to Christian praxis today, in the community and in the theological work fields. As a result, we understand that the foundation of ethics in the theology of Karl Barth is the person of Jesus Christ itself. From this foundation the following topics emerge: humanity of God – Christology emphasizing the humanity; radicalness of grace – to think God’s grace deeply; soteriological incarnation and kenotical ethics – ethics incarnated in life grounded on God’s movement in Jesus for humanity; “Christ in us” – Jesus as paradigm to Christian action; and citizenship – namely the task of Christian community in the civil community. Finally, we put these categories in dialogue with elements of a theology of citizenship as formulated by Rudolf von Sinner.

Author Biographies

Jefferson Zeferino, PUCPR

Mestre e Doutorando em Teologia pela Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Paraná, PUCPR. Membro do Grupo de Pesquisa “Teologia, Ecumenismo e Diálogo Inter-religioso” da PUCPR. Bolsista CAPES

Clodovis Boff, PUCPR

Doutor em Teologia pela Universidade de Louvain, Bélgica. Professor do Programa de Pós-Graduação em Teologia da Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Paraná, PUCPR

Published

2017-05-01