Philosophische Theologie im Umbruch, Band 1: Ortsbestimmung

Philosophical Theology investigates the concernment of human existence with the fathomless depth that religions call the Holy, Divine or God. An analysis of its history from the greek-oriental origins onwards elucidates the reasons for the present situation in which Philosophical Theology is now only seldom considered to be a part of the canon of philosophical disciplines. Special emphasis is laid on the development of ontology in the Latin West from 12th to 14th century. During this period the ontological foundations of later and modern concepts of Philosophical Theology were laid. These concepts have often - and rightly so - been accused of being mere eccentric speculations without foundation in the human experience of reality. Thus, it is time for a new and deeper transformation of the discipline to take place. "Philosophische Theologie im Umbruch" is the first in a planned series of four books, and fulfills the purpose of preparing the ground for this necessary change. The author overviews the conceptions and tasks of Philosophical Theology as scientific discipline. Methodologically, a topology in the Kantian sense of the word is given, which collects scattered insights by giving them a place within the system of sciences. For this purpose the status of Philosophical Theology among different theologies (mythological, political, and Jewish-Christian theology of revelation) is discussed. A new form of phenomenological hermeneutics - based on the basic experience of what it means to be a human being - serves to develop a fundamental ontology that sheds light on the human bodily existence within the world as event and gift. Thereby the foundation is laid for the philosophical disclosure of the dimension of a transcendent origin. This ontology focuses on basic questions and ontological fields which supplement the theological context in the form of digressions. One can also study them independently from the main body of the text, as an introduction into philosophy and the foundation of ontology.