This series of articles hosted on a SSPX website (Society of Saint Pius X - 'traditionalist' schismatics) are illuminating in the perspective they offer on 'la nouvelle théologie' of the last century. It's the story of the battles which raged between the proponents of the 'new theology' and the members of the old guard written from the point of view of those who would now be viewed as 'the losers'. Of course, the term 'new theology' was originally one of opprobrium and thus 'réssourcement' is to be preferred. As de Lubac and company argued, the theology was not 'new': it was there in the Fathers and Thomas Aquinas.
For those who know French, the article by Fr. Garrigou-Lagrange which originally coined the term 'nouvelle théologie' can be accessed here.
The article by Aidan Nichols on 'Thomism and La Nouvelle Théologie' is a useful historical look at the issues at stake in the debates.
Although it is hysterically negative (and wrong) (the SSPX series. not Aidan Nichols' article!) it is interesting in that it really demonstrates just how radical such theologians as Henri de Lubac and von Balthasar were. The series 'investigates' major theologians and philosophers from Maurice Blondel to Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI and if one is sick of the portrayal of the latter two as unyielding conservatives one is treated here to a diametrically opposed view of them as fiery radicals! In the chapter on Balthasar he is portrayed as having some crazed obsession with ecumenism. Aside from the novelty interest in the articles they do include quite a number of direct quotes from the theologians and passages from correspondence between them which are of interest.
Monday, October 1, 2007
A Nutty Take on La Nouvelle Théologie
This series of articles hosted on a SSPX website (Society of Saint Pius X - 'traditionalist' schismatics) are illuminating in the perspective they offer on 'la nouvelle théologie' of the last century. It's the story of the battles which raged between the proponents of the 'new theology' and the members of the old guard written from the point of view of those who would now be viewed as 'the losers'. Of course, the term 'new theology' was originally one of opprobrium and thus 'réssourcement' is to be preferred. As de Lubac and company argued, the theology was not 'new': it was there in the Fathers and Thomas Aquinas.
For those who know French, the article by Fr. Garrigou-Lagrange which originally coined the term 'nouvelle théologie' can be accessed here.
The article by Aidan Nichols on 'Thomism and La Nouvelle Théologie' is a useful historical look at the issues at stake in the debates.
Although it is hysterically negative (and wrong) (the SSPX series. not Aidan Nichols' article!) it is interesting in that it really demonstrates just how radical such theologians as Henri de Lubac and von Balthasar were. The series 'investigates' major theologians and philosophers from Maurice Blondel to Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI and if one is sick of the portrayal of the latter two as unyielding conservatives one is treated here to a diametrically opposed view of them as fiery radicals! In the chapter on Balthasar he is portrayed as having some crazed obsession with ecumenism. Aside from the novelty interest in the articles they do include quite a number of direct quotes from the theologians and passages from correspondence between them which are of interest.
For those who know French, the article by Fr. Garrigou-Lagrange which originally coined the term 'nouvelle théologie' can be accessed here.
The article by Aidan Nichols on 'Thomism and La Nouvelle Théologie' is a useful historical look at the issues at stake in the debates.
Although it is hysterically negative (and wrong) (the SSPX series. not Aidan Nichols' article!) it is interesting in that it really demonstrates just how radical such theologians as Henri de Lubac and von Balthasar were. The series 'investigates' major theologians and philosophers from Maurice Blondel to Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI and if one is sick of the portrayal of the latter two as unyielding conservatives one is treated here to a diametrically opposed view of them as fiery radicals! In the chapter on Balthasar he is portrayed as having some crazed obsession with ecumenism. Aside from the novelty interest in the articles they do include quite a number of direct quotes from the theologians and passages from correspondence between them which are of interest.
1 comment:
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Anonymous said...
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So your analysis of the SSPX series is what? What is the well-thought-out, analytical rebuttal.
Oh, "They are SSPX, so I don't agree with them."
I see. Once again, those of us who are not SSPX adherents, but sympathize with many of their assertions (How about you rebutting Garrigou LaGrange? He seems to have many of the same complaints as the SSPX!) are treated to scorn and derision with absolutely no factual analysis whatsoever.
Do the theology and historical research. Show me where the SSPX is wrong. -
October 2, 2007 at 2:30 PM
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1 comment:
So your analysis of the SSPX series is what? What is the well-thought-out, analytical rebuttal.
Oh, "They are SSPX, so I don't agree with them."
I see. Once again, those of us who are not SSPX adherents, but sympathize with many of their assertions (How about you rebutting Garrigou LaGrange? He seems to have many of the same complaints as the SSPX!) are treated to scorn and derision with absolutely no factual analysis whatsoever.
Do the theology and historical research. Show me where the SSPX is wrong.
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